The HerKentucky Guide to L.L. Bean Boots
A guide to the classic outdoor shoes.
Autumn is my favorite time of year to stock up on L.L. Bean. I can't get enough of their Bean Boots and Boat and Tote Bags. 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.
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!
The HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland Style
Tomorrow is the first day of Keeneland's Fall Meet, y'all! Now, Lexington in October is the absolute prettiest scenery you can hope for, and the Fall Meet is my absolute favorite. And, in all the years I've been writing about Kentucky, the question I get asked most often is "What should I wear to Keeneland." Here's a handy guide to help you crack the Keeneland Dress Code.
When someone plans to attend their first race at Lexington's storied Keeneland Race Course, I ask three questions to help them plan their wardrobe and Itinerary: "Where are you sitting?"; "What are you doing?"; and "Will the weather cooperate?" As you'll see, those three questions factor into every piece of your Keeneland experience.
1. Where are you sitting?
This is the most important question to help you gauge your Keeneland wardrobe and experience is where you'll be sitting.
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 or skirts. 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 sundresses 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 or pantsuits for ladies.
Wear to the Dining Rooms
The track's members-only turf club, the Keeneland 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.
Wear to the Clubhouse
2. What are you doing?
That seems an odd question; you'll be watching the horse races, right? Well, there's a little more to it. Are you going to walk frequently from the paddock to your seating area? Then you don't want to wear high heels. Will you be tailgating? Then you might want to wear wedges or wellies. The same applies to your parking space! I like to suggest a small handbag or clutch; you don't want to have your hands full with an oversized bag!
3. Will the weather cooperate?
Pretty often, Keeneland attire is a day-of decision. October in Kentucky is a pretty tricky weather situation. It could easily be 80 degrees one day, and 50 degrees the next. You’ll need sunglasses, of course, but also potentially a sweater or wrap or a sundress, depending on the day you visit. It’s really easy to get dehydrated on a sunny autumn day at Keeneland. Remember to drink plenty of water, especially if you’re imbibing, and don’t forget the sunscreen!
Most of all, remember to enjoy what I’m sure will be a pretty wonderful day at the track!
Gameday Tee and the Stadium that Will Always be Known as Commonwealth
My favorite new gameday tee!
Hey y'all! It's the first home game at, uh, Kroger Field. It's going to take a little minute to get used to calling it that. Anyway, I wish I were in Lexington for this UK game, because not only is it the first game at the newly-renamed stadium, but the Cats are playing my parents' alma mater, EKU.
The University will also be saluting one of my very favorite UK alums, garden designer Jon Carloftis, today! Jon is such a cool, creative, and wonderful Kentuckian, and I love this story of how he utilized his Kentucky degree to craft a dream career.
I can't make today's game, but I am rocking a fun game day tee from Draper James! I love this top because I can cheer for both of the teams I love -- the 'Cats and the Crimson Tide -- without a costume change! (Don't forget to click here for $20 off your Draper James order!)
Who are y'all rooting for today?
Kentucky's Best Labor Day Sales!
The best online and in-store Labor Day sales
Hey y'all! If you're sitting at home on this rainy Labor Day weekend, I've compiled a list of some of the best sales (online and in-person) from Kentucky stores!
Bourbon-themed items
Maker's Mark: 20% off online purchase with code LD17.
Pappy & Co: 15% off online order with code LABORDAY. A portion of proceeds will go to
the American Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Bourbon Outfitters: Sale on select shirts and flasks.
Exercise Studios
BYou: VIB Membership Sale; B.Boutique Apparel Sale.
Housewares
Louisville Stoneware: 10% off all online orders with code LABORDAY10.
Hadley Pottery: Save 30% on a $250 order with Discount Code: LABORDAY30; Save 25% on a $150 order with Discount Code: LABORDAY25; Save 15% on a $75 order with Discount Code: LABORDAY15.
Pomegranate Attic Sale: Up to 70% off on table linens, aprons, bags, sweaters and more.
Clothing
A. St Clair: 50% off coral/blush, gold tunics, and last chance pieces. 20% off everything; 5% of sales benefit Hurricane Harvey victims.
C.C. Prep (St Matthews): 20% off in-store.
Where are you shopping this weekend?
How I Shop the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale
Tips for the Summer's Preppiest Sale!
I'm sure that most of y'all know that the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale starts tomorrow (Monday) morning. If you frequent fashion blogs, especially those with a preppy twist, then you've seen the basic tips, and you know to have your login and payment info ready. But, I have a few of my own tried-and-true after-party sale tricks to help you get exactly what you want in a hurry!
Search by Style
The first thing I do when I get into the Lilly Sale is to search by style. For me, there are three Lilly pieces that always fit perfectly, hold up well, and generally work for my life. I start any Lilly sale by searching for those pieces: The Elsa Top, the Skipper Popover, and the Sophie Dress.
1. The Elsa Top
This is always the first thing I search for when buying Lilly. It's a silk blouse that can work with anything from jeans and shorts to skirts and tailored trousers. It often runs a little large, so I have a two-size range in this style. It's a popular style, and it goes quickly, so I search for Elsa tops, determine if there's one in my size (or my mom's) that I want, and make my first purchase.
2. The Skipper Popover
After I've assessed the Elsa situation, I move on to searching for Skipper Popovers. This is like a dressy, French Terry sweatshirt. There are a few variants on that style now, so "popover" is probably a better search term than "Skipper." Either way, this is my second favorite search, because I wear these tops year-round. I look for my size (and, again, my mom's!); I like to buy these so that they're a little large.
I got the striped Skipper Popover in the January After-Party Sale. It's become one of the tops I reach for time and again!
3. The Sophie Dress
I love the Sophie dress! It's a jersey/knit dress, but it has a little more style and substance than a regular t-shirt dress. I find that these dresses get so many compliments whenever I wear them. This is another style that my mom loves as well (in fact, she and I both have it in Southern Charm, the print at the far left in the photo below), so I look for the Sophie in my size and hers.
Search by Print
After I've looked for my favorite pieces, I search by print. If there was an absolute favorite print that I loved in the previous few months, I'll scan the sale for it. For example, during the January 2017 After-Party Sale, I looked for Psychedelic Sunshine, a print from August/ September 2016. I usually don't like to buy more than one piece in a particular print, but this one is so special that I wound up getting an Elsa and a midi skirt (I'd bought the Sophie dress when it was new in the stores!)
Shop by Size
After these searches, I finally search by size. I look for my size in tops, dresses, and skirts. I check what's available for my mom, and for my little nieces. And, I try not to buy more than we all need!
My all-time favorite Lilly purchase -- my niece's first Lilly dress!
Check Back In!
Because it is so hard to get online at the stroke of 8 on Monday morning, the Lilly Pulitzer crew has really gotten smart about pacing the sale. New styles will come on the site as the sale progresses. This year, they've announced that the sale will last three days rather than two. I promise, if y'all want to shop, you'll be able to!
Shop the Palm!
If you're in Lexington Louisville, stop in the Peppermint Palm! They have great prices and a great selection!
Good Luck, and let me know what y'all find! How do you shop the After-Party Sale?
Pumpkin-Peanut Butter Dog Treats and the Draper James #BeKindYall Challenge!
Your pup's new favorite treat!
These cookies are Sophie-certified
The recipe I'm most frequently asked to share is for my homemade dog treats. They're full of pumpkin and peanut butter, and dogs go crazy for them! I adapted the recipe from this one to make a double batch and amp up the pumpkin and PB goodness. This morning, I decided to bake a batch for my own dog, and to share with my friends' dogs. My friend Ashley just adopted a precious senior beagle from the Kentucky Humane Society (that story is coming soon!) and Cathy's Willie is recovering from severe leg injuries. Since our crazy dog lady crew has eight dogs among the three of us, it seemed like a great time to make a big batch of dog treats! Here's the recipe for you to print out for yourself! (Just make sure your friends' dogs can tolerate wheat! It's a pretty common allergy!)
View recipe on Kulinarian.com
It just happened that, as these treats were cooling this morning, my Draper JamesBe Kind, Y'all tote bag arrived, along with the #bekindyall challenge card. I love this idea: simple ways that you can make someone's day a little better. You'll notice that I may have edited my challenge just a bit!
I have to say that this challenge has inspired me to find more ways to do small everyday things to be kind to others. I plan to use this tote to carry donations to the food bank donation bin at my local grocery store and dog toys to my humane society. I also plan to keep out some notecards to drop notes to friends more frequently. Thanks so much to Draper James for the important reminder to be kinder! (Click here for $20 off your next Draper James online order!)
How do y'all plan to be kind today?
Draper James Print Tops for Seasonal Transition
Transitional tops in preppy prints.
This post contains affiliate links.
Y'all, I am so in love with the new tops that just dropped from Draper James! They're such fun prints that will work now and into fall!
I may have already ordered the Sadler Stripe Knit Tee in raspberry. I think it'll be a great transitional piece to wear with white jeans now, and dark wash jeans or navy pants in upcoming months. (The top comes in navy as well!)
I'm moderately obsessed with this Foxy Tie-Neck Top. It would be perfect with a skirt now, or with a suit or cardigan into the fall!
This Spirit Cloister Top is perfect for 'Cats fans like me! It's another piece that would be perfect with white jeans now, and then with jeans or slacks in the fall!
