Derby week has arrived, and that means the last minute rush around Louisville to find the perfect dress and hat. Today, I'm bringing you 3 different looks from Catherines. The best part about these 3 dresses is that you can wear them to Thurby, Oaks, Derby, and beyond by styling them different ways.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Catherines. All opinions are 100% mine.
Look 1: Bold and Sassy
This first look is bold with the dress in a true red and a large hat. The flow of the dress is great, and the length is long enough that you won't have any wardrobe malfunctions if a gust of wind comes your way. Sometimes it's hard to pull off a large, ornate hat such as this one with a more elaborate dress, so this dress is the perfect outfit base to really show off the hat. If you want to add more drama to the outfit beyond the hat, you could add layered necklaces and bangles.
Beyond the Derby, this is a very wearable dress for everyday life. It can be worn on its own with sandals and a straw bag. Or, add a denim jacket and flats for an on-the-go look. For work, adding a black blazer and pumps would be perfect.
The fabric is very soft, and is easy to wash-and-wear. For reference, I'm wearing the Catherines 3X, and am 5'10.
Look 2: Floral and Flirty
If you wanted a look that is a little more playful than the dramatic red dress, this floral dress is perfect. The fabric doesn't wrinkle, it has a cold shoulder and a small ruffle around the top that gives it a special touch.
The colorful print of this dress means you can pair it with so many colors. When I was looking at hats at The Hat Girls, there were easily 10 or more that could have coordinated with this dress. I decided on yellow to match my yellow clutch. I think the pop helps bring out the hints of yellow and peach in the print. If you are going to Oaks on Friday, adding a bright pink fascinator would be perfect!
I should also talk about shoes, as they're often overlooked, but essential to race day. You will be on your feet a lot, between standing in line for mint juleps, placing bets, and walking to and from wherever you are lucky enough to find parking. These shoes are from Catherines and are extremely comfortable on my 11 wide feet, while still giving a couple of inches of heel. These can be worn comfortably all day.
Look 3: Spring Dream
This fuchsia dress is for the person who wants to be comfortable on Oaks or Derby day, but still look good. The fabric is really soft, it has great movement, and a lot of adjustable coverage at the bust, if you want to cover up or reveal more. You could add a contrasting color fascinator, or keep things a little more toned down like I did here.
The modern shape of this champagne crinoline fascinator has pops of color with the goose feathers. It's fun, whimsical, and like the dress: easy to wear. I think this one would also hold up in the rain quite a bit better than one made of sinamay or other material that tends to wilt in water.
For all 3 looks, I wore the same fun hoop earrings from Catherines. They're a great everyday pair of earrings for those like me who appreciate larger earrings.
This dress is going to be in heavy rotation throughout spring and summer because it's so comfortable. I wore it yesterday with a denim jacket and leopard print flats – so cute and perfect for running errands or hitting up a patio with friends.
The best part about these Catherines looks is you don't have to order online if you're in a last minute hurry. With nearly 400 locations, including Louisville, Lexington, and Florence, you can shop for your race day style in-store.
Big thanks to The Hat Girls for letting me use some of their fantastic headpieces to style these looks. They have a lot of amazing inventory right now if you're looking for a last minute hat or fascinator. They're located at 10708 Meeting St #101, Prospect, KY 40059.
Which of these 3 looks is your favorite?
Photos by Nicole of What Nicole Wore
See more Derby fashion ideas here.
