Happy Derby Day, everyone! I hope you have some fun plans to drink mint juleps in big hats and fancy dresses today, and if you don’t yet – may this lovely derby style dress and embellished head gear inspire you to go out and get some! I had so much fun customizing this dress – sleeve length and hem length – on eShakti and was so pleasantly surprised by the product I received. It fulfilled my wildest derby style dress dreams and is perfect for my plans today (friends + bar). It even inspired me to make this derby hat! Read on for more details!
THE DRESS
So here’s what’s cool about my whole experience ordering, customizing and receiving this dress from eShakti. They make the designs, but you get to choose the length of the sleeve (sleeveless, cap-sleeve, short-sleeve, elbow-length) and the hem length (above the knee, at the knee, below the knee), based on your height. Plus, they offer a range of sizes up to plus size 6X. How refreshing – an inclusive retailer who let’s you make the dress you own based on your style and your comfort level.
I chose short sleeves to cover up the tops of my arms, which I’m very insecure about. And I chose a knee length because I wasn’t going for super-sex appeal but instead, femininity and southern grace on derby day. I entered a height of 5’4″ and a size of 6, based on their measurement guidance.
Plus, the pattern is so unique with bright birds, flowers and colors. I couldn’t resist and knew I’d have to come up with a pretty great set of matching accessories and adornments to make it pop – perfect for Derby Day and for more wear this spring and summer.
THE HAT AND THE DETAILS
Well, this was the fun crafting part that I couldn’t resist! Believe it or not, my boyfriend scored this derby style hat for me at Target after my originally-planned hat didn’t work out (it was too floppy and more beachy than derby). Derby hats should stick out from your head and need to have some crazy embellishment – be it a net, a flower or in this case, a bird and ribbons to match my dress.
I had the ribbon and bird props from my Effie Trinket costume from last year, so it wasn’t a far cry for me to think of this combination. The green and navy ribbon picked up the similar color scheme in the dress and opened up the possibility of the navy belt. Obviously I chose the little light blue bird prop to go with the bird pattern on the dress. And though the bird doesn’t match the colors of the dress directly, it allowed me to grab these light blue matching mules to create my signature bookends and pull the look together in an unexpected way.
To attach everything, I simply tied the ribbon around the hat (there was a black ribbon already underneath that held my ribbons in place) and secured the bird with a wire.
THE BAG
I can’t believe how lucky I was to find and score this authentic 80’s Gucci crossbody bag for only $60 this past weekend at Chicago’s best vintage fair – the Randolph Street Market. I found it at the Thriftinista 365 booth, and the women who run this operation could not have been more sweet and fabulous. This bag was MADE for me (though I prefer to hold it as a clutch) especially given the old Gucci print is coming back into style in a big way. And while it might be an unexpected match for this dress, I thought the green of the signature Gucci ribbon matched quite well with that of the dress and hat, and the red stripe matched my lipstick!
Dress: eShakti (c/o) // Belt: Alice & Olivia (purchased at Crossroads Trading Co.) // Mules: Aldo // Bag: Gucci (vintage, purchased through Thriftinista 365) // Hat: Target (similar here)
Thank you, as always, for reading. Cheers to you, and may your horse win!!
Thank you so much to eShakti for such a lovely dress and shopping experience! Please give their customization services a try!
Belle
