
A history of Kentucky Derby hats: The over-the-top staple at the Churchill Downs
Fox News
The tradition of women wearing large, flamboyant hats at the annual Kentucky Derby spring season horse race dates back to the 19th century.
The fashion trends and traditions resemble late 19th-century high-class British clothing. The traditional style of hat worn at the race is known as a Derby hat. Gabriele Regalbuto is an SEO editor at Fox News Digital. Gabriele has a Journalism and Communications degree from West Virginia University. She has worked to produce content for newspapers, magazines, and digital platforms. At Fox, she has assisted in coverage of breaking news events including the 2024 presidential cycle, 2022 midterm elections, Queen Elizabeth II's death, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Read more to discover who started the tradition and how attendees decorate their hats.