The 2014 HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland Springtime Style

Every spring, we get a ton of questions from readers; they all send some variant of the question "What should I wear to Keeneland?"  Now, if there are two things I love, it's shopping at local Kentucky boutiques and taking in a day of horse racing. I asked a few of our favorite Lexington-based boutiques to help us sort out the Keeneland Dress Code.



If you're going to stay near the Paddock -- General Admission, Grandstand, or Equestrian Room -- there's no need to dress up very much.  Guys often opt for khakis and polo shirts, and women can wear slacks. These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels.  In recent years, a culture of dressy tailgating (think Steeplechase) has popped up among college students and twenty-somethings, and the second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal.  While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines ties and Lilly Pulitzer to be seen. The Peppermint Palm suggests the Richelle dress -- available in pink seersucker, as shown below, mint green seersucker, or fun Lilly prints to brighten up your day at the track.


Lilly Pulitzer, seersucker, spring, Keeneland, horse racing, Steeplechase, Louisville KY fashion blog


If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event.  The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies.   The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses/pantsuits for ladies. During the week, many professionals take long business lunches in these areas, as is reflected in their dress code. This Lilly Pulitzer Pearl shift from the Peppermint Palm comes in a versatile white lace that allows you to pair with a sweater or blazer for the area of your choice.

Lilly Pulitzer, lace, spring, Keeneland, horse racing, Steeplechase, Louisville KY fashion blog



The members-only Clubhouse similarly requires coat and tie for men and dressy pants/skirts for ladies.  I find that a skirt suit or a dress paired with a pretty cardigan or wrap is always appropriate for the upper levels.  In general, if you'd wear it to church or a business meeting, you're golden. Most of all, remember to look nice because you'll see plenty of people!

AJ's Casuals suggests this Hunter Bell lace dress, DVF clutch, and Carol Bader Designs fascinator for a fancy day on the upper levels.

Lace, Lexington, spring, Keeneland, horse racing, Steeplechase, Louisville KY fashion blog

To coordinate with your Keeneland ensemble, we're thrilled to offer one lucky HerKentucky reader a seersucker bow clutch purse designed by our own Italian-trained handbag maven, Elizabeth Elfen! I love this bag for a day at the track, a summer wedding, or any time you want to add a little Southern sass to your ensemble.


Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below and tell us what you're wearing to Keeneland this spring, and check in Thursday when we answer a pressing question about Keeneland style!


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Get Ready for Spring with Macy's, Estée Lauder, and Lilly Pulitzer!

Here at HerKentucky, we're all about women who followed their dreams and started their own businesses. I was so excited when Macy's asked us to pass along the details on an exclusive deal, because it combines two of my very favorite female entrepreneur success stories -- Lilly Pulitzer and Estée Lauder!

Estée Lauder's business model was so simple and yet so brilliant: You can sell more face cream if you offer your customers a free tube of lipstick.  And Lilly Pulitzer -- well, y'all already know how much I love her -- wasn't comfortable sitting around living the life of a socialite, so she started selling dresses inspired by her Florida citrus groves.

Now through March 23, you can choose a free 7-Pc. gift with any $35 Estée Lauder purchase through Macys.com. The free gift with purchase includes free makeup valued at $120 and a one-of-a-kind Lilly Pulitzer cosmetic bag available only through Macy’s. (You can read all of the details of the exclusive gift with purchase.)

    The best part? You don't have to go to a Macy's store to find the perfect products for your skin! You can use the Macy’s Estée Lauder Skincare Finder and the Macy’s Estée Lauder Foundation Finder to find exactly what you need!

    After a short interactive quiz, the calculator helps you identify the perfect product for your skincare and beauty needs. These tools are a great way to ensure you're selecting the right products for your needs and skin tone.  It packs the basic knowledge of a beauty consultant into a simple, interactive quiz!




    (HerKentucky was contacted by Macy's to spread the word about this special offer. No member of the HerKentucky writing staff received any form of compensation for this post.)
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    Tailgate in Style with a Lilly Pulitzer Cooler from Lifeguard Press!

    When I first started going to horse races, people didn't tailgate. You simply went to the race track, got some refreshments, socialized, and watched the races. These days, Keeneland Tailgates promise a full day of fun, complete with cornhole tournaments, elaborate food and drinks, and well-coordinated outfits. Oh, my, the outfits! Lilly Pulitzer dresses matched perfectly to bow ties. To party in a parking lot, y'all. I like to think of Keeneland tailgates as Kentuckians' answer to the SEC football tailgates that our friends in the deeper South so painstakingly plan.


    HerKentucky has teamed up with Lifeguard Press to celebrate our birthday -- and the arrival of tailgating season -- in style with this gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer Insulated Cooler. Whether fall takes you to horse races, football games, or a weekend getaway, you can carry your drinks and refreshments in style!



    You can enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced Monday, September 30.

    Good luck! And please let us know: Where will you be tailgating this fall?

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    Lilly Pulitzer Commemorates the Lexington Junior League Horse Show

    The 77th Annual Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show kicks off tonight at 6:30 at the Red Mile
    Image via Lexington Junior League
    Now, as I've said many times, both here on HerKentucky and elsewhere, Horse Show is my very favorite charity event in the Commonwealth. There's absolutely nothing else like it, and it's so uniquely "Kentucky"-- not only is it a significant fundraiser for the Junior League, it's also an elaborate, week-long Saddlebred horse show. In recent years, the event has become the world's largest outdoor Saddlebred show; it even serves as the first jewel in Saddlebred's Triple Crown. In addition to the various shows, there are nightly special events and an elaborate vendor hall full of equestrian-themed gifts. It's a fixture in Lexington's summer. And, I can honestly say that I've never seen more Lilly Pulitzer in one place.

    Our friends at The Peppermint Palm know that Lilly and Horse Show go hand in hand, too. I recently chatted with Katherine Anderson, of the Lexington Peppermint Palm location. Katherine, who's also a member of the Lexington League, told me that she'd been inspired by the limited edition t-shirts that Lilly Pulitzer created for the Carolina Cup steeplechase event. When the folks from Lilly headquarters were in Lexington for a special shopping event with League members, a great idea was born. The designers at Lilly came up with a gorgeous t-shirt commemorating this year's horse show. 

    image via Peppermint Palm.
    When I stopped by The Peppermint Palm the other day to pick up my shirt, I simply fell in love. The Horse Show ribbon design on the front of the shirt is so richly detailed, and the Palm Girl (the new mascot for the Peppermint Palm -- I hear they're still deciding on her name...) icon is just gorgeous. Then again, I wouldn't expect anything less from the Lilly team. The best part? A portion of the sale of each t-shirt goes directly to the Lexington Junior League, funding their remarkable work across Central Kentucky. 

    I love this idea: a gorgeous, limited edition t-shirt you'll actually wear which actually contributes to a great cause. All that for $25. You can contact The Peppermint Palm via their Facebook page to order your own.

    If you're heading to the Horse Show this week, here's a link to the schedule of events.
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    HerKentucky Mother's Day Wish List

    If, like me, you're still shopping for a Mother's Day present (I promise it'll get done today!!), then you likely fall into one of two camps. You're either a terrible procrastinator,or you're waiting for just the perfect gift to emerge. I'm probably a little guilty of both -- I've saved up the shopping duties for a day when I'll already be running a bunch of errands and I just couldn't bear to mail it in with yet another box of Godiva truffles. 

    I assume that I'm not the only one who's still shopping, so I contacted a few of my very favorite Kentucky shops and boutiques for last-minute Mother's Day present suggestions to share with HerKentucky readers. They came up with some unique and amazing products that I think your mom will love. There are a few that you'll probably want to pick up for yourself as well!

    Herend from L.V. Harkness
    Downtown Lexington's L.V. Harkness has such a delightful array of classic gifts. Everything in their store is fabulous, and the Herend Porcelain is no exception. The Herend Baby Shoe in Pink or Blue, or the Herend Just Hatched Figurine in Raspberry are great ideas for a mom-to-be or a new mom! 

    Mother's Day pics from For Friends!
    For Friends! has been one of my favorite little shops since I was a teenager buying Vera Bradley luggage in their old Lexington Mall location. Let's not focus on how old that makes me, though. Instead, take a look at their whimsical Mother's Day wishlist -- from picture frames to stemware to precious stone bunnies, they have a gift for every mom's taste!

    Vera Bradley from Daffodils
    Daffodils is my favorite little hometown store. They're such a fun pop of color on Prestonsburg's Court Street! Daffodils suggests that you treat Mom to a Vera Bradley bag and get rewarded with a gift with purchase cosmetic bag trio!


    Lilly Pulitzer scarf from The Peppermint Palm
    The Peppermint Palm  -- with locations in Lexington and Louisville -- is another "must-shop" for me! The Peppermint Palm suggests a Lilly Pulitzer Murfee scarf for your Mom, and I have to agree. These are just the most fun pop of color you'll ever wear, and the silk/cashmere blend is the softest, lightest material. Mom will wear it again and again, and you'll ask to borrow it more than once!
    Pearl Triple Cluster earrings from W &  M Custom Jewelry
    Y'all know that all the HerKentucky writers just adore the gorgeous designs of W & M Custom Jewelry. The ladies at W & M think that Mom will just adore these Pearl Triple Cluster earrings, and I tend to agree -- they're delicate and fun, and a great twist on traditional pearls!
    Leather Jacket from Blink
    Louisville's Blink Boutique features gorgeous, trendy pieces. The Blink staff recommends the Venette Leather Jacket by Joie and Hidden Hills Straight Leg Jean by Paige for mom-style that's anything but frumpy!


    Thanks so much to L.V. Harkness, For Friends!, Daffodils, The Peppermint Palm, W & M Custom Jewelry, and Blink Boutique for helping out with this post! 

    What's on your Mother's Day Wish List?

    {No member of the HerKentucky writing staff was compensated in any way for this post.}
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    HerKentucky Derby Days: Lifeguard Press Lilly Pulitzer Giveaway!

    Hey y'all! We're so excited to bring y'all the second giveaway of HerKentucky Derby Days.
    As I've told y'all before, I'm a huge Lilly Pulitzer fan. I was so excited a few years ago when a line of fun Lilly paper goods, gifts, and accessories was released. I was even more excited to learn that the company that produces these items, Lifeguard Press, is Kentucky-based!
    Lifeguard Press was kind enough to send me a Lilly Pulitzer print tumbler to review. I just adore this -- it's a huge, Lilly-print acrylic cup with a hot pink straw. I used it all this weekend -- it kept my drinks cold and made my desk look so cute. Even better, it's BPA-, Phthalate-, and Lead-Free. So many thanks to Lifeguard Press-- I think this may be my new favorite cup!

    Lifeguard Press has also graciously offered a prize pack to get one lucky HerKentucky reader ready for Derby! As y'all know, any horse race can is subject to weather. It can be sunny or rainy, but the Derby must go on. These Lilly-print items will help you be prepared no matter the weather. The prize pack includes a can koozie, sunglass straps, and an umbrella. You'll be Derby-ready, rain or shine!
    Derby Ready

    Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

    Good luck, and Happy Derby Days!
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    {Actual prints may vary from prizes shown. A member of the HerKentucky writing staff was provided with a product for review, however, all opinions expressed are our own. Contest runs from 6:00 a.m. Monday, April 22 through 12:00 a.m., Friday, April 26. Winner will be announced Friday, April 26.}
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    The HerKentucky Easter Basket Wishlist

    If you're like me, you're going to be spending Easter Sunday with a big family dinner, a fancy dress hidden under a sweater, and the resolve to not eat too many Peeps. I thought it would be fun to put together a couple of Easter Baskets full of Kentucky-themed products to go along with those holiday plans!
    • The littlest gal on your Easter list will love this Savannah Seersucker Bonnet from Lexington's own Beaufort Bonnet Company. This monogrammable bonnet makes an amazing keepsake of her first Easter.
    • I adore the Lilly Pulitzer Just Add Mint print for spring. With all the fixin's for a julep, it's sure to be a hit at the spring races. Both the Lexington and Louisville Peppermint Palm stores have plenty of this fun print in stock, including my favorite, the Lavender skirt, as well as the Leandra and Lacina dresses.
    • Mellen Designs strikes again! Dress your iPhone 4 or 5 in your favorite team colors with the Winning Team Phone Case.























    • The little guy in your life will look sharp in the Baylor Bow Tie from Beaufort Bonnet. I love the monogram option!
    • Treat your beau to a bourbon class at the 1785 Bourbon Societyat Midway's Holly Hill Inn. I recently had the opportunity to sit in on a tasting; I left feeling a little happier and a lot more knowledgeable about Kentucky's native spirit!
    • Of course, what your favorite Kentucky fan wants is a commitment from Andrew Wiggins. I doubt the Easter Bunny can swing that one, but this Waterford crystal paperweight commemorating our 8th National Title is pretty nice.
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