What to Wear to Thurby: Best Dressed for Derby

I still cannot believe that Derby week is here; this year I’m crossing an item off my bucket list by actually going to Derby for the first time. It should be a ton of fun & I’m super excited about the outfit I’m wearing. {It’ll be up here on What Nicole Wore Saturday morning!} Today’s post is a bit of a throwback; I’m sharing the outfit I wore to Thurby last year.

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What to Wear to Thurby: Best Dressed for Derby | All About Thurby

Each year it seems like Derby week gets bigger and bigger; while Kentucky Derby will always be the main event, the Oaks races on Friday have become more and more popular and what was known as the “locals’ day” is now more frequently attended by out of towners.

RELATED: How to Look Like a Natural at Kentucky’s Biggest Event

Thurby was introduced a few years back and is another fun {and affordable} option for Louisvillians. Most attendees do wear hats or fascinators, but you will see some people casually dressed in jeans. Last year it was cool and rainy and so at the last minute, I decided to layer my dress over a basic striped tee to make sure I wouldn’t get cold.

What to Wear to Thurby: Best Dressed for Derby | Shoe Game

Unpopular opinion: I hate heels every single day of the year and refuse to wear them for more than a dinner or photoshoot. Last Thurby, there was rain in the forecast and so I broke out my green Hunter boots. There are lots of ladies that come to Churchill Downs with amazing shoe game, but there’s also always a ton of ladies that are walking around Churchill Downs barefoot during the second half of the day – something I wouldn’t recommend. Stick to your comfortable shoes and if you’re headed to the track for Thurby or Kentucky Oaks, don’t be afraid to bust out your rain boots!

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What to Wear to Thurby: Best Dressed for Derby | The Makeup

Wear comfortable makeup and try to remember to use a setting spray to make sure your makeup stays in place all day. I usually try and also go with a matte lipstick that I know won’t budge through me drinking multiple Lilies and chowing down. {My recommendations: YSL’s matte lip stain or a Kylie lip kit. I’ve also heard great things about the Anastasia liquid lipsticks but haven’t pulled the trigger myself!} I know a lot of people think that dramatic makeup is for nighttime, but Churchill Downs is one of those places where being extra is totally acceptable; don’t be afraid to go for the dramatic smoky eye or to even throw in some color.

RELATED: Two Best, Affordable Dress Options for Kentucky Oaks & Easter

What to Wear to Thurby: Best Dressed for Derby | The Fascinator

Whenever I do a Derby week with my mom, we always turn it into a fun girls’ day out, plan our outfits weeks in advance, and make our own fascinators. Some people love this option and some hate it, but we always have so much fun picking supplies and designing together. Last year, I took a very basic fascinator that I ordered for under $10 from Amazon and then picked out crinoline and feathers that perfectly matched my dress. Feathers can be curled {and even touched up} with a curling iron on low heat.

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What to Wear to Thurby: Best Dressed for Derby | Remember Your Small Bag

Churchill Downs does have a rule that prohibits purses that are larger than 12” in any direction, so you’ll want to be sure to bring a small or medium crossbody purse to the track. Last year, I threw my phone, mobile charger, a pack of gum, ID, cash and cards into this Kate Spade purse that’s shaped like a pint of ice cream. It was definitely the statement piece of my outfit and I got stopped so many times by people wanting to compliment or ask questions about it. I really love how perfectly the pink in the ice cream lid matches with the pink in the floral print of this dress.

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