Draper James Kentucky Derby Capsule Collection

Y'all! Draper James dropped their 2017 Kentucky Derby Capsule Collection today and it is soooo good!

This envelope clutch is so cute for a day at the track.

And this tee is perfect for low-key Derby week festivities.

This hat would be so fun for Thurby.

I love the colors on this dress. It'll be so great for summer soirees.

And I may even love the skirt more!

Even better? Click this link for $20 off your next Draper James order.  And look for Draper James opening soon at the Summit at Fritz Farm in Lexington!!

(This post contains affiliate links; HerKentucky receives a nominal commission on every product link you click in this post. All opinions are my own!)

Alumni Hall is coming to The Summit at Fritz Farm!

Nike Twill Kentucky Hat | Kentucky Alex and Ani Charm Bracelet (c/o Alumni Hall)

I am so excited for the opening of The Summit at Fritz Farm in Lexington, y'all. No matter how long it's been since I lived there, Lexington just always feels like home - I have so many family and friends there, Bob and I both went to undergrad and grad school there, and then there are our Wildcats. We aren't just "wear blue and white on game day" Wildcats fans. We're thinking about our 'Cats every day of the year. So, of course, we were so excited when Alumni Hall sent us some fun UK gear to celebrate the opening of their Summit at Fritz Farm store and to get us ready for the upcoming season -- as we all know, basketball season is always almost here in Kentucky! 

Alex and Ani Kentucky Charm Bracelet (c/o Alumni Hall)

Oh my goodness, y'all. Their selection is so awesome. I'm pretty sure I want one of everything on the Alumni Hall website. I love this Alex and Ani charm bracelet so much. And this scarf is such a lovely way to celebrate the Bluegrass State!

Bob loved this Cutter & Buck DryTec polo shirt, and I know I'll wear the Blue 84 Lucille Terry V-Neck Tee all summer long!

Cutter & Buck DryTec polo | Blue 84 Terry V-Neck Tee (c/o Alumni Hall)

When you're a fourth generation Kentucky fan, like we are at our house, you love Kentucky gear that reflects the Wildcats' heritage.  The vintage look of Bob's blue tee is so fun for casual weekends, and the details on my baseball tee are so adorable. Check out the Wildcats logo on the back!

Kentucky 47 Big Blue Nation Tee | Kentucky League Women's Camp V-Neck Baseball Tee (c/o Alumni Hall)

Alumni Hall's newest store opens at  the Summit at Fritz Farm in early May. I look forward to seeing y'all there! Go Big Blue!

Thanks so much to The Summit at Fritz Farm and Alumni Hall for sponsoring this post!

Easy Derby Time Style with Off Broadway Shoes!

It's Derby Season, y'all! The Kentucky Derby is only three weeks away and it seems like a new party or event pops up on the calendar every day! When last-minute Derby time events arise, I find that the right accessories can elevate a basic dress in a hurry. Of course, a great fascinator is in order, as are some comfortable, stylish pumps. Fortunately, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse has me covered for great accessories at a great price.

Last weekend, I attended Off Broadway's Kentucky Derby Hat Trunk Show, and I was able to pick up some great accessories for my own Derby needs. I found an absolutely perfect pair of Cole Haan pumps and a fun pink fascinator, all for around $100. I was so excited to play around with some dresses I already had; I feel like I'm ahead of the last-minute-invite curve!!

I love this combo paired with a bell-sleeved black and white striped dress. It's also a great pairing with solid navy!

It's also a great pairing with solid navy!

This time of year, you never know when a white party will pop up on your radar! And the shoes are the perfect pairing with a bright coral dress! Lace dresses are always great for Derby time events.

Thanks so much to Off Broadway Shoes for helping me find the perfect solution for Derby time parties! 

{This post was sponsored by Off Broadway Shoes; all opinions are my own.}

Cat Studio Keeneland and Kentucky Derby Pillows

Yesterday, I attended an event at Keeneland, and simply fell in love with the new Keeneland embroidered pillow designed by Cat Studio and available exclusively at the Keeneland Gift Shop.

Photo via Keeneland Gift Shop.

Cat Studio pillows have always been a decor #goal of mine. There are so many great designs from which to choose!

If you're a Derby fan, the Kentucky Derby pillow is available at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

You can order the Kentucky state pillow here.

This UK Pillow is available locally at Two Chicks & Company!

Cat Studio has the Cards fans covered, too! 

A Cat Studio pillow would be such a fantastic housewarming gift or a nice reminder of home for a Kentucky expatriate. Which design is your favorite?

Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses and the Fillies Ball

2017 Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses

Today, I had the opportunity to meet the 2017 Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses. The Derby Princesses are a group of 5 college-aged women selected annually to reign over the Derby and the Derby Festival proceedings.

Me with the 2016 Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses

Tonight, one of the Derby Festival Princesses will be named Derby Festival Queen at the annual Fillies Ball. The Fillies, Inc., is a women's club founded in 1959 to further the mission of the Derby Festival Committee. All proceeds from the Fillies Ball will be donated to the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants throughout the community. 

To read a first-hand account of a Derby Festival Princess's schedule, check out this post that  fashion blogger Grace Wainwright of A Southern Drawl wrote for HerKentucky about her year on the Derby Festival Court.

Vineyard Vines Ties for Spring!

The spring social season is in full bloom, and it feels like we're all planning our spring wardrobes. What should I wear to Keeneland? For holiday services? For spring weddings?  
Here's a quick roundup of some adorable Vineyard Vines ties that will get the guy in your life ready for spring festivities.

For Easter Sunday

If you're a golf or basketball fan, then you probably love Jim Nantz. Even if you don't plan vacation days around the Masters or the NCAA tournament like we do here at HerKentucky HQ, you have to love the message behind the Jim Nantz Forget-Me-Knot Tie. Twenty percent of all proceeds go to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist Hospital.

For Keeneland's Opening Weekend

I love this tie from the Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby Collection. It looks so perfect for Keeneland's Spring Meet!

For the Dog Lover

I LOVE this Vineyard Vines tie for anyone who has a Black Lab in their life. (Pretty sure Bob's going to need this one!)

For the UK Fan

You can never go wrong with Kentucky Blue!

For the Bourbon Lover

This mint julep tie is perfect for Derby season!

Happy Spring, y'all!
 

Star Hill Provisions at Maker's Mark

Maker's Mark is one of my very favorite distilleries to visit. I love how the Victorian buildings have been so lovingly restored and maintained, keeping true to Margie Samuels's original vision. 

Maker's Mark's Loretto, Ky distillery is so beautiful in the springtime. I love seeing the flowering trees in the gorgeous setting.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a press preview for the new Star Hill Provisions restaurant at Maker's Mark. For longtime Maker's visitors, the restaurant is located in the old Master Distiller's House. 

Star Hill Provisions was named for Star Hill Farm, the original T.W. Samuels family farm and distillery prior to the establishment of Maker's Mark. Y'all, that kind of attention to hyperlocal detail is apparent in everything at this restaurant. In fact, Chef Newman Miller grew up, by his own estimation, about 7 minutes away from the Maker's Mark Distillery. Chef Newman clearly marries his love for the locale with a commitment to great food. A graduate of Sullivan University's culinary program, he worked at Louisville's legendary Brown Hotel, cooked briefly in Scotland, and then worked as a corporate chef in Chicago before returning to Bardstown to open the highly regarded Harrison-Smith House.

The first course of our tasting menu was a huge hit, even in a room of food writers.  We started with one of the restaurant's signature cocktails, Maker's and Ale-8 slushies topped with just enough Angostura bitters to add spice and depth, served alongside the best sausage balls I'd ever encountered. According to Chef Newman, the secret is local sausage sold at a nearby gas station, along with house-made beer cheese and a hint of crumbled saltines. These were savory and hearty, and a perfect complement to the sweet cocktail.

Now, I never say no to a hot brown, and the Star Hill Provisions hot brown is a truly great one! Chef Newman joked that, as a former employee of the Brown Hotel kitchen, he's allowed to make a few adjustments to the recipe, serving the iconic sandwich in the Lexington style with the addition of country ham. Since tomatoes are out of season, the hot brown was topped with a roasted tomato half, which added sweetness and depth to the rich, salty mix.

The steak tartare and pork short ribs were delicious as well. The tartare mixed oh-so-well with a delightful little touch of siracha!

We finished up with a truly spectacular chocolate bread pudding served with a Maker's Mark caramel sauce. As I sat on the porch of Star Hill Provisions, taking in the scenery and discussing the Maker's Mark tradition with a few close colleagues, I promised myself I'd be back to Star Hill Provisions soon. It's a great new addition to the already-amazing Maker's Mark distillery site.

Visit Star Hill Provisions at Maker's Mark Distillery, 3350 Burks Spring Road, Loretto KY 40037. Restaurant hours are Wednesday - Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.