Dressed to Kill at the Kentucky Derby

The month of May brings one of the celebrated rites of spring - the Kentucky Derby.  This celebration combines style, money and good times!  This is one of the few times where men can wear bright colored clothing and no one will raise an eyebrow.   Before we consider "derby gear" let's take a look at past derby dapper men as well as beautiful ladies.  

Unknown spectator dons White Hat and Pink Striped Suit

 

Star Jones Usher Smooth Dr. J and wife Dorys at 2006 Derby

Muhammad Ali Sports a nice Windowpane Sportcoat at the 2006 Kentucky Derby

Tyrese and Michael Jordan at the 2012 Derby

Tito Jackie and Marlon Jackson at the 2006 Derby

Star Jones and Chef Herb Wilson at the 2009 Derby

Gabrielle Union and Shaun Robinson at the 2007 Derby

D-Wade at the 2009 Derby

Michael Strahan and Nicole Murphy at the 2008 Derby

Smoky Robinson and wife Frances at 2010 Derby

In terms of what men should consider wearing to the derby it's been said that the derby is the unofficial kick-off of the Seersucker suit season.  This cotton  or cotton blend puckered striped suit comes in a variety of colors:

Red Seersucker Suit

Traditional Navy

EJ Samuel Lavender Vested Seersucker Suit

Double Breasted Seersucker Jacket

Another colorful option is the cotton Madras Suit:

Brooks Brother Madras Sportcoat

Brooks Brothers Madras Shorts

Brooks Brothers Madras Bowtie

Another smart option are cotton poplin suits:

The above suits, which come in a variety of colors, are practical in that they're cool, breathable and relatively inexpensive.  In regards to shoes the Buck shoe, which comes in a variety of colors, work very well with these suits.  

Buck Shoes by Assunta

  

San Antonio Shoes

  

Bass Buckingham Shoes

Of course you'll need a hat to complete your outfit.  There are many from which to choose from:

Derby Hats

Former Piston John Salley sports a Fedora Straw with MJ

  

Tom Brady Sports a Straw Fedora at the 2006 Derby

Unknown Spectator dons Flat Top Straw Hat with White Buck Shoes

As I alluded to earlier this is the one major event where one can just "let their hair down" and wear what they want to wear without feeling "out of place".  However:

 Hot Mess at the 2008 Kentucky Derby

So put on your zaniest outfit and party on!

Where's your hat?

"It's cold out there so don't you go outside without a hat"!  That's something that my parents demanded of me.  Back in the day, they believed that your outfit wasn't complete without a hat or cap, not a baseball cap, to compliment your clothes and especially a nice suit and topcoat.   Not to mention that the hat provided protection from the elements.  My father and older brothers were very stylish in their hats and I'll bet your older male family members were as well.  Nowadays, it seems that wearing a hat is an exception today but once upon a time it was quite common.   

Superman Paul Robeson Sports a Homburg and his 

Son is wore an Apple Jack Cap

Gentleman Sports a Bowler Hat in the 1930s

Brother is Sharp from Head-to-Toe

Best Dressed Couple

Harlem Residents during World War II

As you can see not only did our parents and grandparents wore hats but the kids were also "decked out" in them.  

Well Dressed Little Boy

Author Richard Wright Sports a Fedora in the '40s

 

Young Martin Luther King in the '50s

Dapper Young Man with a Fedora

Dizz Sporting his Trademark Beret

Newsboy Cap

Brother with Wide Brim Fedora with his Lady in the '70s

 Trouble Man Marvin Gaye Sports a Kufi

Billy Dee Williams Sports Fedora in Lady Sings the Blues

Fedora Wearing Brothers 
Double-Date in the '70s

Hip Hop Brothers Sport Kangol Berets

Miles Davis Sports a Fedora from the Album Cover Decoy

Sean John Sports a Homburg

 

Super Model Renauld White in 

Homburg and Beret

Terrance Howard in Straw Fedora with

Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose

Mario Van Peeples in the Panama Straw Hat

  

It's been stated by many in the fashion industry that the decline in wearing hats was partly attributed to the election of John F. Kennedy as the president in 1960.  He was seen in public lots of time without a hat including his inauguration.  However, if you saw pictures of the presidents that preceded him, Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman, they typically wore nice hats to complement their suits.  There may have been some truth to that but there were other factors as well.  For one thing, more folks became car owners in the '60s and going forward, which provided protection from the elements.  Naturally, people were out more in the elements before becoming car owners.  Another possibility is that the decline of men wearing hats corresponds, excluding Sundays, to the decline of women wearing hats.  I can recall that my mother and aunts wore  hats and scarves back in the day and I don't mean on Sundays; that  was a given.  Finally, some men go to hair stylists and don't want to chance messing up their hair. 

What are your thoughts?  As for me, I believe a man adds the "it factor" when they top off their attire with a nice hat or cap.  Think of it as "icing on the cake".  
 
By the way, since spring is upon us now is a good time to negotiate the purchase of a winter hat/cap.  

Photo Credits

Men of Color, Fashion, History and Fundamentals by Lloyd Boston 
Paul Robeson page157, Gentleman in the Bowler Hat 226

Best Dressed Couple 86, Harlem Residents 6, Well Dressed 

Little Boy 43, Young Martin Luther King 21, Dapper Young Man 154

Dizzy Gillespie 29, Brother with the Wide Brim Fedora 14

Marvin Gaye 53, Fedora Wearing Brothers 23, 

Hip Hop Brothers 155, Sean John 172, Renauld White 232, 

Black America: A Photographic Journey Past to Present by Marcia Smith
Brother Sharp Head-to-Toe 191, Richard Wright 396

Movie: Lady Sings the Blues, Billy Dee Williams

Miles Davis Album Cover: Decoy 

Walter McBride/Retna LTD:
Photo of Terrance Howard at Sardi's Restaraunt in New York City on May 8, 2008

Lee Roth/Roth Stock/PR Photos
Marion Van Peeples @ Lakawana Blues Feature Debut (HBO films) on February 3, 2005