When I was a child, we participated in The Easter Parade, dressed in our new dresses and Easter Bonnets, to herald the advent of Spring. Hats which began as functional accessories (helping to avoid Sunstroke), evolved into a symbol of much more. The history of Derby Fashion dates back to 1875 and coincides with the “Run for the Roses”. The Kentucky Derby is the longest running sporting event in the United States. It was after Meriwether Lewis Clark, the grandson of William Clark [Of Lewis and Clark fame] traveled to Europe and attended the Epsom Derby in England, that he returned to America with the idea for a spectacular sporting event, envisioned as high-class, European-style racing.
For Americans, the Triple Crown Events (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes) are as important as the Royal Ascot in the UK. The tradition of the Kentucky Derby hat and fashion may be related to the expected glamour and Dress Code of the Royal Ascot each June. Dress Code at the Royal Ascot are based on the Enclosure to which one is permitted. Women at the Royal Ascot must wear a hat with at least a four inch base within the Royal Enclosure, Shoulders must be covered and hemlines are at the knee. Rules vary for the Queen Ann’s Enclosure, and the Village Enclosure, and according to the Royal Ascot website, jumpsuits are now permitted [https://www.ascot.co.uk/what-to-wearssss/what-to-wear/what-to-wear].
The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are unique when compared to other American sports and entertainment events due to the hats and fashion. The Kentucky Derby website states. . . ” Going to a horse racing event became an opportunity to show off the latest in spring fashion and women were known to coordinate their hats, dresses, bags, shoes, and. . . parasols. . . The extravagant hats that have become associated with the Kentucky Derby . . . came into vogue circa the 1960s, when. . . the presence of television gave women a reason to stand out. The hats became. . . more extravagant . . . ” [https://www.kentuckyderby.com/history/traditions/hats]
TEMERITY VIEWS 