Derby Wear and Hat Etiquette

It's Derby Week and I thought I'd share some cute Derby outfits with y'all.  I found these on the Instagram account of Monkee's of Louisville.  I love their Facebook and Instagram sites--they put together the cutest outfits...dress, hat, shoes, and pocketbook.

These are beautiful dresses by Laura Bernal! and paired with lovely Southern Belle-style hats.  The bigger the hat, the better!

Cute dresses, big hats, and LaRoque sashes.

Love the color combo of this out!  This outfit is just adorable!

A precious horsebit-pattern LaRoque dress with a darling fascinator.

This is a limited edition Derby LaRoque dress...love the pattern and the cute fascinator!

Hats and fascinators truly finish off a look and some feel that wearing a hat to the Derby will bring you good luck.  There's a debate as to whether you should choose the hat first or the dress.  I can't help y'all with that as I have been known to build an outfit around a belt, or a scarf, or a bracelet! 

Whatever you choose, be sure you follow proper headwear etiquette:

Wearing a hat:

• Keep in the mind that your hat should frame your face, not overshadow it.  
• Wear you hat on top of your head, not tilted back.  You may tilt your hat to the right.
• Be sure you pull your hair off of your face...no bangs with a hat.
• Just in case it's a windy day, make sure your hat is secure on your head.
• A lady does not need to remove her hat during the National Anthem, but you should remove it after 5 p.m.

Wearing a fascinator:

Kate Middleton definitely made the fascinator popular.  

• Notice that she wears it to the right side of her head, toward the front, and at an angle.  
• Keep the fascinator in proportion to your head.
• Keep your hairstyle simple.
  
  Whether you are actually going to the Kentucky Derby, attending a Derby party, or watching it on television with a mint julep in hand, enjoy the race y'all!  I'll be wearing my Derby-theme clothes all week.

Hat, Glove, and Corsage Etiquette

It's that time of year--time to show off your new spring hat, some prissy gloves, and a beautiful corsage!

While sipping a cup of White Vanilla Grapefruit Tea (available at Harney Teas), I browsed through one of my favorite books published by the former Victoria Magazine editor, entitled The Romance of Hats. This book is full of delightful pictures of all different styles of hats and tips on how to wear them. Hats are a beautiful accessory and certainly popular to wear on Easter Sunday. You may keep your hat on while indoors, but should remove it at dusk. Gentlemen should remove their hats when entering a building. Hat pins are lovely adornments to a hat and should be pinned on the right side of a lady's hat and on the left side of a gentleman's hat.

Make it Southern...A lot of Southern gentlemen still tip their hat to a lady (some men were just raised right)!

The Romance of Hats...A pretty book, loaded with beautiful pictures!
Oh-so pretty and romantic...

All y'all know by now that you may start wearing your white shoes and carrying your white pocketbooks on Easter Sunday...Here's Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy with Young John Fitzgerald, Jr. on Easter Sunday 1963...
There is also etiquette to be followed when wearing gloves and corsages. Proper etiquette dictates that gloves are removed when entering a building, whether it is a tearoom or a church. It is not considered proper to shake hands while wearing gloves (only the Queen of England can get away with this) or to eat or drink while wearing gloves. Remove your gloves in a lady like fashion, one finger at a time. Always hold your pocketbook and gloves in your left hand so that you will be ready to shake hands at any time.

Remember, only the Queen of England may wear gloves while shaking hands!

Corsages are a tradition in the South and may be worn on Easter Sunday. Corsages are pinned to the clothing on the left shoulder.

The Palins, wearing their corsages (and boutineer) on the left hand shoulder.

Corsages may also be worn as a "wristlet," attached to a ribbon and tied around the wrist.

Whether you are attending Church, an Afternoon Tea, a wedding, or any other fancy event, remember to practice proper Hat, Glove, and Corsage Etiquette.

Thank you for stopping by today!