Jim Fannin Blog

For those of you couldn’t make it to the Kentucky Derby I brought back pics of all the crazy hats.

Enjoy:

The first thing you notice when you walk into Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May is that every woman is wearing a hat.  But it’s not just any hat- it’s a hat that reflects her personality.

Some were absolutely audacious.  I saw one hat that actually showed Churchill Downs in all of its glory on top of her head!  There were big hats, small hats, green hats, blue hats, yellow hats, and every other color hats.  I can only imagine how much money was just spent on these Derby hats.  And I am still trying to figure out how to fly with one, as they don’t exactly fit in the overhead compartment.  One bald gentleman joined in on the fun and attached a beer can to his head to wear as a hat.  That was the craziest one we saw.

My wife had a hat that was absolutely stunning, which I have to say unofficially was the best hat at the Derby.  She had 2 dozen, fresh roses planted on her head.  Wearing this, she stood for beauty in all of its regal form.  Her shoes even had fresh roses to match her hat!

I could have seen these women walking down the streets of Louisville or wherever they were from on any other day and they wouldn’t have had the confidence or air about them they had on this particular Saturday.  Each walked with her head held high, her chin in the air and her shoulders back, as if she owned the place.  The Derby is not a day about horses, but a day for the ladies to show off their plumage- what sets them apart from the men.

I heard more “OOOs” and “AHHHs” here than at any other event.  For every hat that looked awesome, everyone had to stop and take a picture with her.  Facebook must be full of Derby hats!

So what’s the point of this regal plumage?  This is the one time a woman gets to preen like a peacock, showing off her finery.  I think it’s each woman’s way of saying, “Hello world!  Here I am!  See me?  I’m having a great time and there is no place I would rather be on the first Saturday in May than at the Kentucky Derby!”