The world-famous Kentucky Derby is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May. Though this year the race has been postponed, this springtime event can still be recreated at home for our dolls. Sure, some think the focus is on the horses, but we know it's really all about the fashion! If you were going to the Derby, we would have two questions for you:
You’ll be dressing for warm weather, so easy to wear dresses and sundresses are a great choice. Pair them with the perfect hat to keep the sun off your face and to stand out in the crowd! Whatever look you choose we're sure you'll be looking fantastic on Derby Day!
Giveaway Alert! Be sure to scroll to the end to enter our doll-sized horse giveaway!
We've put together the ultimate Derby Day Pattern Collection for Dolls, which includes great spring dresses and stylish statement hats.
Amelia Dress from Love From Lola
Primrose Dress from Buzzin Bea
Winner's Circle from Karen Lorraine Designs
Jane Ruhl of Sweet Pea Fashions shares, "I hail from Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby! While you might think that the Kentucky Derby is just a horse race, those of us who live here know that what Mardi Gras is to New Orleans, the Derby is to Louisville. It’s a three-week-long festival that begins with one of the largest fireworks shows in North America and ends when the parties break up late on Derby Day. In between, there are parades, races of all kinds (involving people, rodents, steamboats, hot air balloons, and even beds), and PARTIES!"
Get your doll ready for summer with the Palmetto Swimsuit, and then use that pattern to get her ready for the Derby! In this pattern hack, Jane shows you how to convert the top of the swimsuit into a sundress that is perfect for al fresco dining, a barn wedding, or even the Kentucky Derby!
You can create the perfect straw hat for your doll with the Springtime Straw Hat crochet pattern from Sweet Pea Fashions! This wide brimmed hat can be crocheted in synthetic raffia to look like straw, in cotton for a casual look, or in any medium weight yarn. It is very easy, worked all in single crochet, a perfect beginner project. It can be left plain or decorated to the nines.
Check out the Fabric Flower Tutorial from Sweet Pea Fashions to add fun and flare to your hat!
Derby Day Hats
Derby Day Fedora from Rondeletia
Lady Sarah Rick Rack Hat from Genniewren Designs
1940s Pleated Felt Hat from Thimbles and Acorns
Derby Day Shoes and Bags
Espadrilles from Eden Ava Couture
Art Deco Bags Accessory Pattern from DKinley Designs
Flower Sandals from Dena's Doll Designs
Fun Accessories For Your Horse
If you need a horse for your Derby Day celebration, check out the Our Generation® Doll Sized Horse!
ENTER TO WIN An Our Generation® Doll-Sized Horse!
To enter this week's contest, simply click the link below and then enter through the giveaway widget at the bottom of the blog post, there are many things you can do to earn multiple entry points!
Contest Details: You enter through the entry form that is embedded on this page and appears just below this paragraph, if you don't see it, be sure to visit the page from your desktop or an alternate browser such as Google Chrome. It may not appear on all mobile devices. The complete rules and entry details appear on the entry form. This is not a comment contest - in other words, leaving a comment on the bottom of this page is not an official entry method. The only required entry method is to leave a comment under this post and then confirm that you did it in the contest widget. One person will receive the toy horse. You can enter once, or gain multiple entries by completing the other entry methods and increase your chances of winning. Please review all Terms and Conditions on the giveaway page before entering. While we wish we could run this contest everywhere, for legal reasons it is only open to eligible residents of the U.S. and Canada, not including Rhode Island. This contest is exclusively endorsed by Liberty Jane Clothing and Pixie Faire. This contest and article are not endorsed by or affiliated with Our Generation®.
We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us - what kind of Derby Day look would you like to make? Commenting below and confirming your entry in the widget above gives you one entry method, the other methods are listed in the widget above, be sure to enter in as many ways as you can to receive the maximum amount of entries to win one Our Generation® Horse!
Thanks, everyone!
The Pixie Faire Team
I love the turquoise sundress with the matching hat!
I would like to make a flowery sundress just below the knees that flairs a little at the bottom with spaghetti straps and a big brimmed hat full of flowers to match!
I would pair the Primrose dress with the Springtime straw hat and the espadrilles. :) Thank you so much for this wonderful giveaway!
~ Megan
I would love to make a fascinator for my dolls first kentucky derby
I would need a great, big fascinator for Derby Day.
My granddaughter’s American girl doll would wear a navy blue floral sleeveless dress (Pixie Fair Palmetto dress) with a navy blue shear mesh and feather fascinator hat and navy blue sandals. My granddaughter will wear a similar matching dress and accessories to be like her doll. They will look like the Royal family.
I would make the big floppy hat with a nice summer sun dress….My little granddaughter, would love the horse to go with her 18’’ doll. I gave her a smaller version for her smaller “My Life doll” and she loves it and takes it everywhere with her…she talks to me about it on the phone when ever her daddy lets her call me…It would be wonderful to have a horse for her 18" doll..
I’d have a sundress with a shawl and big floppy hat!
The first thing I would do is design a hat…I love red, so it would probably lean in this direction. Then I would want a dress that would be dressy but comfortable. I love the looks that are centered around this grand event.
I want to make the swimsuit hack for my daughters 1st Kentucky Derby!
I’m basicly a hatter so the first thing I do is design the hat and then find a fashion the dress / suit to match. The weather is a major factor in had design I don’t see value in a hat that wilts or flies in a storm. The Lilibett dress looks to be the most versital.
I would definitely wear a large hat with additional large embellishment. Added to that would be a sweet Winner’s Circle dress with smartly embroidered fabric.
I like the art deco dress for a statement outfit!
I love the look of the Winners Circle Dress with the Lady Sarah rick Rack Hat and the Flower Sandals, my horse will be wearing the English Saddle.
I would wear a frilly hat like in Winners Circle, although the other hats lovely, too. My horse would be decked out with flowers from the tutorial this week and plenty of feed from the feed sack pattern.
Something with flowers, feathers and tulle for sure!
A stylish hat and dress. I would like to think I could pull off the look and look as stylish as Princess Diana.
Derby Day wear requires a fancy hat! To go with a flowery spring dress. How about a pattern for a garland of roses for the winner?
If I were to attend derby day, I would wear something classic, such as an a-line dress or skirt (possibly a bold spring print) with a lightweight, matching cotton sweater in case there was a breeze. A classic straw hat with a bold matching ribbon would be sufficient for me.
Of course big Spring hats with flowers and beautiful lacey Spring dresses! Lots of color and beautiful boots for the ladies too! Who would not want a horse for their very own Derby celebration?
I would love to go to a derby day at the horse races. I love the hats, from big rimmed floppy hats to adorable fascinators. Not sure about the dress. The flows dresses with flowers are always so pretty, but acute sundress would also be fun. I’m glad I have my dolls to play make believe! Thanks for a fun idea when we are home bound right now!
My granddaughters would go crazy over this horse. I would for sure have to wear a fancy hat for keeping the sun out of my eyes.
my grand daughters have a mixture of dolls and I keep a doll and doll clothes here for them they would love a new additional.
my grand daughters have a mixture of dolls and I keep a doll and doll clothes here for them they would love a new additional.
Frilly, femininely, beautifully flowing tea dress with a hat to match both with extensive beaded highlights for the sparkle.
Love it – would love to make this for my granddaughter.
If I were attending the Kentucky Derby, I would sew myself a beautiful flowing tea length dress made with a voile overlay. The voile would be white or pastel in color with very beautiful flowers in an all over print. Pretty pumps, gloves and small matching purse. Of course a large brimmed hat with lots of flowers, ribbon and tulle. The flowers on the hat would match the dress. If I still had long hair, I would either French Braid my hair or curl it and put it in up-do style. No limp hanging hair, which I think takes away from a beautiful hat and dress. It would be so much fun to dress up!
Something flirty, pretty and ultra feminine.
So many cute patterns and pattern hacks. Love the idea of Derby Day. <3
My granddaughter would love this horse to go with her boy or girl doll. The Derby outfits are great. Now to get my granddaughter to pick out her favorite.
A beautiful flowing tea dress and of course a beautiful hat and gloves to go with it.
My daughter competed in English riding. One of the horses she rode, Lois exactly like that horse. Thank you for bringing the Derby to us.
love horses and dolls
I’ld make a sundress with a rose print (Run for the Roses) and a large floppy hat with tons of silk flowers and maybe a sash hanging down the back. To complete the look, some strappy sandals.
What a lovely horse. a dandy steed to pair with a gal.
I would definitely choose something springy, like yellow or lavender with a artistic hat.
I can never see or hear anything to do with the derby without remembering our tour of Churchill Downs, a mint julep and a slice of Derby pie! It was a highlight of a business trip t Louisville! Having this little horse would be a wonderful reminder😀
Reminiscent of scenes from My Fair Lady!
I would like to make hats
Of course, an adorable, fancy hat is mandatory !!!!
Derby Fashion is all about the hats to me. Something big with lots of flowers.
She would looking stunning in a cowboy outfit riding her horse
I would make a “Cowboy” theme hat with a touch of bling & flowers.
I like the fancy dresses and hats, especially the big ones with flowers and poof. The horse is a nice thing to go with these dolls.
The most important thing seems to be the perfect hat to set off one’s outfit. Something with flowers, feathers, a bit of tulle. Whether a tiny hat perched just right, or a big, wide brimmed hat. So many, many choices!!
I’d make a floppy hat and dress to match
That horse is adorable
Would so love to win that horse! Have wanted a horse my whole life and would have so much fun playing and sewing with my granddaughters with it.
What a wonderful way to spend quarantine! And use the fabric stash. The kids are excited about the Derby. High fashion and love of horses. I’m in! Thank you for this wonderful idea. Good luck every one.
My granddaughter would absolutely love a horse
I would make a big floppy hat with all the trimming.
I’d like to make one of those raffia crocheted hats for “Derby Day”, to go with outfits I have.
Id do an edwardian outfit,the dress shape with the most dramatic hats were lovely.
Thank you! This is such a great idea! My kids loved the pictures of the dolls with the horses :)I will be trying the dress from the Palmetto swimsuit pattern and a hat.
I just discovered your blog and doll patterns! I’m looking forward to making some of your dresses and clothes. Thank you for sharing!
My niece is in love with horses. I’d love to win this for her. It’s been rough not being able to play dolls with her. She loves to come stay with me so we can play dolls and I can make her dolls new clothes.
The hats are so pretty! I especially liked the 1940’s pleated felt hat. I would like to win the horse because I need a model to make horse’s barding to go with my knights and princesses outfits from your wonderful pattern collection.
My Derby Day look would be that all the ladies would show up in their best spring dress, light and airy looking, and a coordinating large spring hat sporting flowers, wearing their most comfortable shoes for the day at the races.
Any dress and a hat with all the frills.
My 6 year old granddaughter would LOVE this horse! She has asked for one several times but we haven’t yet to buy her one.it must be fate that this came up! She and I play with her AG dolls all the time and I even get patterns from you to make them clothes! Please choose us!!
A beautiful horse and hat are a must for the Derby!
I’d like to make a jockey outfit…our doll is the winner!
I would make a 1950 style in a minty lace with matching lace gloves and for a hat- white straw with the mint lace and a big bow in the back. White mary jane shoes, mint lace trimmed socks and a white purse with a mint strap.
I make a dress from the early 1900’s. With a big fancy hat with lots of feathers on it.
I would like to make the Primrose Dress. I especially like the neckline pattern and the bell like sleeves. My second choice would be the Palmetta swimsuit hack. That dress is very cute, also.
Thank you so much for all the free patterns and tutorials you supply for us. They are greatly appreciated.
I would wear the Lillian Dress White with large red flowers (I love the back on the dress) and the Winner’s Circle hat that is Red. The Art Deco Purse that is White with Red trim, and white sandals.
It would be fun to have a horse to add to my dolls.
A pretty flowered dress with LADY SARAH RICK RACK HAT 18" DOLL would be wonderful
My girl would wear a blue flowered dress with a straw hat
My girl would wear a classic dress and a feather adorned fascinator.
If I were were going to the Kentucky Derby, I would want a classic Jackie Kennedy sheath dress with a cute little jacket,( in case the evening turns cool) comfortable sandals and a fabulous wide brimmed straw hat with flowers and long streaming ribbons.
I would like my doll to wear a pale yellow flowered dress with a matching hat.
I would wear capris, baseball hat and sunglasses – nothing fancy, but my dolls and girls prefer Amelia and Primrose dresses. I used to have such dresses when I was young. Now it’s time for my granddaughters to look attractive.
I like the primrose dress with a big sun hat.
Addendum: I’d dress my dolls in long sleeves, long skirts/trousers and big brimmed hats. Looking pretty is nice, and so is avoiding sunburn.
The dolls you photographed look so elegant.
I like the Love from Lola dress but with a hat.
I would wear a sundress, sandals, and a hat with a small veil. The horse is beautiful.
I’d make the Primrose dress and a matching staw hat. I would also make all the horse accesories. I love horses!
I would love to makea a smart dress with a big flouncy floral hat. I think it would be perfect for derby day. And then a riders colours for the horse
Traditional hat and sundress
I completed the western wear outfit for the 18" doll and would love to add the horse for my granddaughter.
OMG what a beautiful horse!
Love!!
The 40s hat. I have a collection of vintage hats so I would have to go with that.
That is the cutest thing!!! Now which grand-doll gets it? And of course a beautiful horse needs beautiful adornments!
My Derby Day look would include a beautiful spring colour dress and a hat with feathers, ribbon and tiny horses.
A flowing dress with lace overlay and a big hat with flowers.
Sundress , big hat and sandales
We lilve in Louisville, KY Derby City and the KY Derby is all we breath from the beginning of Spring to its conclusion. I am busy creating the dresses, shoes and hats for my grands and their dolls. Yes, we have horses and definitely would appreciate winning this one. I love Derby, and while it is delayed this year, we will still celebrate it!
My Youngest daughter has always wanted a horse for her doll. It would be a fun addition to her collection.
I think I would try to make an outfit for my horse’s Jockey. I have 2 “Best Friends” horses from about 12 years ago that my grandkids played with.
A pretty face mask will be necessary. No big hat to be considerate of those behind me. I’d do a pretty tunic with slacks to sit on a hot seat. Maybe even carry a coordinated seat cushion.
If I were to make a Derby Day dress I think I would use the Eden Ava Couture Black Tie Gala Gown and make it around knee length. Along with this I would design a hat of my own to compliment the Gala Gown worthy of the Derby standard!.
I love the Primrose dress and 1940s hat, how cute!
I love the Primrose dress and 1940s hat, how cute!!
I would make a doll sized “Horseracing Kills Horses” t – shirt.
I love the Winner’s Circle Dress with the Lady Sarah Rick Rack Hat and Flower Sandals. My horse would wear the English Saddle.
I would love a sleeveless, scoop necked, sheath dress with high-low ruffle at the bottom, made of white fabric with a red-rose pattern and a large floppy red hat and sling-back pumps.
I would wear a flowing sundress and big hat and sandals.
Edwardian lingerie dress with a gigantic hat and a parasol.
Lora
April 27, 2020
I love them all!