Last Updated on April 2, 2025 by Eve Dawes
What to Wear to the Kentucky Derby – Show up in style! The most elegant Kentucky Derby attire for your most stylish horse racing outfit yet
This Kentucky Derby outfits for women post contains affiliate links.
When and where is the Kentucky Derby 2025
The Kentucky Derby 2025 is on May 2nd and 3rd at Churchill Downs. With over 150,000 attendees gathering under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs to watch the 14 horse races.
Things to consider when choosing your Kentucky Derby dress for 2025
You’re going to want to take into account the dress code in the enclosure or reserved seating areas you’re in and the weather when choosing your Kentucky Derby dress and outfit. As much as considering what’s in fashion and the color you want your Kentucky Derby dress for 2025 to be.
Some areas require more formal dress codes than others. Their full dress code requirement for each enclosure is here.
The official flower of the Kentucky Derby is the red rose. So embrace the Run for the Roses theme in this striking red rose print maxi dress. It’d be easy to gave it tailored into a midi if you prefer a shorter hemline.
While there is no dress code for guests purchasing reserved box or general admission tickets to Churchill Downs, management reserves the right to deny admission to anyone whose attire they consider to be inappropriate.
Churchill Downs
How to dress in layers for all weather at the Kentucky Derby
Your best bet is to dress in layers for Kentucky Derby week. The Kentucky Derby is an outdoor event and you want to be prepared come rain or shine. Blazers, capes, trench coats and elegant pashminas are all ideal for layering over Spring dresses and lighter fabrics that won’t mess with the aesthetic of your Kentucky Derby fashion choice for 2025 too much.
I also really like matching blazer and dress sets for being able to layer easily. Whether that’s bold separates or pretty pastels. They’re perfect both on cool Spring days and hot days in the Summer. As often the AC is too cold or the temperature drops at night.
Feathers and satin don’t fare too well in the rain unfortunately. So you might want to take that into consideration when choosing or designing your hat, shoes and Kentucky Derby dress. This silk and linen blend floral midi dress is perfection and easy to layer under a blazer, jacket or pashmina.
If you’re not going to Churchill Downs but to a Kentucky Derby themed party, especially one that’s inside you can have more fun with your shoe and hat choices for your Kentucky Derby fashion for 2025. As you don’t have to worry about the weather so much.
What shoes should I wear to the Kentucky Derby
Most people will tell you to wear sensible shoes and something that you can walk on grass and gravel in. Which is the best advice. However, rules were made to be broken and it depends on whether you care more about Kentucky Derby fashion or practicality and comfort.
Most of the time I’ve just worn a pair of strappy, stiletto sandals to the races as it makes the whole outfit look so much more elegant. As long as you can still walk in them! However, espadrilles, pyramid heels, metallic and crystal embellished flats are all great options if you’d rather wear flats or something more practical.
Just remember it is a long day to be on your feet so if you don’t go for sensible heels, you might want to pack a pair of back up flats. Or even better fold-up flats you can keep in your bag if you need them.
This year I went for a square heel to be able to walk on the grass and they were absolutely perfect for walking around in.
Should I choose my hat or Kentucky Derby outfit first
It really comes down to personal preference on whether you choose your hat or Kentucky Derby dress first. If you fall in love with something get it.
If it’s the hat you that you find first there are so many choices on line that you can filter by color to find something that will work. However, if it’s the dress you fall in love with first, you can always work with a milliner if you can’t find the perfect hat.
If you’re going for a really elaborate Kentucky Derby hat, a plain dress might be a better bet so that you can let your hat be the focal point. However, if your hat is more simple or 1 color, a pretty floral print dress often looks really stunning.
Kentucky Derby fashion | What are the best Kentucky Derby dresses for 2025
The best Kentucky Derby dresses for 2025 are the ones that speak to you the most and that you feel confident in. The perfect dress for one person, is different to the next persons.
However, if you’re looking or the most on trend Kentucky Derby dress for 2025 consider floral appliques, pink or butter hued yellow dresses as seen at Loewe, Bally, Proenza Schouler, Louis Vuitton and Jil Sander for your Kentucky Derby outfit.
Personally I like bright colors, pastels, floral prints or fresh polka dots for the horse races and avoid darker colors. Did you know that it’s actually considered unlucky to wear black to the derby!
If my hats got a lot going on, I tend to always go for a more plain dress rather than prints and always one that coordinates for chic Kentucky Derby fashion and a more polished look.
If you want to stand out and catch the photographers eyes rather than blend in, you’ll definitely do it in this show stopping red dress!
You can also look to Vineyard Vines for dresses. As the official style of the Kentucky Derby, they have created a line of dresses just for the Kentucky Derby. However, their 2025 collection hasn’t been released yet and I tend to prefer to plan ahead.
Some of this years biggest color trends are pastels, magenta, yellow, sunset colors, aquamarine, and green. Think more elegant garden party than disco diva for your Kentucky Derby outfit for Derby day.
Give this a second to load if you just see a spinning circle. It takes a minute to load all of the dresses.
How to dress for the Kentucky Derby | Fashionable Kentucky Derby outfits for women
Kentucky Derby dresses and outfits for women are the time to have fun with Spring fashion, hats and fascinators it’s quite the fashion parade but what’s the right Kentucky Derby dress to wear? Here are some of my favorite styles of Kentucky Derby dresses and ideas for what to wear to the Kentucky Derby and Derby parties.
From on trend Kentucky Derby fashion forward styles to more classic Kentucky Derby outfits for women that all live up to the fabulous dress code. Along with the best shoes to wear, how to accessorize and choose your Kentucky Derby hat or fascinator.
What did I wear last year for the Kentucky Derby Party in Vegas? I was actually one of the best dressed winners! I wouldn’t wear this dress or platform heels (needed them to make the dress the right length) for the actual Derby but it was fun for an indoor Vegas event and costume party.
Complete your women’s Kentucky Derby outfit with the perfect shoes and bag
From practical flats, wedges, block and pyramid heels to pretty heels for risk takers like me, these are the prettiest shoes I found in my search. As pretty as satin and suede shoes are, I’d err on the side of caution as it often rains at the Kentucky Derby.
When it comes to your Kentucky Derby bag, please take note of the bag size restrictions and check the bag dimensions before making a purchase to go with your Kentucky Derby outfit (more details below).
Complete your women’s Kentucky Derby outfit with the perfect hat for you
This is the time to have fun and go all out with your fashion and fancy hat choices to complete your Kentucky Derby attire. Just be careful with your spacial awareness and your hat around other people!
Since pink is still a big color trend this year, there’s lots of pink hats, shoes and accessories in various shades on these edits.
If you’re wanting to go all out with your Derby horse racing hat, have a look at Jenny Pfanenstiel designs. She was named the featured Milliner for the 146th, 147th, 148th and 149th Kentucky Derby and offers both ready to wear and custom designs.
From fascinators to pill box hats these are the most stunning Derby hats whether you’re looking for something classic or a showstopper. Some of the Amazon hats feel a little cheap if you inspect them in person but look great on and in photos.
More stunning Kentucky Derby Hats
I ended up ordering lots of hats from Amazon to try on since the Etsy seller canceled my order for this Kentucky Derby hat at the very last minute. However, most of the ones I ordered are white or cream.
The reason being that they’ll go with any color outfit. I also chose classic styles and the bases wide enough to pass the Royal Enclosure’s strict dress code at Royal Ascot.
What size bags are permitted at Kentucky Derby week
The Churchill Downs Racetrack enforces a restricted bag policy for Kentucky Derby week. Where each guest is only permitted one bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. FWRD has a lot of smaller size bags and clutches that pass the bag policy.
Follow
Don’t forget to tag me in your Derby day outfits #glamourandgains @glamourandgains so that I can share your fabulous Derby style (s). Cheers, I’ll be the one with a mint julep in hand in a giant hat.
Good luck!
