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Hi there! I hope everyone is easing into the week. After resting up yesterday, I’m feeling better with just a husky voice and a lingering cough the only signs of my cold. I promised I’d be back today to share the highlights of my trip to the Kentucky Derby. If you watched the Derby on TV  you saw that it was raining like cats and dogs so I have to apologize up front that I didn’t get to take as many photos as I wanted and some of the photos are dark given the weather, but there is plenty to see!

First let me say that if you’ve never been to the Kentucky Derby you must add it to your bucket list. It really is a once in-a-lifetime adventure and the best people watching ever. Louisville is a beautiful southern city but when it comes to the Derby, the city transforms into an entirely different place. Pomp, circumstance, big hats and more private jets at an airport than I’ve ever seen before. I’ve been to Churchill Downs before and have attend Kentucky Derby events in the past, but I’ve never attended the official derby day races before and can only describe it as amazing!

Upon arriving in Louisville I told my brother I needed to buy a hat for derby day. He said “no problem” but failed to mention to me what it was like shopping for a hat the day before the derby. OMG!!!!

I visited several stores, saw some beautiful hats and I tried on lots of them. Bold, colorful and overly embellished was the protocol for the derby.  I snapped these photos in a store called Dee’s where you could by pre-made hats, or if you wanted something a little more custom you could buy different elements ($17 for a silk flower) and the store designers would create a hat right there on the spot for you.  So I dove in searched for “my hat”….

All the hats I looked at were amazing, but I just couldn’t pay $150 or more for a hat that I would probably only wear once. Yes, $150 was the average price for a hat (even at SteinMart).  The pink and black hat in the photo above was $189.00 and the black and white hat in the top photo was $169.00.  Ladies were buying these hats like they were candy but I just couldn’t go there.

So, what’s a girl to do when she needs a hat for the Kentucky Derby but wants to do it on the down low? She gets creative and pulls out the hot glue gun, that’s what she does!

{keep reading, the unveiling of my hat is coming}

But before the hat could be made there was partying to do…

On our first night in Louisville we attended the Derby Poker Championship Gala where professional poker players and celebrities gathered to play poker with proceeds going to charity.  There was lots of money and cocktails flowing but the highlight of the evening for me was meeting and chatting with legendary basketball coach Denny Crum.  My brother is a VP at the University of Louisville and has worked with Denny for many years so we were able to get a photo with him.

The hubs, me and Denny Crum

The food was flowing, the music was blasting, there was dancing and this amazing artist was on site creating this piece of art.  He started painting at the beginning of the event and had the piece complete by the end of the evening.

The next evening, we attended a formal dinner party hosted by Senator Gerald Neal and his wife.  The event included a wonderful southern dinner, a jazz band, a play and dancing.

The hubs and me in our duds

My brother Dwight and his girlfriend Mary

Needless to say after shopping for a hat, parties and cocktails I was a tired gal but there was still a hat to be made.  Late Friday night I pulled out my supplies and got to work.  My outfit for the derby was this long brightly colored dress so I decided to use a black hat and dress it up with flowers and tulle to match the dress.

I added a green band of ribbon around the cap of the hat

and then added black tulle and big fluffy flowers in orange, white and royal blue.

I didn’t want an over-the-top hat so I was really happy with the way this turned out and for only $50.00.

Saturday morning we set out for Churchill Downs.  It was already raining and luckily we had rain ponchos in the car and stopped at the dollar store for cheap umbrellas we could dump at the gate.

Churchill Downs in a truly amazing structure.  The entire property is enormous and the architectural details are something to be admired.

There was lots of security at the entrance gate so I felt really safe plus all handbags were being check and they were doing body scans too.

The crowds were thick but that didn’t stop me from checking  out all the fashions.  There was lots of classic derby attire like seersucker suits and eyelet dresses

but a few women decided to go be a little bolder with their look.

Many of the men also got the “go bold or go home” message and came dressed to stand out.

The guys above and below couldn’t walk 10 feet without someone asking to take their photo.

Even Colonel Sanders ( with his stunt double) and Abe Lincoln made an appearance.

My brother and Mary took a more sophisticated approach with their derby attire.

Along with the clothes, there were amazing hats, some high style and some more comical.

I think this woman forgot she was in Kentucky and not Florida.

An after-Christmas clearance item put to good use 🙂

There were lots of celebrities walking the red carpet including Smokey Robinson and his wife.  This was the only picture I was able to get before the crowds drowned me out.

Jeez, this post is going on forever so I’m going to leave you with a few more images of Kentucky Derby 2013. 

Here’s the rose garland that was draped over the winning horse.  Did you know that a different Kroger grocery store in Louisville makes this garland each year, the night before the race?

Despite getting really wet and catching a cold, we had a great time.  We are already planning our trip to the derby next year and I’m gathering ideas for my hat.  I think I’m going to be on the “go bold or go home” team for derby 2014!  Why not!

all images by ConfettiStyle