Countdown to Derby Day: The Hunt for Hats and Dresses

Hat before dress - that has been our mantra as we’ve outfitted ourselves for the Kentucky Derby. Short of the Fifth Avenue Easter Parade and the British Royal Wedding, there is perhaps no other event that places so much emphasis on what ladies perch atop their noggins. So, we resolved early on to dress head to toe, in that order, by settling matters of the hat first and foremost - Wide-brim or fascinator? Feathers or flowers? - and choose the color and style of our outfits accordingly. If we’ve faltered in practice - dazzled by the perfect print and drape of a frock we spotted before proper headgear could be acquired - we’re unrepentant, but no less devoted in theory to the ideal order of things: hat before dress.

• Photo compliments of author

This dictum is - dare we say it? - old hat to Gizzelle James, who fitted Amy’s ensemble. Couteriere to the stars - she fashioned the pants worn by Andre 3000 in the “Hey Ya!” video - Gizzelle has, on more than one occasion, designed a dress based on a hat that a Louisville-bound client brought in for inspiration. If only we’d known! We learned of the wonder that is Gizzelle just two weeks ago, when another, more pedestrian tailor told Amy that she didn’t have the right machine for the job. In all fairness, it’s a doozy of a dress, especially since it’s not a dress at all, but an elaborately sequined romper. Desperate, Amy blasted a high-alert Facebook communiqué to seek recommendations, and within seconds was referred to Gizzelle. Crisis averted! Here’s hoping we have that kind of fortune at the betting booths.