Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby Collection 2021
A new, preppy collection celebrates the Run for the Roses in style!
Every year, I look forward to the Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby Collection. I love that it includes pieces for any level of celebration, from dresses, fascinators and bowties, to t-shirts and baseball caps.
Vineyard Vines makes the absolute cutest ties and pocket squares for Derby Week! I especially love this pocket square and this bourbon and betting themed tie, which would be perfect for Thurby!
I also always love the annual Vineyard Vines fascinator, which is created by Louisville-based milliner Jenny Pfanenstiel (click here to read my interview with Jenny!) as well as the Derby-themed scarf (click here to read about a VV Derby scarf that held a very special meaning for me!)
Whether you’re headed to the track for Derby this year or watching at home, Vineyard Vines has some fun pieces to help you celebrate in style!
Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby Sale!
New Discounts on Derby Favorites!
We all know that Vineyard Vines knocks it out of the park every year with their Kentucky Derby collection. This year’s was absolutely fantastic, and I’ve especially worn this Shep Shirt so many times this Derby Season!
I’ve also worn this Vineyard Vines x Formé Millinery fascinator to a couple of Derby season events! (Click here for my interview with Louisville’s own Jenny Pfanenstiel of Formé!)
A fun little secret about Kentuckians that I’ve noticed recently is that a lot of us like to scoop up some Derby-themed decor and clothing after the big race. It makes sense; it’s a whole lot like finding Christmas decorations you love and putting them up for next year! I still wear last year’s Derby Shep Shirt all the time, and I’m thinking of snagging the Run for the Roses tote for next year’s Derby fun! Let me know if you save Derby items for next year’s use!!
How I Shop Black Friday
Tips for the 2018 Shopping Holiday
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Black Friday — love it or hate it, it’s the biggest shopping day of the year. While I’m not one for braving crowds, there are definitely some online sales I like to check out, both for myself for Christmas presents. Here’s a roundup of the sales I like to check out, and a few of my favorite items!
Favorite Stores
Draper James
Y’all know Draper James is one of my very favorite lines and they’re offering a rare 25% off sitewide and in-store through Monday the 26th. It’s a great time to stock up on fun holiday pieces, and I may finally pull the trigger on the Dolly tote!
Vineyard Vines
Everything is 25% off in-store and online with code HOLIDAY18! It’s a great time to stock up on fun holiday pieces and my favorites, the Louisville Stoneware mug and Cookies for Santa set!
Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott is offering a tiered Yellow Friday special — 20% off everything; 25% off purchases of $100 or more; 30% off purchases of $300 or more.
LL Bean
Take 20% off everything, and get a $10 gift card back when you spend $50. I may have already pulled the trigger on my favorite pajamas! Even better, Bean Boots are 25% off with code Boot25!
Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor is always a great spot for workwear and dressy event clothing! Everything is half price with code BLACKFRIDAY!
Talbots
Talbots always has great classic pieces that wear so well. They’re offering 50% off one item through noon Friday and 40% off everything until midnight Friday.
Macy’s
I LOVE the Charter Club cashmere sweaters from Macy’s! I wore a crewneck sweater and wrap set to Churchill Downs last week, and I swear, people couldn’t stop touching the wrap. It’s just so soft!! The long-sleeved crewneck sweater is my everyday go-to in the fall and winter. It’s so simple that you can pair it with anything from a fancy skirt to jeans. Best of all, it’s $39 right now. That’s not a typo. Stock up on these, give them a little care, and they’lll last for years!
Local Favorites
Two of my very favorite local stores have some GREAT Black Friday sales you can’t miss!
Logan’s of Lexington
Y’all know I love Logan’s of Lexington, and they have 25% off everything in store! My True Grit Pullover is down to $98!
Stoneware & Company
Stoneware is offering 10% off your entire purchase, with 15% off purchases of $250 or more. It’s a great time to stock up on serving pieces and place settings!
Happy Shopping, y’all!!!
The HerKentucky Guide to L.L. Bean Boots
Guide to the classic outdoor shoes.
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Autumn is my favorite time of year to stock up on L.L. Bean! I can't get enough of their Bean Boots . They have such classic styling, quality construction, and a fun, preppy style. They're seriously items that never go out of style, and that I find myself reaching for over and over. And, now through Monday, Bean Boots are 20% off with code AUTUMN.
I love my Bean Boots because they're so durable and waterproof. I use them for everyday errands like walking the dogs or walking through our often-leaky basement as well as to stay warm and dry in wet weather and blend in with the fall foliage.
The slip-on mocs are even good for summertime errands like yard work, and since they're made of rubber, they clean up so easily!
A word about sizing: these boots are meant to be worn with serious socks, so size down significantly! Half sizes are advised to order one and a half down! I wear an 8.5 in most shoes; I own a 7 in both of these pairs!
Here are a few of my favorite current LL Bean Bean Boot Styles!
What to Wear to Keeneland's 2018 Fall Meet
Find the perfect outfit for a day at the racetrack!
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Keeneland’s Fall Meet lasts only 17 days, but there’s certainly a lot of racing fun to be had during those Wednesday-Sunday October stretches. Over the 7 year history of HerKentucky, I find that folks really, really want to know what to wear to the track. In fact, some variant of “What to Wear to Keeneland” is consistently the search that brings the most folks to this site.
When folks ask me in person what they should wear to the track, I tend to ask two questions in response: Where will you be sitting, and what day will you be attending?
At the racetrack, as with most things, location and timing are everything. Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be a little more casual than weekend race days. The nearer the track you sit, the more casual you should dress.
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. You're actually dressing for a horse race in these sections. 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. The second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar, for example, 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 dresses 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.
If you find yourself invited to the members-only Clubhouse, you’ll soon find out that it 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 fine.
This fall, I have two navy dresses on repeat; both are cute Keeneland dresses, depending on your racetrack plans. This navy ponte Draper James dress could work for any section of the track — just dress it up or down with necklaces or scarves, boots or heels — while this Target denim dress is great for a low-key day in the lower levels. (Denim is a huge faux pas for the upper levels, and isn’t allowed in the Clubhouse!)
Of course, it goes without saying that dressing for the elements is just as important as dressing for your seats. Nothing looks more ridiculous than the poor girl who’s freezing in a sundress or melting in wool. You’ll be on the move a lot — sitting and standing, inside and out — so make sure your shoes fit well, your bag isn’t so large that it causes problems, and your outfit matches the temperature and conditions.
Most of all, look good and have fun!!
Shop these great Keeneland styles!
Draper James Poncho for Football Season
The perfect outfit for Kentucky football games!
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Obviously, I mean SEC football season, and especially those magical weekends where you can take in some races at Keeneland AND a UK football game. Bonus points if you need a sweater, wrap, or poncho, especially this Draper James poncho in Wildcat Blue.
Poncho: Draper James | Jeans: Lauren Ralph Lauren | Bangle: Bourbon & Boweties for Sweet Mash Goods
I had so much fun styling this outfit in anticipation of fall football games! I especially love the Kendra Scott earrings and necklace for fun touches of blue that I’ll wear for so many game days!
If you’ll be in the Lexington area for some Keeneland and football shopping, join me October 2nd at Draper James and October 10th at Kendra Scott for Shop & Sip events benefiting Dress for Success Lexington. Let me know in the comments below what colors you wear on game day!
Draper James Dress for Keeneland
The Perfect Dress for fall horse racing!
(This post contains affiliate links; I will receive a very small commission per click at no cost to the reader. All photos are © Sarah Caton of Space, Place & Southern Grace unless otherwise noted.)
Finding the perfect dress for Keeneland is pretty high on most Kentucky women’s to-do list. In fact, over the seven years that HerKentucky has been running, “What to wear to Keeneland” is the search that brings the most people to this site. Getting the Keeneland dress code right is a big deal. Now, I’ll do another post a little closer to the beginning of Fall Meet to remind everyone of the dress codes for each of the various areas of the racetrack, but I wanted to share this dress with y’all today because I think it absolutely nails Keeneland style.
Dress: Draper James | Boots: Frye | Necklace: Elva Fields | Bracelet: Bourbon & Boweties
I love the idea of a basic, solid dress that can be paired with pumps or boots, statement jewelry or scarves, to create different looks. You could wear this dress to the track, the office, dinner, or just about anywhere you want to look nice. Just switch up the accessories and you’re good to go.
I went with my Elva Fields necklace and a Bourbon & Boweties Bourbon Barrel bangle, but I think an equestrian-themed scarf is always a lovely touch for a day at the races, too. Here are some great ones at every price point.
Since my brand is, quite literally, Kentucky, I like to wear subtle little nods to our Commonwealth’s heritage! This Bourbon & Boweties bangle is an exclusive to Sweet Mash Goods in Lawrenceburg. The Key Fob is from an exclusive partnership between Draper James and Keeneland.
Bourbon Barrel Bracelet: Bourbon & Boweties for Sweet Mash Goods | Key Fob: Draper James for Keeneland
I had so much fun shooting these photos in Gratz Park. It got me so excited to hopefully visit Lexington many, many times during Keeneland’s Fall Meet. Lexington in October is truly one of those sights that everyone should experience!!
If you’re looking for your own favorite Keeneland Dress, please join me Tuesday, October 2nd from 6-8 p,m. at the Lexington Draper James store for a Shop & Sip benefiting Dress for Success Lexington! Let me know in the comments, what are y’all wearing to Keeneland this season?
