Derby Party

It seemed like a great idea: Throw a "Derby Party" on Derby Day. Put up huge T.V. screens. Have everyone place bets on the race. Ask the women to wear fancy hats. Have a big dinner in a tent. Bring Jaime Donegan (Follies Guy) in to put on a little after-dinner show. Raise tons of money for Children's Village. Play lawn games. Drink mint juleps.
The ladies of the Flo Wight Guild undertook this very aggressive, creative plan and made it come true. But ah, Palm Springs of Washington in the spring. Nobody knows what the weather's gonna do, and in this spring, the crappiest-weather spring we've seen in years, it did whatever it wanted. And that was mainly rain and be crappy and cold. It's pretty hard to Keep Your Cute On when it's that cold.
So the hats were definitely out in full force, but many women admitted to me that the dress they'd planned on wearing didn't end up being what they wore, and the ones who wore the spring-y things they planned on wearing mostly froze to death. So we all started out looking like Garden Party and most ended up looking like Ski Trip. Bummer.
By the end of the evening we all wished we had worn earmuffs, mittens & mukluks. The poor lonely, wet bocce balls sat unused in the lawn. So it goes in the Palm Springs of Washington in the spring.
But it sure was fun! The bets were placed, the race was run, the juleps were drunk, the food was delish, the show was entertaining, the money was raised, the Flo Wight ladies worked their buns off, and the hats....well, the hats. I must show some photos! So much blogability.

My award for Style Star of the event goes to Pam Martinkus for this spectacular black hat. She won the "Widest Brim" award--which I guess was worth the effort of having to have someone clear a path for her every time she wanted to walk through the tent. It definitely took up some space.
But the combination of the black & white checks & the taxi-yellow shawl & jewelry, along with (sorry you can't see them here) black & white checked espadrilles---ah, perfection! She had it all goin on.
Of course by the end of the evening she had on a black raincoat & the shawl was wrapped around her neck like she was going skiing, but hey, she sure made the supreme effort. Fabulicious!!!!

Here's Jumpin' Judy, Yakima's most ardent horse-lover, and co-chair of the event. What else but a candy-pink, maribou-trimmed cowgirl hat would do for her? And her white shawl had a horse design on the back. So appropriate-ish.

Ah, Mrs. Dolson--where do you get a hat as lovely as this? Daffodil yellow, lots of flowers, lots of netting, lots of ribbons and a big wide brim. This is a True Derby Hat. She looked spectacular, just as always.

Rhonda--straw with furry, feathery stuff. She has good hat hair, lucky thing. And she was smart enough to dress warm.

Cindi --who knew she had a Martha Stewart side?--- decorated this hot pink baby with spring flowers, lots of tulle, and butterflies flitting about. Fierce, Baby, Fierce!

Terri, the other co-chair of the event, in a classic dark suit and black fedora with emerald green bow. Very chic! I believe she was born chic, however. She told me she had a nice warm sweater under it, but by the end of the evening, everyone was wishing they'd brought their parkas.

Pat found her hat at TJ Maxx in Palm Springs--it was a delightful melange of some kind of tulle, black twisty things and flowers and ribbons and who knows what all. Love that yellow! And she admitted she changed outfits at the last minute & went for warmth. One of the smart ones.

They both looked great despite that nasty weather.

Some people can just wear hats better than others. Ann, also on the planning committee, in black & white with a feathered & flowered wide-brimmed number. She looks so at home in this! She should wear it everywhere! Even on those trips to Wal-Mart! And the white kid gloves wrapped around her mint julep--nice touch. I'm a sucker for beautiful gloves.

Mary Jo --- spectacular in this fuschia hat; we could never lose in that crowd with that color on her head! Plus a very sharp black suit (she didn't say whether she had ski underwear on under it). Again I award Mary Jo the "Best of Shoe" award for these FIERCE floral pumps (sorry you can't see them very well--trust me, they're fabulosity) which would go with about anything in anyone's wardrobe. Especially mine. I need those. Mary Jo, call me, what size are you?

Jan did the black & white thing with a big ol' wide-brimmed black hat and some gorgeous jewelry she said was from Greece. Or the Bahamas. Or Madagascar. I can't remember, it was getting late by then. Lotsa mint juleps later.....

Even Bugle Man had a cool hat! Plus the riding boots. And a bugle. And a glass of wine for his most indispensible accessory. Good thing he was there too, because it took a lot of bugling to get this rowdy crowd's attention. Nice job Mr. Bugle Man!

Kelly was one of the few smart enough to dress warm enough for the weather in a long skirt & boots. But the hat was especially delicious: looked like she planted a small forest on the top.

Teeny-weeny lady in a great big hat! Helen Jewett truly outshone everyone else at the party as Derby Queen, dressed entirely in white with this lovely chapeau to match. She sponsored the event, underwriting all the expenses. Quite royal, huh?

Lilly Lee won "Best Vintage Hat" or something like that (give me a break, it was late in the day & we'd been drinking since 2:00) with this smashing ostrich-feather & rose-covered number that belonged to her mother. Tip: if Lilly Lee ever offers you a tour of her upstairs closet, TAKE IT! This woman never throws away anything & her closet is full of vintage wonderment! Not only hers but her parent's. And her grandparent's & whoever else, for all I know. Anyway, she looked adorable.

Not to be outdone, some of the men joined in the hat parade. I asked Don where he got this spiffalicious top hat: "My attic." He also wore a very patriotic tie. Cool, Don.

And Wyatt, one of the entertainers, had charming Laurel & Hardy suspenders. He's so cute! Kinda the convenient, take-home size!

Marie, pretty much the Doyenne of the Flo Wight Guild--Bummer, you looked so fabulous in your Grandmother's Tournament hat but your eyes were closed. I'm so sorry! Blame the photographer, she's still kinda new at this. It was a great party!