What to wear to a Belmont Stakes Party?

Looking to party in style and watch the Belmont Stakes?

Everyone has heard of the Kentucky Derby. It’s the annual horse race where high, fun fashion is paramount. But did you know that there are two additional races that fill out the Triple Crown? The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes are the two races that follow the Kentucky Derby, and the team that wins all three earns that coveted Triple Crown. You may have heard a bit about the wild traditions that make up Kentucky Derby fashion. Maybe you’ve even attended! But the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes each have their own dress code.

First, The Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby Theme

The centerpiece of Kentucky Derby fashion is, you guessed it, the hats. Women wear huge Summer hats in bright or pastel colors. The hats feature details such as feathers, buttons, tulle, lace, and more. But at the Kentucky Derby, the men can stand out too. You’ll see all sorts of wild and bold patterns on the gents at the Derby. There are the basics like bold stripes and plaid, but there are also more unique patterns – flamingos, margaritas, florals, and more.

You can also have one of your accessories in a bold pattern as well: a tie, bowtie, or pocket square. To finish off the look, put on a Panama hat.

The goal at the Kentucky Derby is to stand out and make a statement. Derby fashion is definitely the wildest you’ll see in the three races, and its tons of fun to get dressed for.

Second, The Preakness Stakes

The Preakness

After the elaborate hat show at the Kentucky Derby, many of us wonder what the heck to wear to the Preakness. Even though the second leg of the Triple Crown is widely known as having a bigger party atmosphere than the Kentucky Derby, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dress the part.

Fashionistas agree that dressing for the Preakness is an even more extravagant affair than dressing for the Kentucky Derby. It’s all about the dress or suit for the second leg of the Triple Crown, not the hat. It’s important to dress the part, be glamorous. The Preakness is a time to “dress up”. Ladies and gentlemen should dress like Ladies and Gentlemen. You can still wear a beautiful derby style hat to the Preakness as long as you remember the most important part of your outfit is your dress or suit.

The Preakness Stakes aren’t nearly as wild and free as the Kentucky Derby, but that doesn’t mean the fashion isn’t fun. Preakness Stakes fashion is a nod to historical fashion – more specifically, the 19th century. For men you’ll see bowler hats and waistcoats with pocket watches on T-bar chains.

Third, The Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Look

Imagine you’re dressing for a nice party on the water. The Triple Crown’s bold Derby looks and sophisticated Preakness looks are topped off with mild, cool fashion at the Belmont Stakes.

At Belmont Park, there is a spectator dress code.  In certain areas of the park, spectators are not allowed to wear shorts or short sleeve shirts.  Belmont also requires that in most areas, men wear a collared shirt.  While it’s not a requirement, many women like to wear a fancy and colorful sun hat to the event.  This is not only for a fashion statement, but to keep the hot summer sun at bay while providing protection from the intense heat.  An Elegant dress code has been the long-standing tradition at Belmont Park. 

The fashion scene at the Triple Crown races is full of elegance, prestige, and class. While the Kentucky Derby has long been known for its sensational hats and fashion, New York’s Belmont Stakes has its own sense of style.

If you are attending with your partner, it’s always fun to coordinate your dress and hat to match his or her attire. It’s always great seeing coordinating outfits.

The color trend at the Belmont is black and white. Even those that stay neutral with their outfit can always go big with your accessories. Hats and fascinators can be anything from couture to commercial — it’s all about the impression you want to make.

A Triple Crown horse race outfit isn’t complete without a hat.

If you’re looking to watch the race and party in style, check out the Belmont Stakes Party at Rikasa in Pittston on June 10th. Once you’re there, don’t forget to grab their signature drink: the Belmont Jewel. It is a refreshing cocktail made of bourbon, lemonade, and pomegranate juice, and it’s perfect for a warm day at the races.