Express Your Style With a DIY Derby Hat

Express Your Style With a DIY Derby Hat

The races are home to one of the most interesting expressions of personal style around: the derby hat. Derby hats are those big, beautiful hats with flowers that you see all the time at the horse races. Of course, you can spend top dollar and buy a derby hat. But, that’s just not in the spirit of the exercise. The races are one of the few times you get to go out to a major public gathering and let your look scream, “Hey! Look at me!” Why not personalize your own DIY derby hat? You want everyone to look your way. A great DIY derby hats gives them something they’ll be talking about long after the racing is over and the dust has settled.

The big hat

The definitive derby hat is always something with a broad brim that provides lots of shade. Its width demands to be seen. It provides lots of surface area to attach all the personalized goodies you love.

You can keep it simple. Get your big brim hat and a scarf. Tie the scarf around the crown of the hat. Add a feather for some accent. And voila! You have a perfect minimalist, traditional derby hat.

Black Big Hat

The really big hat

You can also go big. Remember, you have lots of space on that hat. Feathers and flowers can be attached in abundance. There’s also room to glue on letters, insignias and anything else to let folks know which horse is your favorite. Go wild! After all, a derby hat is one of the few times where less is just less, not more.

Handmade Big Hat

The small hat

OK, sometimes less is more. Especially when everyone around you is already going so honkin’ big! Let’s start with a cloche hat. You’re making a statement right there, with something that has a small brim and a bit of retro styling. We’re going to wrap a scarf around the crown again. Then we’ll secure the scarf with safety pins. The bow-tie of the scarf provides a platform for attaching embroidery, or to hang items. The crown of the hat can host a flower to add some spunk.

Beautiful Derby Hats

The pinned brim

Sometimes, it can be fun to subvert expectations. Let’s use the big brim hat to make a simple look. We’re going to take a safety pin to pin back half of the brim against the crown. Then we’re going to pin a single big flower on that same side, to cover the pin and to add a bright accent. Wear the flower to the front for a cute look, or to the side for something sassy. For those who want to add some daring, a single feather will do nicely.

Simple Derby Hats