The Kentucky Derby (and Its Hats!) Returned in Full Force This Weekend 

The Kentucky Derby is officially about horses. But really, it’s about hats. The 147th Kentucky Derby took place this past weekend, marking a return to the usual day of the first Saturday in May after the coronavirus pandemic pushed last year’s to September. And while face coverings were required of all guests, nobody was holding back when it came to their outfits. 

“From the fantastic to the sublime, there are no rules or limits when it comes to choosing your Derby hat,” the official Kentucky Derby site reads. In fact, they advise women to wear plain dresses in order to keep the focus on their fascinators. In the seated sections, you’ll tend to find the more traditional horse-watching hats. Wide brimmed styles adorned with feathers and flowers neatly coordinating with the tasteful, pastel-colored dresses. But on the infield, that’s where you’ll see a fascinator made up of a Barbie doll straddling a martini glass and holding a toy horse. 

In more recent years, men stepped up their game as well. It’s not totally unexpected to spot, say, a baby pink striped suit spangled with chestnut horses—though it is still a sight to behold. And while this is standard fare for the Derby, as the world looks to reemergence, it’s only natural that people pull out their best, boldest, most accessorized outfits for such an occasion.  Photographer Lili Kobielski was on-hand to capture the hats, the masks, and the jockeys from the most exciting two minutes in sports.