I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! Did you watch the Kentucky Derby, otherwise known as the greatest 2 minutes in sports? Be honest, was it for the horse race or for the hats?

One of the things that I look forward to when there is a horse racing event are the hats. The more outrageous, the better. News and photos of the Derby continue to slowly trickle, however, it seems like the ladies at this year’s Kentucky Derby were rather tame with their hat choices. For years, the “hat spotting” has become a major part of the event. It almost seems like a friendly competition to see who can out do each other with the craziest hat.

| this may be the most outlandish hat from Churchill Downs this year |

| here’s another one from the Kentucky Derby, but it’s quite beautiful |

I have been disappointed with the Derby hats this year, so I did some digging and discovered that the British can show the U.S. a thing or two about hats for horse racing events. Although, if you watched Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s wedding ceremony, Beatrice’s infamous pretzel hat was our major clue that the Brits believe in “Go Big or Go Home.”

| Beatrice’s hat |

The Royal Ascot horse race is Britain’s equivalent to America’s Kentucky Derby. England is known for hats and elegant events. So, not surprisingly, there is a dress code for the Royal Ascot that sets the parameters for acceptable guidelines:

Ladies are kindly asked to note the following:

• Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck and spaghetti straps are not permitted.

• Midriffs must be covered.

• Fascinators are not permitted; neither are headpieces which do not have a solid base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches/10cm).

Not all hats at Ascot follow the elegant traditional style of the past. In fact, when it comes to fashion, the race has also become renowned for the extravagant and extraordinary. Spotting the most outlandish headpiece has now become something of a tradition. Here is a roundup of outrageous hats.

Horse Races and Hats

| sunny-side up |

| cherry on top |

| I call this one “mid-air collision” |

| Alfred Hitchcock, The Macaws |

| I would actually wear this one |

| the sorbet swirl |

| so clever to build in the tablecloth |

| lonesome dove |

| will you accept this rose? |

| the plight of the butterfly |

| super cute |

I got such a chuckle from this photo taken at the 143rd Kentucky Derby. John Velazquez, the jockey who rode Always Dreaming, the favorite and winner, of the Kentucky Derby, sprays the crowd with champagne. Photo credit: NPR

 

Sarah O’Brien

Connecticut in Style Blog