Five Blue Grass Stakes Looks on a Budget
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The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes is one of the biggest events on Keeneland’s spring racing schedule, and when a race that earns its winner 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands comes to the heart of Thoroughbred country, it’s fun to dress to the nines.
Below are five looks perfect for the Blue Grass Stakes on April 9; as always, no item costs more than $50, and you can shop any look by clicking on the image.
16BlueGrass_01 by penelopemiller featuring platform shoes
Sleeveless dress / Blazer jacket / Michael Antonio platform shoes / Blue purse / Cat eye sunglasses / Fascinator hat
I love a pop or two of brilliant color against a monochromatic background. That’s why I started with this $17 dress from Choies, topped it with a $19 Pakula blazer, and then added cerulean wedges ($46, Michael Antonio) and a handbag ($24, Maykool.) Finish the look off with some pinup girl-inspired shades for $6 from Go Jane and make the look ready for the Blue Grass Stakes with a grey fascinator for $40 by Anita. All this can be yours for the Blue Grass Stakes for a total of $152 from topper to toes!
16BlueGrass_02 by penelopemiller featuring earrings jewelry
Neck tie / Slim coat / Topshop high waist skirt / H M opaque pantyhose, $10 / ALDO heeled booties / Boohoo envelope clutch / Kate Spade earrings jewelry / Nordstrom hair accessory / Steampunk glasses
Since Keeneland is located just a few miles from the University of Kentucky, I find collegiate-influenced style to be perfectly appropriate for the venue. Start with this houndstooth skirt for $35 from TopShop, then I added a cute blouse with a tie feature ($17, SheIn) and an ice-blue trench for $34 by Rose Gal. A pair of $10 tights from H&M will keep you warm if the Kentucky weather is a little on the chilly side, and the $36 Aldo booties are a perfect compliment to the look. Add an ivory clutch for $24 from BooHoo, a pair of mod sunglasses ($19, Pop Map) and some black and white button earrings for $33 by Kate Spade, and then top the outfit off with this adorable fascinator for $38 by Sinamay for Nordstrom. All together, this look is race day ready for $246.
16BlueGrass_03 by penelopemiller featuring seashell earrings
Chiffon dress / Miss Selfridge jacket, $42 / LC Lauren Conrad faux-fur boots / Boohoo shopping bag / BaubleBar hinged bracelet / Kim Rogers seashell earrings / Wide brim hat
I love pairing a floaty dress ($17 with belt included, RomWe) with earthy boots ($40, LC Lauren Conrad) during the questionable weather of April. Layer on a cornflower blue blazer for $42 from Miss Selfridge, then add a $44 Bauble Bar cuff, $8.40 Kim Rodgers earrings, a $24 BooHoo handbag, and a $27 Sakkas chocolate brown hat. All together, this Blue Grass Stakes look will run you $202.40.
16BlueGrass_04 by penelopemiller featuring a red satchel purse
Chicnova Fashion crochet lace blouse / Tailored jacket / River Island floral printed shorts / Peep toe wedge shoes / Merona red satchel purse / Derby party hat / ZooShoo round cateye sunglasses / keeneland race course 04-24-2015 racing program
If you want to take a little fashion risk while still being totally appropriate for the track, swap out the traditional dress or skirt for a pair of statement shorts. These are $24 from River Island, and I added a black blouse ($15, Chicnova) and a $29 white textured blazer ($29, Style Moi) to make the look more formal. A pair of wedges ($29, Go Jane) in the blue from the shorts’ pattern really pop, and the handbag in scarlet and white is $40 by Merona. Finish off your look with a pair of geometric shades for $17 by Zoo Shoo, then top everything off with a $25 Aniwon fascinator. This entire ensemble comes together for $208, which should leave you a little money left over to play the ponies!
16BlueGrass_05 by penelopemiller featuring oversized glasses
Joelle colorful dress / American Rag Cie woven shoes / Merona leather tote handbag / Lydell NYC bangle cuff bracelet / Bling Jewelry druzy jewelry / Jeanne Simmons flat hat / River Island oversized glasses, $26 / Essie nail polish
If you’ve ever seen me at the races, I was probably wearing a maxi dress. They’re stylish, comfortable, and – in the case of this $20 Joell version – affordable. To make this dress ready for Keeneland, I added $30 American Rag flat gold sandals, a $30 Merona buttercup yellow tote, a $19 Lydell NYC cuff bracelet, and some $13 Bling Jewelry earrings. Add a wide-brim hat ($33, Luxury Divas) and a pair of statement shades ($26, River Island), then polish the look up with some $8.50 Essie nail lacquer in Cute as a Button. Take this look to the track for just $179.50!