I was invited to a Kentucky Derby party at the last minute, Friday afternoon for a party the next day at 2 p.m.! The first time I attended a KD party was many years ago at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and I was amazed at how creative and beautiful the outfits were for both men and women but the hats… well, the hats were something else.
We had dinner plans on Friday, but before dinner, I stopped by Macy’s to search for the perfect hat. Not only did I not like the options, which all seemed very similar, but they didn’t capture the creativity I had admired years ago.
Knowing I wouldn’t have much time Saturday morning, I started mentally scoping my own hat collection during dinner, looking for something I could transform into a show-stopper. I settled on a black-and-white striped beach hat I’d had for years but never used. From my closet, I chose a black-and-white polka dot sundress to complement it.
I rose early Saturday, watching videos and looking at photos online to learn how to create the perfect Derby hat. Once I had a design in mind, I drove to Hobby Lobby to gather supplies.
I envisioned a design featuring black and red feathers, with a red rose to complement the stripes and polka dots. I also picked up green leaves and a white calla lily to add balance and break up the red and black. Then, I pulled out my trusty glue gun.
I printed an Instagram photo for inspiration, a design that captured the colors, textures, and layout I was aiming for. I pinned the design to the hat and took a reference photo to guide me as I glued each piece.
Next came the fun part: arranging, cutting, fitting, and hot-gluing each piece according to my design. I adjusted stems, moved feathers and flowers around, and kept refining until I was satisfied with the final arrangement.
Once everything was glued in place, I let the hat sit while I got ready for the party, which was about two hours away.
The whole process took roughly an hour, and my hat was voted second best at the party! I was incredibly proud of myself. This experience has inspired me to create more hats in the future, for friends, family, or anyone interested.
I hope this post encourages you to design your own hat, whether for the Kentucky Derby or another special occasion. I promise you’ll have a blast, and no one will have a hat quite like yours!