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Great Derby Day Style from Vineyard Vines

Tom Handley
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What do you think of when you hear ‘The Kentucky Derby’?  Perhaps the infamous mint juleps, The Run for the Roses, or very sartorial guys, rockin’ it Derby style.  Since 1875, a tradition of gathering on the first Saturday of May has brought out the most stylish men and incredibly au courant hats on very chic women.

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The style at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, is colorful, cool and very preppy.  The collection from Vineyard Vines brings their signature looks as ‘The Official Style of the Kentucky Derby’.  From the casually cool to the definitely dapper, Vineyard Vines brings it big for the Derby and beyond!

Ian & Shep Murray, the co-founders of Vineyard Vines in 1998 and brothers from Connecticut, are not only big fans of sailing, but of the Kentucky Derby.

The Manual posed a question to each of the Murray brothers:

How do you define Derby Style?

Ian- Since its debut in 2011, the collection continues to be inspired by all aspects of the Kentucky Derby.  Everyone always wants to look their absolute best on Derby day—it’s a timeless tradition. We aim to offer that special touch to your outfit, whether it be a tie with little mint juleps or a dress printed with horse bits. We’ve always been about having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously, but even we put on our best sport coats and shine our shoes for a day at the races!

Do you have one great derby memory?

Shep- One of my favorite Derby moments was actually when I wasn’t there. I was watching SportsCenter on ESPN and saw our patchwork-wrapped tractors. That was truly an ‘every day should feel this good’ moment.

Below The Manual highlights some the most dapper styles, so if you’re headed to Louisville, hitting a local pub, or hosting your annual Derby party, grab a drink, kick back, and have fun!

Horseshoe Gingham Sport Coat

There is no better way of making a Derby statement than with this lightweight and dapper sport coat.  Paired with khaki short or a brave plaid, you’ll get noticed.

Two-Button Blue Blazer

Always a true classic! The best thing is pairing the blazer with pieces that express your personality. Whether it’s plaid, seersucker pants or shorts, or a statement making fun solid, you can never go wrong with this timeless style. 

Assorted Shirting’s with Bowties

From stripes to gingham and seersucker, nothing is like a crisp a shirt especially when paired with very conversational bowtie.

Neckties That Make a Statement

Their names say it all: Run for the Roses, Mint Julep, Win, Place, Show, Martini & Cigar, and Derby Patchwork Silks.

A Casual Take

From caps and shorts, T-shirts and flip flops, this casual approach to Derby Style, is perfect, but not just for the race.

Tom Handley
Tom Handley
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Tom Handley is a contributor for TheManual. As a professor of public relations and social media strategy at Parsons The New…
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