National Pink Day!
Every girly-girl's favorite holiday!
Today is National Pink Day. I have no idea where this "holiday" comes from, but I look for any reason to sport my favorite color. (I also don't know how it wound up on a Tuesday, but that's another story.)
We rounded up a few of our favorite ways to celebrate -- from fun, inexpensive, trendy pieces to some gorgeous statement pieces. We'd love to hear what you're wearing today!
This jumpsuit is only $65. I LOVE the color. So, so cute!
This Romper is under $50. It's hot pink, on fleek for the romper trend, and adorable!
Y'all. This popscicle crossbody. At $33, you need one. Your daughter wants one. Your BFF probably does, too. It's a summertime must-have.
This Lilly Pulitzer Elsa silk top is my summertime go-to. It takes me back to my college Phi Mu days, when I couldn't get enough pink and white (our sorority colors) or lions (our mascot); of course I had to get one of my own!
This gorgeous Boden top is on sale at Ruelala right now!
And, of course, you'll need a cocktail. Why not celebrate with a Chambord Champagne?
Cheers to all things pink!
Shop the Look: National Pink Day
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Five Fun Facts About Seersucker
National Seersucker Day trivia
- The classic seersucker suit was created by the New Orleans-based clothier Haspel. Joseph Haspel founded his company in 1909, with the goal of producing clothing that stood up to the Louisiana heat. He made laborers' coveralls and, soon after, men's summer suits, out of the puckered fabric made popular in British India.
- The word "seersucker" derives from the Hindi word "sīrsakar"; that term was borrowed from the Persian compound "shīroshakar", meaning "milk and sugar" and describing the varied texture of the fabric.
- Senator Trent Lott started the U.S. Senate's tradition of Seersucker Thursday, in which Senate members wear the summer fabric, in 1996. It was discontinued in 2012, but officially resurfaced this year. National Seersucker Day arose to coincide with Seersucker Thursday.
- Gregory Peck wore a seersucker suit in To Kill a Mockingbird, as did Cary Grant in Charade. Both were custom-made by Haspel.
- In the Rolling Stones' song of the same name, the Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man wears a seersucker suit; he also drives a Corvette!
Happy Seersucker Day, y'all! How are you styling your seersucker today?
Shop The Look: National Seersucker Day
We've picked out some fun seersucker pieces to meet any style, shape, or budget. I'm DYING over those New Balance sneakers!!
{This post contains affiliate links; HerKentucky LLC will receive a small commission from some links clicked.}
I Hope to Have God on My Side, But I Must Have Kentucky
Previewing July's My Kentucky Tee and the historical significance of a famous Lincoln quotation.
It's no secret that I LOVE My Kentucky Tee.
I wear my tees all the time, and I always get such lovely compliments on them! I'm so excited to wear the June tee for Independence Day celebrations.
What I'm really, truly excited about is the July My Kentucky Tee. I mean, how cute is this?
I've always loved that quote from Abraham Lincoln, "I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky." It sounds like a pithy exclamation of Bluegrass State pride, but it's an important history lesson. President Lincoln wasn't just invoking sentiment of love for his home state. (We've been over this before: Kentucky is the ACTUAL Land of Lincoln. You can't have him, Illinois.) He was making a policy statement about keeping border states from seceding from the Union. Kentucky's population, resources, and strategic location were invaluable to the U.S. forces during the Civil War. Losing Kentucky to the Confederacy would have been a tremendous blow. What a great reminder of Kentucky's vital role in the Civil War, and our amazing heritage!
“I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game. Kentucky gone, we can not hold Missouri, nor, as I think, Maryland. These all against us, and the job on our hands is too large for us.
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Remember, sign up for the July Tee by July First, and you'll get the Starter "1792" shirt as well as the Lincoln shirt in your mailbox in early July. The subscription is only $15/month; you can learn more here!
(Thanks to My Kentucky Tee for continued sponsorship of HerKentucky!)
What to Wear to Keeneland's Clubhouse
The question that HerKentucky readers ask us most often is "What should I wear to Keeneland?" This week, HerKentucky has advised y'all on the dress code for the Paddock and Dining Rooms for Lexington's storied Keeneland Race Course. Today, we'll talk about what to wear to the most exclusive area of the track -- the Clubhouse.
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.
Shop The Peppermint Palm, omar + elsie and Bella Rose for gorgeous, on-trend dresses that fit the Clubhouse rules. Pretty dresses in feminine spring colors fit the bill, as do luxe accessories.
Dress to Impress, and have a great day at the races, y'all!
What to Wear to Keeneland's Dining Rooms
Sooner or later, most Central Kentuckians get invited to an event in one of Keeneland's Dining Rooms. These make for some great days at the track -- you're inside, taking it all in. You're guaranteed to run into tons of people you know. And, of course, a bad day at Keeneland is better than a good day just about anywhere else. Like the lower levels, Keeneland's dining areas have a unique dress code.
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, or capri pants for ladies.
What this means is that you want a little more pulled-together, professional look than what you'd wear to the lower levels. Pair a colorful Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top from The Peppermint Palm with neutral slacks or a skirt. A vivid dress from Monkees or omar + elsie is perfect with a solid cardigan and classic accessories. You're likely to run into a classmate or professional acquaintance in this area of the track, so keep your style classic!
Here's to a winning day at the track! Check back tomorrow morning for our picks for the Clubhouse!
What to Wear to Keeneland's Paddock
Keeneland is one of my very favorite things about the Bluegrass State, y'all. The races, the crowd, the fashion, the bread pudding... it's all pretty wonderful.
Some folks have told me, though, that the dress code is a little intimidating. So, the next few days' posts will focus on decoding the Keeneland dress code. First up, the lower levels.
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. 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.
Keep it classic and preppy with a Lilly Pulitzer dress from the Peppermint Palm and Jack Rogers sandals from Monkees of Lexington. Your beau can't go wrong with a Vineyard Vines tie from Country Club Prep. Don't forget your sunglasses, a cup of water, and a good dose of sunscreen if you're hanging around the Paddock or a tailgate; it's really easy to wind up dehydrated or sunburned! Check in tomorrow for a guide to the dining rooms' dress code.
Stay comfortable, look cute, and enjoy your day at the races!
My Beauty Survival Kit
The on-the-go essentials that HerKentucky blogger Heather C. Watson can't live without.
Macy's recently contacted me about their new Beauty Survival Kit. They've teamed with a group of social influencers to talk about breaking your beauty needs down to the essentials. I loved checking out the Beauty Survival Kit; I especially liked the part where a blogger whom I've read for years, Carly of The College Prepster, admitted that part of her "necessity" kit is a tennis ball for her dog. With two big ol' hunting dogs of my own, I can certainly relate.
Macy's Beauty Survival Kit
Another thing I can relate to is this Huffington Post statistic that Macy's provided: the average American woman has about 30 minutes to get ready in the morning. I don't know about y'all, but there are days when I'm running between meetings and obligations where 30 minutes sound like an outright luxury. That's why I've tried to pare my own beauty routine down to products that I know will work well for me.
Here are the things I can't live without in my own bag. Most of them, indeed, came from Macy's in Oxmoor Center.
Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses. Love them; never go anywhere without them. They just make me look so much cooler than I actually am...
Benadryl: Crazy dog lady alert! My big Labrador retriever, Max, has severe food and seasonal allergies. I always have dog-safe allergy medicine on board, in case he needs immediate relief.
Notebooks: I wear a lot of hats -- freelancer, blogger, charity board member, crazy dog lady (see above!), fiancee, etc. -- and I am constantly taking notes, jotting down ideas, and, sometimes, writing a chapter or two while I'm waiting in a restaurant or coffee shop. I keep small notebooks handy at all times.
Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner: Oh my goodness; this product is a game-changer for chapped, weathered lips. It goes on like a creamy lipstick, with none of the waxiness of lip balm.
Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus: There are plenty lash primers out there, but this one gives you lashes that are "just right." Your lashes look long and thick, but never clumped or "fake."
Estee Lauder Modern Muse: In case you can't tell, I'm really on an Estee Lauder kick these days. I always thought of the brand as something my grandmother wears, but their recent products have maintained that classic sophistication while adding a polished edge. There's no reminder of my granny's old favorite Youth Dew in this fragrance -- it's a powdery floral with a crisp note. I just love it.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup: Y'all, this foundation. It doesn't come off until I wash it off. And, yet, it doesn't clog my pores. It's pretty much magic.
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: These colors are just perfect. They're perfect for my coloring, and they're perfect for my wardrobe. They work for professional settings or for nights out. They're just wonderful!
Nars Blush in Orgasm: This is the only blush I wear. It's just the best shade ever.
Let us know what's in your Beauty Survival Kit by snapping a photo and hash tagging it #mybeautysurvivalkit on Twitter and Instagram!