All the Hats to Wear for Kentucky Derby Weekend, and Beyond

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Kentucky Derby weekend kicks off today, and people are making their way to Churchill Downs to place bets, spot celebrities, and take in the most exciting two minutes in sports. Although the racehorses headline the show, the fashions on display take a close second — particularly in the headwear department. Be prepared to see women decked out in all manner of Mary Poppins-esque hats, from colorful bonnets to floppy straw hats to peacocking toppers adorned with feathers, tassles, pom poms, and lace. To fully get into the spirit, grab a mint julep and try on one of our hat picks below—all Derby appropriate, but not so over-the-top that you can't wear them again.

Keep things cute with this black-and-white bow cap from French designer Benoît Missolin.

Silk bow cap, $393; matchesfashion.com.

Block out the sun in some of spring's hottest colors with Missoni's bright, striped straw hat.

Wide-brimmed sun hat, $585; modaoperandi.com.

A sheer straw hat with a fuzzy pom pom trim like this one from Natasha Zinko is right on trend for summer.

Pom pom trim sheer hat, $543; farfetch.com.

Do you wear black year-round? Then this handmade hat from Italian heritage brand Filú is for you.

Black vanuata hat, $515; farfetch.com.

For an easy option that definitely won't break the bank, check out the huge selection of floppy hats at Forever 21.

Straw floppy hat with floral crochet band, $15; forever21.com.

Channel your inner southern belle in Nordstrom's pink feathered hat.

Pink bow hat, $68; nordstrom.com.

For a look you'll wear again all summer, go for a classic Panama hat like KIN/K's made-in-Ecuador version.

Straw Panama hat, $196; kinkhats.com.