What to wear to the Kentucky Derby: The ultimate style guide
Planning to attend the 151st Kentucky Derby this May in Louisville, Kentucky? You’ll need to know what to wear to the Kentucky Derby to dress the part, especially if you’re going to Churchill Downs!
Thousands of visitors flock to the state of Kentucky for THE fashion and sporting highlight of the year. Aside from the main race on Derby Day, the entire month leading up to Derby is filled with events and parties you don’t want to miss, like the KMAC Couture Fashion Show, Thunder Over Louisville, The Great Balloon Race, concerts, and more as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
Let’s dive in to exactly what kinds of outfits and accessories you’ll need to celebrate Derby in style before you head to the track!
Overview: The many events of Derby
Derby is not just a DAY, it’s an entire WEEK of races at the track and local events, which means plenty of outfit changes! It used to just be that Friday and Saturday were the main races (Oaks and Derby), but now, the days leading up to the big races are extremely popular with locals.
In case this is your first time attending the Derby, here’s a quick overview of each day’s events-
Monday: Opening Night (Gatsby Inspired)
Tuesday: 502sday (locals)
Wednesday: Winsday
Thursday: Thurby
Friday: Oaks Day (wear pink!)
Saturday: Derby Day
Read more about each day of Derby Week events
What to wear to the Kentucky Derby?
Color palette
You’ll see plenty of vibrant colors and soft pastels at Churchill Downs – this is the time to stand out, not blend in! Guests will wear fun patterns in just about every color of the rainbow. On Friday (Oaks Day), most attendees wear pink for breast and ovarian cancer awareness. Other than that, you can let your imagination run wild with creative freedom!
Themes
Some seating areas within Churchill Downs will have a theme for guests with tickets specifically in that section.
Check your section information after buying your ticket to fit in with your fellow spectators!
Hats and fascinators
These accessories put the FUN in functional – they provide shade, but most importantly, Derby hats and fascinators are a statement piece AND a conversation starter!
Wearing a big hat or fascinator is THE number one essential for women to wear to Derby. There are even contests during Derby week for the wildest hats, so get yourself a one of a kind showstopper, or make one yourself!
Generally, fascinators are colorful, feature some sort of faux floral element and have a funky shape or design. I really appreciate the creativity that goes into making them, and most designers who handcraft their fascinators make each one unique, so no two people are wearing the same one.
One of my favorite parts of Derby is walking around Churchill Downs and seeing everyone’s fascinators on display. The hats also make it easier to find people you know in the largest crowd you’ll ever see!
Get your fascinator locally from my favorite milliners in Kentucky
Formé Millinery | The official Milliner of the Kentucky Derby
Big Day Hats | Pop up boutique at Hotel Bourre Bonne and Oxmoor Mall
Hat Girls | Elevated, trend-setting Derby hats
Derbyologie | Funky, fun, and floral designs
Tiffany Woodard | Her magnolia fascinators are my favorite
If you’ll be in town the week before Derby, you can stop by the Cherokee Triangle Art Fair and try some on there for purchase, as well as shop for other local art from Kentucky artisans.
Kentucky Derby Attire
Choose your outfit wisely – the Derby is notorious for either being blazing hot or pouring rain (usually a mix of both). People dress to impress, wearing loud colors, vibrant prints, luxury designers and more.
On Oaks Day, you can enter the Derby Fashion Contest and have your photo taken. The year I went, I got to see Chris Pine do his walk across the Pink Carpet. There are ALWAYS big name celebrities at Derby, you never know who you’ll rub elbows with at the track!
Men typically wear lightweight suits in pastel or neutral colors, with patterned bowties, stylish hats and colorful socks to accessorize. Don’t forget the sunglasses, most seats are outdoors and at some point in the day you’ll be facing the sun.
My favorite local boutiques to find Derby week outfits and accessories
What kind of shoes should I wear?
If you have a ticket in the main part of Churchill Downs, you won’t need to worry about walking through the grass with heels. They’ve revamped all of Churchill Downs and everywhere inside has sidewalks and pavement (or thin astroturf, as you see above).
What you will need to consider is the AMOUNT of walking you’ll be doing.
The shuttles take you right to the entrance of Churchill Downs, but getting from the entrance to your seat could be a long walk, depending on where you sit. In addition to that, you’ll spend plenty of time exploring all the fun photo ops, get up to grab a Mint Julep or see the horses in the Paddock after each race, or explore the Kentucky Derby Museum right next door.
With that in mind, wear shoes that are cute, but comfortable – or bring an extra pair in your bag, just in case!
What kind of bag can I bring?
In addition to what to wear to the Kentucky Derby, you’ll need to think carefully about which bag you plan to bring to the Derby. You don’t want to get turned away for having a bag that doesn’t meet security requirements.
Bags must be no larger than 12” x 6” x 12,” but they don’t have to be clear – which is a bonus!
You can see the full list of prohibited items and specifications on the Churchill Downs Event Info page.
Looking for more outfit inspiration?
See the official Kentucky Derby Pinterest board or the 2025 Style Guide from guest style editor Zanna Roberts Rassi.
Now that you know what to wear to the Kentucky Derby, the real fun begins – finding the perfect fascinator and getting your outfit for the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports!
Can’t get enough of Derby content? You might also love…
KY Derby Proposal at Churchill Downs
Book a photographer for Derby
Looking for a photographer Derby weekend? Click here to visit my website and DM me on Instagram to inquire about Derby weekend photography.
Johanna Hribal is a wedding and event photographer based in Louisville, Kentucky. She has photographed weddings at the Kentucky Derby Museum, corporate events at Churchill Downs, proposals on Oaks Day, and groups at the track on Derby! People love her colorful and vibrant edits and the way she captures their love in a natural and non-intrusive way.
