What Are You Wearing for Opening Day?

Opening Day is so close we can taste it, y'all.

Of course, readers of The Kentucky Girls don't need any help picking out a gorgeous ensemble for the races, but many other girls out there do.

Here are a few suggestions. I love these adorable grandstand print dresses from Lilly Pulitzer and these rose-gold flats from Tory Burch: understated, comfortable, and timeless. The flats are great for walking from parking to paddock, and don't forget a sweater for chilly breezes or Clubhouse tables!

Hats Off!

No pressure, ladies, but Derby is 25 days away.  Oaks is a mere 24! What kind of hat are you wearing to each?

Now, I lovelovelove the Derby Barbie . I have put out every hint, subliminal message, and all other conceivable methods of pouting that would convince the Easter Bunny, my mama, or my beau to have one waiting for me this Sunday morning.  However, I find the replica hat to be a little gauche. For the price, I'd prefer a milliner's original.  If y'all are still looking for a hat, I would suggest that you run on down to the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft this week; their shop features many amazing one-of-a-kind creations. Derby weekend is no time to look like yet another cookie-cutter Barbie doll!

And, for the recessionistas, this Friday, April 9, the Museum is hosting a makeover event for your existing Derby hats. How fabulous is that? Working with an actual milliner to customize your hat for this year! The event is from 5-9 Friday evening after the Trolley Hop.

Once you get the most important aspect of your Derby weekend squared away, you can keep abreast of the field of contenders by following Derby Tweets at http://twitter.com/derbyoaks.

And...

...just like that, my horse is out .  The tendon strain that caused the Pamplemousse to scratch in the Santa Anita is apparently keeping him out of Derby as well. Here's to a rapid recovery and a distinguished racing career for Pamplemousse.

I'm hearing good things about an early Bluegrass Stakes favorite, Terrain. He ran five furlongs in company at 1:01.  Interesting.

Don't Be That Girl

Spring Meet  is mere hours away, ladies. Right on cue, as soon as the first race starts (five minutes earlier this year!), That Girl will show up.  And she won't go away.

You know the one.  She's in college, or in her early twenties. She's wearing the newest, fanciest dress from Ann Taylor Loft or White House Black Market. She's all spaghetti straps and sandals, weather report be damned.  She's had one too many at the Sports Bar. And she thinks she's adorable.

I always want to grab That Girl. Depending on my mood (and whether I'm winning), I either want to hug her or shake some sense into her.  Either way, I want to give her some sisterly advice.  Hopefully this blog can serve as a public forum to provide that advice to potential That Girls all over the Bluegrass. Here goes:

• The first week of April in Kentucky is cold.  It's generally during redbud winter.  Cover yourself with a nice cardigan. That new sundress will be totally appropriate by Stakes.
• If it's raining, cold or both, your sandals look silly.
• I don't care what Stacy London says, don't wear white before Easter. It's preferable to hold off until after Derby, but Easter is the absolute earliest.
• Don't order that last drink.  You've had more than you think, and it's a long walk back to the car.

The track is a lovely place to spend the day, ladies. It isn't a frat party.  Don't be That Girl.

h

My money's on the pink horse...

With Derby only thirty-two days away, it's time to kick the ensemble planning into high gear. The hat selection in Louisville will get really sparse in another couple of weeks, so we need to plan, ladies!

I'm loving the early buzz on a three-year old named The Pamplemousse . Of course, we still have to see how the most important meet of the year (Keeneland in April) plays out before we can make our final predictions.

Still, how perfect would it be to be sitting at the track, wearing a dress inspired by a juice stand , and betting on a horse named for a grapefruit ?

It's almost enough to make me switch from juleps to mimosas. Almost.

H

RIP, Alysheba

The Kentucky Girls extend their deepest sympathies at the passing of 1987 Derby winner Alysheba.