Kentucky Derby Traditions and Culture: Attire

Hat Facts on the Kentucky Derby:

The Kentucky Derby has become as much of a fashion show as it is a horse race. Society women are known for wearing their finest dresses paired with oversized, elaborate hats (often referred to as chapeaus). Women order their hats months ahead of time to beat the Derby-rush and guarantee first-dibs on the best chapeaus.

While the society ladies in the grandstand dress their finest, the rowdy infield crowd goes for a different look entirely. The infielders pay $40 for standing room in a tight crowd of casual party-goers. Here you might see some of the more outrageous hats with horses and stables glued to the top.


Throw a hat-themed Kentucky Derby party.

Go high-society with chapeaus and dresses or get infield-crazy with do-it-yourself outlandishly themed hats.