Kentucky
Here are 5 Kentucky Derby outfit ideas and fashion tips for women
2025 Kentucky Derby: See outfit ideas, fashion tips for women
From sequins and satin to ruffles and bold colors, here’s what women will wear to the 2025 Kentucky Derby
Prepping your fashion by scouring the internet for “what to wear to the 2025 Kentucky Derby” is one way to gain inspiration for your ensemble. Or you can take an easier route with tips from a professional who truly knows her way around fashion at the track.
For more than three decades, Louisville-based fashion consultant Jo Ross has produced stunning results for women and men seeking advice on their Kentucky Derby wardrobe. A lifelong Kentuckian, Ross understands how Southern style is interpreted at the racetrack and intertwines this know-how with her experience as a regular at New York City’s iconic Fashion Week and Prêt a Porter in Paris.
Simply put — seasoned Derby goers “dress to impress” as if they are attending an upscale garden party with mint juleps, horseracing and friends. This look is accomplished by pairing color, silhouette, accents, a stunning headpiece and the right pair of shoes. We’re not joking, shoes can mean a winning or losing day at the track and we promise to explain.
But first, to help you create your own standout outfit(s) for spring 2025, Ross met our team at the Oxmoor Bourbon Company, 720 Oxmoor Ave. This historic home several miles from Louisville is a first-of-its-kind historical tour and tasting experience at Kentucky’s famed Oxmoor Farm. Ross arrived with racks filled with must-have spring fashions from Von Maur and models Vanessa Thorton, Alexis Gregory and A’nya Winburn who where selected during our open model audition earlier this year.
From breezy pleated sundresses to more ornate cocktail attire with sequins, ruffles and coordinating outfits for couples attending the races, Ross created multiple Kentucky Derby worthy ensembles showcasing this season’s silhouettes and colors but said your ensemble comes down to one prime piece of advice, no matter which year you attend the Kentucky Derby.
“Derby is always colorful and so much fun and your fashion should reflect that mood,” Ross told the Courier Journal. “There are so many options, whether you choose to wear a dress, pantsuit, jumpsuit or romper. The key is to feel great in what you wear.”
So let’s get started. Here are five tips to help you perfect your winning outfit for this year’s Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, held this year on May 2 and 3, respectively.
What colors will women wear to the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Churchill Downs is awash in brilliant colors each spring. The week of the Kentucky Derby we see vibrant color in the racetrack’s landscape from the silks the jockeys wear as they race and the guests who flow through the gates.
With upward of 100,000 fans flooding through the gates at Churchill Downs each day of Kentucky Derby weekend, you’ll see just about every color under the sun.
“Color is again, the big story in 2025,” said Ross.”The dominant favorites are cobalt, pinks and oranges with a lot of multi-color bold prints.”
If this is your first trip to the Kentucky Derby, you probably also have tickets to the Kentucky Oaks, which is held this year on Friday, May 2. Pink is the color of the day as the official flower of the Kentucky Oaks is the stargazer lily, the official drink is the Oaks Lily (also pink) and the official Survivors Parade celebrates breast and ovarian cancer survivors.
The following day is the “Run for the Roses” or the Kentucky Derby. The official flower of the Derby is the red rose and plenty of spectators dress in shades of red and floral patterns. But Derby Day is more of a free for all as far as color is concerned. Every color under the rainbow is game and that includes lots and lots of pink, again.
If bright bold colors aren’t your speed, Ross suggests an ensemble in traditional spectator colors, that’s black and white and navy and white. A long standing favorite at the racetrack spectator colors are always classic and look extra special accented with a splash of color in your hat, a scarf or jewelry.
Do I wear a hat to the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Well, yes! Beautiful wide brimmed hats and fancy fascinators perched on a headband or elastic band are tradition at the Kentucky Derby. The big question is do you buy the hat first or your outfit? If you are working with a custom hat designer, they can create a hat to coordinate with your outfit. But many women buy their headpiece first and then find a dress, jumpsuit or romper that coordinates well with the colors and style of their hat.
Which style of clothing do I wear to the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
A good starting point is understanding where you’ll be seated for the races. Some sections of the racetrack are more formal than others. For instance, if you are seated in the uncovered Grandstand you’ll need to dress to easily move about in the crowd and depending on the weather you may need to add a jacket or wrap or even a raincoat. Sundresses, rompers and jumpsuits are favorites in this section of Churchill Downs.
Indoor seating lends itself to being a bit more formal since you won’t need to be dressed to withstand the weather for six to eight hours.
“I am seeing a lot of feminine touches in 2025 collections such as ruffles, tiers, flounces, crochet, lace and chiffon adorn dresses,” said Ross. “You can also get away with sparkle by day by wearing a cocktail dress with sequins to the track.”
If you aren’t sure what the dress code is for the section of Churchill Downs where you are seated, you can read more at the Churchill Downs website, which details what is appropriate in each section of the track.
What are the hemline trends for fashion at the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
This is the easiest decision of all our Kentucky Derby fashion tips because it’s really whatever you are most comfortable wearing.
Ross said this year’s top trends are all over the map. “Lengths go from thigh high to ankle, with everything in between.”
So pick a dress length or style in which you’re most comfortable.
What type of shoes do I wear to the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
While you don’t need to sacrifice comfort for style, Ross does suggest prioritizing comfort as a day at the Churchill Downs Racetrack is long and you’ll spend a lot of time walking to get to your seat and meeting up with friends who may be seated in different sections of the venue.
You’ll thank us if you leave the stilettos at home and opt for a more stable wedge instead. Chunky heels and pretty sandals with low heels are another option. Some women will wear platform sneakers to Churchill Downs and everyone who has been to the races before knows to slip a pair of flip flops in your bag. Your feet will thank you at the end of the day.
Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or Twitter @kirbylouisville.
FRANKLIN, Ky. (WSMV) – The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a rental scam circulating TikTok.
“The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of fraudulent rental listings being shared on TikTok using photos of legitimate properties in Franklin and Simpson County,” SCSO said.
The scammers advertise homes for rent and advise those interested to text or call the same phone number, even though, the properties have different owners or real estate agencies, SCSO said.
SCSO said at least some of the posts have been found by investigators to be illegitimate.
SCSO shared these tips to avoid falling victim to these scams:
- Never send a security deposit, application fee, or first month’s rent before verifying the listing.
- Always meet the property owner, landlord, or licensed property manager in person at the property before exchanging money.
- Verify that the person advertising the property has the legal authority to rent it.
- Be especially cautious if you are pressured to act quickly or asked to pay through cash apps, wire transfers, or other non-traditional payment methods.
“If you believe you have been the victim of a rental scam, please contact the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency immediately,” SCSO said.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Day 1 of the MLB Draft saw two Kentucky Wildcats come off the board.
Tyler Bell was drafted 10th overall to the Colorado Rockies, becoming one of the highest-drafted players in Kentucky Baseball history. Jaxson Jelkin was drafted 135th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Now, as the draft enters Day 2 with Rounds 5-20 today, things will get pretty interesting from Kentucky’s perspective.
A lot of eyes will be on Kentucky signee Grayson Willoughby. The Kentucky Mr. Baseball winner led Trinity to a second consecutive state championship and will hear his name called today. There was some belief that Willoughby could have been drafted yesterday, so don’t expect a ton of picks to come off the board before Willoughby is drafted today. From there, a decision will have to be made about his future. If Willoughby opts to go to Kentucky, he’d be eligible as a 21-year-old sophomore in 2028.
Another prospect a lot of eyes will be on is Matt Ponatoski. Ponatoski is signed to play both football and baseball at Kentucky, but there’s been speculation that Ponatoski could lean toward professional baseball instead. Will Ponatoski hearing his name called early on Day 2 be enough to push him toward the pros instead of Kentucky?
There’s also junior college star Jimmy Anderson, who is expected to take over the shortstop position next season, and Robert Omidi, the Canadian infielder who has shown a lot of promise with his ability at the plate.
Another Kentucky signee worth monitoring today is catcher Carson May. The Kansas native is expected to compete for the starting catcher job at Kentucky, so long as he doesn’t ink a deal today.
Day 2 of the MLB Draft gets underway at 11:30 this morning. You can follow the draft on MLB.com.
Hopefully Mark Pope’s connection with Jamal Crawford can be an x-factor in this recruitment.
A great accomplishment for the UK Shortstop.
Some praise for the new front office in Colorado.
Jelkin had a great season at Kentucky.
The son of the former 49ers linebacker is one of the top point guards in the 2027 class.
England is back in the World Cup semifinals.
FIFA said the ball didn’t hit the wire.
It would be a new record for an NFL franchise.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lucas Glover topped the ISCO Championship for the third straight day, shooting a 2-under 68 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Aaron Wise into the final round.
After opened 63-64 without a bogey, the 46-year-old Glover had an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys at Hurstbourne Country Club. He had a 15-under 195 total.
“Kind of a slow start, 1 over through six,” Glover said. “Just didn’t make anything today. I didn’t feel like I hit that many bad putts, I just didn’t make anything.”
Wise birdied the final two holes for a 66.
“I felt pretty solid every part of my game,” Wise said. ‘I liked what I did with my ball-striking between yesterday’s round and today, felt pretty comfortable out there with it.”
Stephan Jaeger (65), Steven Fisk (68) and Chan Kim (68) were 13 under. Zac Blair (64) and (65) were 12 under.
Played opposite the Scottish Open, the event is sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the European tour. The winner will get into the PGA Championship but not the Masters next year.
Glover, the only major champion in the field, has six PGA Tour victories, highlighted by the 2009 U.S. Open. He tied for third last week in the John Deere Classic.
“I’m very excited.” Glover said. “I love to compete. I love to compete. And everybody’s fighting for the same thing. I look forward to it. Struggled on the weekend a little bit last week, so kind of want to right that ship.”
Former Auburn star Jackson Koivun had a 66 to get to 9 under. He missed the cut last week in his professional debut.
NCAA champion Preston Stout was 7 under after a 68. The Oklahoma State senior tied for 15th in the John Deere.
The ISCO Championship reaches its conclusion in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. Here’s when final round coverage begins on Golf Channel.
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