Kentucky Derby Style: She Belongs.

About a month ago, I filmed Kentucky Derby-style content on a private jet. (Definitely NOT my jet!) The shoot was part of an auction package some friends and I won at Gentlemen for MS, a fundraiser here in Louisville for the National MS Society. Though I know not everyone would be thrilled by a pajama fashion shoot (like the cool Succession kids say), I saw it as an opportunity to take some fun photos with people I enjoy in a setting I wouldn’t normally have access to. Do it for the content, babe! (And friend time, of course! It was a lot of fun.)

Marginal note: I am on the planning committee for Gentlemen for MS and you should definitely come to this year’s festivities. O sponsor! Or donate a high value item/package that we can use in our live auction! For any of them, feel free to contact me at any time.

It is this photo shoot that I was referring to in my last post about the experience of trying to find an outfit that truly reflected how I wanted to look. The challenge of reconciling my vision and the very, very limited plus size options available was maddening. I hope you read that article if you haven’t already. It will give you a much deeper look at my thinking going into this experience, as well as the transformative power of clothing.

I use clothes and style as a way to show myself that I belong. That I am someone worth seeing. That I am more my size. That I can stand out and not shrink. I can take up space.

It is more than just a dress.

When I saw the photos from the shoot, it was like I was looking at another person. I looked at her and she seemed she belonged. While fashion is subjective, I thought the person in the photos was elegant, sophisticated, full of confidence, and someone who understood style. I could see these photos in a Derby editorial or on a “what they wore” list. Then I realized that it felt so novel because I couldn’t remember seeing plus-size bodies in this context. When you’re my size, you notice these things. It’s like seeing a unicorn. And who doesn’t want more unicorns in the world?!

Note: As I’m about to delve deeper into the social and fashion aspects of this event and all that surrounds it, I recognize that there are a lot of complex issues at play. Privilege abounds in much of this hubbub, and there are issues of class, race, and ethics that intertwine into one big knot that also turns out to be a tremendous economic impact for our city.

For those unfamiliar with the hot spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby: Here in Louisville, it’s not just about the fastest two minutes in sports. The first Saturday in May is the *main event*, but it’s also the reason for the season.

Yes, season.

Events in town revolving around the Kentucky Derby begin in early March, 2 months before race day. Many people who participate do not even go to the races, but it is the main time of the social events. A time to see and be seen. Those interested in the festivities start drawing at parties, fashion shows, fundraisers, and more, even before March. Hatters work feverishly to keep up with demand, and boutiques and brands reveal their Derby-related wares and styles that are worthy of the show. It’s all very trendy, which makes it fun for someone like me who loves to express herself through fashion. It’s also fun to show the rest of the world that Kentucky contains crowds beyond Kentucky Fried Chicken and the shoeless stereotype.

It’s glitz, glamour, lots of bourbon and a reason to wear fantastic headpieces. It’s so much fun to have a reason to wear artwork on your head. I think we should have more of that everywhere. But then again, I love any reason to accessorize.

If you look at fashion editorials, local or national, that present themselves as the epitome of Kentucky Derby fashion, you won’t find many visibly plus-size women. This year, the local lifestyle magazines and their beautifully produced Derby fashion editorials didn’t include anyone I perceived to be over a size 14. Browsing the galleries of Town & Country, Vogue, Southern Living, and Garden & Gun turned up hundreds. of photos, with perhaps 5 or more people above size 14, but none that would classify in the 18+ size range. Considering that 67% of American women are a size 14 or larger, math is not math.

Locally, the lack of representation could be because the stores that carry styles for the models do not carry plus sizes. Nationwide, coverage consists mostly of street style photos/snapshots of the event organized into large photo galleries with headlines like “Best Fashion at the Kentucky Derby”. Given the 155,000 people who attended, I can’t help but wonder if this exclusion is due to bias against fat. I know there are plenty of stylish women of all sizes who attend the Kentucky Derby. If, in the eyes of the editor putting together the curated images, big doesn’t equate to trendy, they won’t be in the gallery.

It may not be an intentional exclusion, but when we operate in a world of conventional beauty standards where smaller is perceived as more attractive and the beauty creators of the media world are in charge of curating what they show, it feels like a choice.

Also one very specific thing for me: the “influencer” invites and associations surrounding this time of year can reek of high school popularity contests. I suppose this is with all associations throughout the year, but around Derby season, it’s very noticeable when everything comes down within a 10 mile radius of where I sit. At home. Without heels. Maybe sleeping. Or reading a book. So maybe it’s a win for me after all! 🤷🏻‍♀️

There are many times when I avoid places because I think I probably won’t fit in. Or even I will not fit, because the accessibility of the size is important. It has improved over the years, but there are always hills and valleys in the search for confidence. Visual representation may seem trivial, but there is a lot of power in seeing someone like you, or friends and family, represented. We can all use a reminder that we belong.

many thanks to the hat doctor, Ilana Kogan, for providing the absolutely stunning headpiece and for being a part of the fun day, along with my friend and fellow Misters for MS committee member, Debra de Debra Locker Group.

thanks to crew aviation jets for the generous donation of this auction package to Misters for MS, including the skills of the immensely talented Andrea Hutchinson behind the camera. Cassie’s makeup did an amazing job on my makeup!

Attire:

Dress, ELOQUII (Also available in other colors)
Fascinating, The doctor in the hat – She has really amazing pieces!
Old Shoes – similar
Earrings, lele sadoughi
Sunglasses, DIFF glasses (from my HSN collaboration here)

Credits:

Photography: Andrea Hutchinson
Make up: Cassie’s makeup
Location: crew aviation jets

Want more Kentucky Derby Plus Size outfits and style? I have a lot in my files!

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