HerKentucky Derby Days: Marley Lilly Giveaway!

April 18, 2013 by Heather C. Watson in "derby", "equestrian", "giveaways", "herkentucky derby days", "horse racing", "marley lilly", "style", "what to wear"

Can y'all believe it? Derby is just a few days away!

Whether you consider Derby to be the greatest two minutes in sports, the most fashionable day of the year, or the one day that you put mint in your bourbon, it's the day that Kentucky shines on an international stage. Here at HerKentucky, we're getting in the Derby spirit by partnering with some incredible companies to bring you some great prizes.

Now, everybody knows that you can't do Derby without a hat, so the first giveaway of HerKentucky Derby Days is a personalized hat from Marley Lilly. How cute is this?

The Monogrammed Floppy Outline Hat will be perfect for any spring or summer activity, from the beach to the racetrack. You can personalize this straw hat by choosing among 6 different color outlines, 8 hat colors and a rainbow of monogram colors. This would be a perfect piece to wear to a Derby party!

You can enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Good luck, and Happy Derby Days!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Contest ends at Midnight on Sunday night, April 21st. Winner will be contacted on Monday, April 22.
All opinions expressed in this post are our own. No member of the HerKentucky staff was compensated for this post.}

Kentucky Derby Style From Rebecca Ray Designs

April 17, 2013 by Megan Bonner in "derby", "equestrian", "herkentucky derby days", "megan", "rebecca ray design", "style", "what to wear"

A lovely lady reached out to me about her Kentucky Derby themed designs that she offers in 12 retail locations in Kentucky. All of her designs are hand produced in the USA.

You can check them out at www.rebeccaraydesigns.com

Perfect for gearing up for the Run for the Roses!

Support the Louisville Cardinals in Style

April 06, 2013 by Megan Bonner in "cardinals", "fashion", "megan", "what to wear"

If you're supporting the Louisville Cardinals today (which if you're a Kentuckian, you should be!), wear your pride in style with some outfit ideas above :)

Outfit 1- Madewell Dress

Outfit 2- Tee, Skirt, Boots

Outfit 3- Tee, Jeans, Flats

Good luck to the Cards today!

The HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland's Dress Code

April 04, 2013 by Heather C. Watson in "central kentucky", "equestrian", "horse racing", "keeneland", "spring", "style", "what to wear"

The search terms that most often lead new readers to HerKentucky involve the Keeneland dress code. We get a whole lot of folks who wonder what they should wear to the Paddock, the Clubhouse, and all spaces in-between. Tomorrow is Opening Day -- one of Lexington's biggest spring holidays -- so we thought we'd revisit the HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland's Dress Code, which we originally posted last year, to get you ready.

Of course, if you're still in doubt, you can always visit our favorite Lexington boutiques -- AJ's Casuals, Bella Rose, Monkee's and The Peppermint Palm -- and get some ideas! Most of all, I hope you look nice, win big, and enjoy the races!! -- HCW

Every year, in springtime and autumn, it seems that tons of new visitors arrive at HerKentucky with variants of the same search: "What should I wear to Keeneland?" I always want to reach out through Google, find all of y'all in Jacksonville, Ontario, and everywhere in-between, give you a hug and say "look nice and be yourself."

Now, the dress codes for Keeneland vary pretty wildly according to your location. That really is my favorite thing about this racetrack. There's a way to have fun at any budget, and at any level of dress. But, as we've said before here at HerKentucky, visitors to Keeneland just try a little harder.

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 are fine in khakis and polo shirts, and girls can wear slacks. In fact, you may even see folks wearing (gasp!) jeans. 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 and Lilly Pulitzer to be seen.

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.

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!

What do y'all wear to Keeneland?

{all images via Keeneland.}

Valentine's Day Outfit Ideas

February 07, 2013 by Megan Bonner in "megan", "valentine's day", "what to wear"

Comfy: Top, Jeans, Shoes

Casual: Dress, Scarf, Shoes

Dressy: Fur, Dress, Shoes

What are you wearing this Valentine's Day?

What Do You Wear on Thanksgiving?

November 20, 2012 by Heather C. Watson in "holidays", "style", "thanksgiving", "what to wear"

Remember that episode of Friends where Joey wore Rachel's maternity pants as "Thanksgiving pants"?

That's always the problem with Thanksgiving for me. It's a holiday, so I want to look nice. But, it's a holiday built around carbohydrates and football. I don't want to wear a dress if everyone else is super-casual. And, you know, a more forgiving pair of pants sure wouldn't hurt.

I don't want to dress like I'm headed to yoga...

Casual Thanksgiving 2 by heathercwatson

... But I also don't want to be overdressed.

Dressy Thanksgiving by heathercwatson

I find that, at least for my holiday purposes, dressing down is the key. I wind up playing outside with the dogs a lot on Thanksgiving. I try to layer up and stay comfortable. And hopefully not venture too far into "Outdoorsy Ralph Lauren-ish costume" territory.