Santa Anita Derby Men’s Style Guide
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The Santa Anita Derby is this Saturday at Arcadia, California’s Santa Anita Park, offering its winner 100 points toward this year’s Kentucky Derby as well as the lion’s share of the $1-million purse.
If you’re planning on attending the Santa Anita Derby this Saturday, below are some tips for how to dress for success at Southern California’s most prestigious Kentucky Derby prep race. Plus, with the race being aired on NBC Sports Network, you’re going to want to look your best for the cameras! Remember, if you like anything in a set, just click on the image to shop the look!
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Uniqlo mens dress pants / Volcom mens chino pants / River Island mens slim fit dress pants / Steven Alan mens red pants / Incotex mens chino pants / 9.2 by Carlo Chionna mens chino pants
Let’s start with the essentials: your pants. If you have a pair that’s bright and colorful, Santa Anita Derby day is the time to break them out! The examples above are just some inspiration, but don’t be afraid to try out butter yellow, Nantucket red, pale green, or whatever else strikes your fancy for a day at the track.
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Mens woven shirt / Brooks Brothers mens american flag shirt / Nordstrom mens yellow shirt / Croft Barrow mens pocket t shirt / Van Heusen mens no iron dress shirt / Giorgio Armani mens french cuff dress shirt / Michael kors mens shirt / Levinas mens short sleeve dress shirt
Whatever your pants you choose, try to pick a shirt in a contrasting color. Check out this color wheel if you need a little help. Otherwise, a crisp white button-down is always a classic and perfectly appropriate option!
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Cufflinks Inc tie / Bar III mens white tie / Penguin mens pink tie / Lanvin tie / Bar III mens polka dot tie / Calvin Klein mens tie / Thomas Pink mens silk tie / Burberry tie, $165 / Dsquared2 tie, $115
When choosing a tie, go for long and skinny. It’s a perfect look for spring in Southern California, and the shape of the neckwear creates a long and lean silhouette. Since we’ve avoided patterns up until this point, now’s the time to find one that speaks to you, whether that’s toile, subtle plaid, bright designs, modern stripes or classic polka dots.
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Scala mens hat / New Era mens straw hat / Original Penguin mens straw hat
Hats are a must at the races; it’s good to have a lid to shield you from the sun or rain, or whatever it is that Mother Nature has in store for fans at the track. If you don’t care for fedoras, porkpie or panama hats, then opt for a ball cap. It’s actually the classic racetrack insider look for guys: all dressed up in a tie with a horse-themed baseball cap. If you buy one at the Santa Anita gift shop on your way in, you’re going to look like one of the racing set’s insiders!
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Ace mens eyewear / Ray-Ban mens wayfarer sunglasses / Mens aviator sunglasses / Ray-Ban ray ban mens sunglasses, $240 / Arnette mens brown sunglasses / Forever 21 mens eyewear / Barton Perreira mens tortoise shell sunglasses
Don’t forget a great pair of sunglasses. They don’t have to be expensive (mine never are; I have a terrible history of leaving sunglasses behind me like a trail of costly plastic breadcrumbs) but they’re one of those items that’s great to have even if you don’t need them.
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Men s jacket / Men s jacket / Men s fashion / Activewear jacket / Barbour Waterproof Gamefair Jacket / Coat
This one’s a bit of a bummer to include, but it looks like you’re going to need some rain gear at Santa Anita on Saturday for Derby day. I always prefer a raincoat to an umbrella at the races since big brightly colored floating circles of fabric tend to startle racehorses. If you’re on the same page as me, the raincoats above should keep you dry and stylish at the track!