Boy was I wrong! In fact, it took nearly twice as long to find stylish baseball players than it did hockey players. I had to actually scale back this piece because there were so many names on it! Go figure!

And, after compiling this best dressed list I discovered quite a few hockey hotties. I think it’s safe to now call me a proud Puck Bunny!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of this series! You don’t want to miss out on the NFL All Star Best Dressed Team or the MLB’s Haute Stove! And of course, the Pretty in Plaid Best Dressed Golfer’s List!

The Best Dressed NHL Players

• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
• Sean Avery, New York Rangers
• Max Talbot, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Sid Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Ethan Moreau, Edmonton Oilers
• Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
• Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
• Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightening
• Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
• Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils
• Brendan Shanahan, New Jersey Devils

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Henrik has been voted the world’s sexiest Ice Man and he’s definitely a fave among all the Puck Bunnies. His skills on the ice and his stunning good looks combined with his amazing flair for fashion puts him at the top of this best dressed list!

Sean Avery, New York Rangers

Whether he’s in a structured leather jacket or lush velvet suit coat, Sean always seems to have that rugged “I’m a bad boy but go ahead, try to tame me” vibe going on that charms ladies all over the world. Come to think of it, he gives off the Alex Karev (Grey’s Anatomy) vibe…. not just because he looks shockingly like Justin Chambers!

Max Talbot, Pittsburgh Penguins

Maxime can pull off off the plaid casual look with a wonderful sexiness and he looks positively stunning all suited up with the Stanley Cup trophy!

Sid Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Much like Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant make all the Best of Baseball & Basketball lists, there isn’t a “best of” hockey list that Sid Crosby isn’t on. Sid the Kid is the talk of the NHL, the Olympics, the Puck Bunnies, and all the anti-Alex Ovechkin fans out there.  He’s brought excitement and new, young fans back to hockey. And he’s brought a new young freshness to his fashion sense. Plus, his disheveled hair seems to somehow work with casual and three piece suits!

Ethan Moreau, Edmonton Oilers

Ethan is one tall, cool drink of water! Not all men can pull off a pale grey suit but Ethan makes it look fashionable and very sexy!

Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames

Jarome’s flames can light my fire any day! (Too cheesy? I couldn’t help myself…) Jarome has this super cool vibe about him. Like a cross between being dapper and urban smooth. It’s a great blend. Doesn’t hurt that he is a cutey-patootey! (Hmm… I bet hockey players don’t really appreciate being called “cutie”)

Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild & Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals

You say Nicklas, I say Niklas….. One is a clean shaven, cropped hair gentleman that looks like he is made to wear suits. The other is a shaggy haired kid who rocks casual clothes and is made to break hearts! Either way, their style is impeccable!

Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightening

First off, I need to say I had no idea a man this fine was living so close to me…..I think it’s time for me to check out the Lightening! Vinny is definitely a fan favorite in Tampa Bay and a fan favorite for best dressed. Anyone that can make a Mr Roger’s-esque sweater look that sexy has got serious style!

Zack Parise, New Jersey Devils

Zack may play for the devils but his youthful baby face looks more like an angel. He has a Matt Damon-All-American-Boy-Next-Door quality about him that is so swoon-worthy. Till he hits the ice and the bad boy inside comes out! It’s almost not fair for put him on the list because with that face, no one is looking at what he is wearing!

Brendan Shanahan, New Jersey Devils

Brendan is making this list because he has the hot older-man McDreamy vibe about him. I’m a sucker for guys who rock blue ties or open popped collars!

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Alex is not exactly….. handsome….. He’s more…..intriguing. He’s basically considered hot just because he’s so talented.  But even if I don’t consider him hot, there is no denying his skills on the ice, and in his off the ice style!

That’s all folks! The Best Dressed Series is complete! Do you agree with my picks? Someone else you think should have made the list? Leave me a comment below or send me a tweet on twitter @stilettosportsj!

Today I finally found an amazing giveaway that I had to share with you!

I know I don’t talk about NASCAR much on Stiletto Sports but I will soon since the season about to start it’s engines with the Daytona 500 on Valentine’s Day. And I have NASCAR Fashionistas to thank for my interest in the auto sport. Their blog  is one of my absolute favorite Sports for Chicks websites! They make NASCAR a fun, fashionable sport full of hotties! And they are offering an exclusive giveaway for their readers–and mine! And just in time for the Daytona 500!

Ever wanted to sit in  NASCAR driver, Tony Stewart’s seat? Well, now you can! The Fashionistas are giving an exclusive opportunity to win one of two limited edition No. 14 Tony Stewart NASCAR® High-Back Leather Bonded Desk Chairs!

Here’s a little more about the contest:

From the Fashionistas: All you have to do is send us a photo of your desk or office decked out in Tony Stewart fan gear. We want to make sure that one of these fab chairs will accentuate your place of business. The two top fan photos will receive a chair! We will run this contest starting today through February 12th. Both winners will be announced prior to the running of the 52nd annual Daytona 500. You can email the photos of your office/desk to info@racingfashionistas.com

Also, don’t forget to follow the Fashionistas on Twitter @RACINGgirls

And a little more about the chair….

The luxurious red and black bonded leather upholstery chair is cushioned for all-day comfort. It features a padded armrest to help alleviate shoulder strain, gearshift styled gas lift knob, a cushioned seat offering exceptional comfort and lumbar support and sleek racing wheel casters with durable base and scuff resistant foot pads. The chair also features an embroidered Tony Stewart signature and is priced at $229.99.

NASCAR not your thing? Check out their sister site Halftime Designs which is full of all sorts of great football fashion for college and NFL teams! Very chic and unique! They even have Super Bowl XLIV Gear for the Colts and Saints already made!

The #5 sports moment of 2009 goes to the winners of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness because the races were ones for the record books.

The Kentucky Derby

The legendary horse race that kicks off the season and the first leg of the coveted Triple Crown, was eagerly anticipated just like it always is. The ladies decked out in their Sunday best with big hats and the men wore their dapper suits and smoke cigars.  Pioneer of the Nile was projected to win and was ahead of the pack going into the final leg until…..

Out of nowhere, first-timer Mine That Bird came racing up against the rails. Mine that Bird, a 50-1 longshot took down Pioneer and won the Kentucky Derby to the complete astonishment of the racing world.

“He took the lead so fast after the final turn that NBC Sports race announcer Tom Durkin didn’t notice that the gelding took the lead until it had a three-length opening ahead of the pack. Mine That Bird had the longest margin of victory in over 60 years, and was the longest-odds horse to win the Derby in over 85 years” From Wikipedia

The Preakness

Flash ahead a few weeks later. Mine That Bird is all set to race to win the Triple Crown and the world was holding their breath in eager anticipation. What a wonderful underdog, come-from-behind story that would be! A horse racing story for the ages!

And it was! The 2009 Preakness definitely became a horse racing story for the ages It was an amazing underdog, come-from-behind, unknown-little-guy-wins-it-all story! Or rather….unknown little-gal-wins-it-all.

Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to take on all the boys of the Preakness and win since 1924! She even bested Mine that Bird by 3/4 length and dashed his hopes of the Triple Crown.

Another crazy thing about the races is that the jockey who rode Mine that Bird in the Derby, Calvin Borel, was the jockey for Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. He’s the first jockey to win two legs of the Triple Crown by riding two different horses!

Prior to the Preakness, Borel told interviewers that Rachel was going to win and that he believed she was the best horse in the country.

The videos I selected are really long and i apologize for that. But it tells the tale of Mine that Bird and Rachel Alexandra and how they came to win.

Please let me know if there is something you think should be added to the list. Also, let me know what you are hoping Santa (or the Holiday Armadillo) is bringing you this year! Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @StilettoSportsJ.

Because the post is so long, I sub-categoried all the NASCAR Gift Ideas. So click on any link below and it will jump you to that category/section.

• Ultimate NASCAR Gifts




• NASCAR Books & Calendars




• NASCAR Movies & DVDs




• NASCAR Tailgating




• NASCAR Gifts for Her




• NASCAR Car Gear




• NASCAR Stocking Stuffers

Ultimate NASCAR Gifts

1. Fantasy Driver’Opoly: If you haven’t checked out my other gift guide posts than you might not know about my obsession with custom Monopoly games. I just think they are so unique and make perfect gifts! This one is all about NASCAR! You decide which of the top 22 NASCAR drivers are on Boardwalk, Park Place and every other property square. Enjoy the Monopoly fantasy of buying, selling and trading your favorite NASCAR drivers in a quest to own and control NASCAR.
2. Daytona 500 Tickets: Well, tickets to any race make a great gift but Daytona 500 is the big one and it kicks off the season here in Florida in February.  Even I have heard of this race so you know it’s a big deal!
3. NASCAR ride along Experience real life racing thrills by riding shotgun in a NASCAR stock car driven by one of our professional instructors as you hit speeds exceeding 150 MPH. You’re in for the ride of your life, so hang on tight
4. NASCAR Driver Gear Going to send you over to my other post Top 9 NASCAR Drivers Gear which shows some great NASCAR fashion!

NASCAR Books & Calendars

1. Then Junior Said to Jeff: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told coauthors David Poole and Jim McLaurin have compiled the greatest stories of NASCAR racing, wading through nearly 60 years of heroics and hijinks and sharing the most memorable tales from the most memorable figures of the sport.
2. NASCAR: The Complete History See how auto racing all began and developed over the decades.
3. Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul Inspirational and touching tales from the Chicken Soup clan of writers that have been moving us for years! Only this time, its all about NASCAR
4. One Helluva Ride: How NASCAR Swept the Nation Perfect for the fans that still sometimes wonder why on earth they find cars going in circles so mesmerizing.
5. Portraits of NASCAR This intimate look into the private lives of NASCARs most famous drivers will be a great gift for any NASCAR lover.
6. Pit Stop in a Southern Kitchen: Two Moms of Racing Legends Serve Up Stories and Recipes Dale Earhardt, Jr. and Jeff Gordan’s moms head to the kitchen to see what the two of them can cook up! Not only is the book filled with yummy recipes, but it’s also filled with tons of stories and anecdotes about all the racing legends.
7. Stars of 2010 Wall Calendar
8. NASCAR Drivers 2010 Calendar
9. 2010 NASCAR Desktop Calendar 365 days of NASCAR. Is there a better gift for a racing fan?

DVDs

1. The History of NASCAR See NASCAR from the beginning all the way up to the fanatical sport it has become.
2. Daytona 500: 50 Years This collector’s piece showcases the Greatest American Race over the last 50 years. The winners, the losers, the highlights, the crashes…. it’s got it all.
3. ESPN Ultimate NASCAR Collector’s Set
   ESPN Ultimate NASCAR chronicles the fuel-injected climb of America’s #1 spectator sport, featuring scores of never-before-scene images, pulse-pounding behind-the-wheel stories and the passion and perspective only ESPN’s experts can bring. Now all four volumes are available together in this high octane collector’s set.
4. NASCAR: Greatest Dominators & Greatest Finishes Featuring 10 heart-pounding races spanning four decades of racing excitement, this collection is a must-have for enthusiasts of all ages! The greatest moments at the finish line are all captured in one astonishing compilation program.
5. NASCAR: The Ride of Their Lives A moving and adrenaline-filled journey chronicling the memorable personalities and moments of NASCAR with never-before seen first-person accounts from the people who lived it. Oh, and it’s narrated by Academy-Award winning actor and sports movie legend, Kevin Costner.
6. NASCAR – The IMAX Experience This is great for the beginning NASCAR fan to get them hooked in and learning all sorts of trivia!

NASCAR Tailgating

1. NASCAR #88 CHECKERS SHOOTER SET
2. Nascar 32-Ounce Liquor Dispenser From Godinger
3. Nascar 7-Piece Car Shooter Set From Godinger, this chrome NASCAR car is filled with shot glasses!
4. NASCAR Vintage Gas Pump 32 oz liqour dispenser made to look like an old-fashioned gas pump.
5. Nascar Ice Bucket Another Godinger classic. This chrome ice bucket is a great gift for NASCAR wine drinkers!
6. NASCAR Crock Pots: Your favorite NASCAR driver is now available on a crock pot! How fun!
7. NASCAR Steak Branding: Now you can brand your steaks and burgers with your favorite driver number. Guaranteed to piss off all your rivals!
8. NASCAR Driver Grill Covers: Show off your NASCAR driver spirit to all your neighbors!
9. Race Day Grub: Recipes from the NASCAR Family A Full octane book of recipes to kick your party into high gear.
10. Checkered Flag Cooking: An Insider’s Guide to Tailgating at the Races

NASCAR Car Gear

Now, NASCAR fans are definitely known for their fan gear. But what’s even more important than wrapping their bodies up in their favorite driver number is pimping out their rides in NASCAR gear! Here are 5 Must-Haves to NASCARizing a car!

1. NASCAR Floor Mats
2. NASCAR Steering Wheel Covers
3. NASCAR License Plates
4. NASCAR Car Decals
5. NASCAR Roadside Emergency Kit: This is actually really, really, really cool. I kinda want it… and I am so not a NASCAR girl. At all. But this kit comes with 109 roadside essentials!  Fifteen 3/4″ x 3″ adhesive bandages, Twenty 3/8 x 1-1/2″ adhesive bandages, Six 2″ x 2″ gauze dressing, Two 5″ x 9″ gauze dressing ,Two 2″ x 4.1 yd gauze rolls, Fifteen alcohol prep pads, Fifteen antiseptic towelettes One accident report form, Four AAA batteries, One 12 ft./10 ga booster cable, Two 24″ bungee cords, Nine 12″ cable ties, One 1.5″ x 5 yds. duct tape, One 18mm x 10 yds. electrical tape, One 3 horse clamp, One pliers/wire cutters, One phillips screwdriver, One slotted screwdriver, Two 15″ x 12″ shop towels, One 5-in-1 whistle, One all purpose poncho, One 24 hour green brightstick, Two cotton gloves with rubber grip, One 4 function flash/lamp/torch, Two outdoor thermal blankets…… and a partridge in a pear tree.

NASCAR STOCKING STUFFERS

1. NASCAR Wrench Shaped Bottle Opener Very unique and cool! The Bottle opener is shaped like a wrench!
2. NASCAR Christmas Ornaments: They’ll be having you saying “I’m dreaming of NASCAR Christmas”
3. NASCAR Mugs & Glasses: Everything from NASCAR coffee mugs and to-go cups to NASCAR Driver glassware!
4. NASCAR Jewelry & Cufflinks: Rock some #3 cufflinks or some #24 bling around your neck!
5. NASCAR Key Chains: Talking keychains, bottle opening keychains, plain NASCAR key rings….. keys to a NASCAR car not included.

NASCAR Gifts For Her

1. NASCAR/Racing Fashionistas.com is an amazing website filled with all sorts of goodies for racing chicks!
2. NASCAR Harlequin Romances Yes, you read that right. Harlequin romances revolving around NASCAR. Guaranteed to get her engines running… hehe…
3. NASCAR Barbie If Barbie supports NASCAR then so do I because I’m a Barbie girl through and through! Very cute, unique gift for her
4. The Girl’s Guide to Winning a NASCAR Driver: Secrets to Grabbing His Attention and Stealing His Heart It’s written by Liz Allison who is the Queen of NASCAR, especially NASCAR for chicks. She is known for her Girl’s Guide to NASCAR books and this one takes it to a whole new gear!
5. NASCAR Shoes & Stilettos: Forget the old NASCAR image of mullets and atrocious late 80s/early 90s “fashion.” NASCAR has gone high octane with its fashion line and fabulous shoes!

We’ve been giving you the top selling and most coveted jerseys for football, basketball, baseball and hockey. Now it’s time to switch gears (pun semi-intended) and check out the best NASCAR gifts.

Unlike the other sports, NASCAR doesn’t really do team “jerseys.” Instead there is fan gear like:

1. NASCAR hats
2. NASCAR jackets
3. NASCAR hoodies
4. NASCAR Accessories & other gear

NASCAR gear is typically all decked out with drivers’ names, numbers and sponsors.

Before I begin, I want to share two of my favorite gifts for NASCAR lovers:

1. Monopoly Fantasy Drivers I am all about customized Monopoly games and the NASCAR one is really awesome!
2. NASCAR Lover Gift Basket: Stocked full of awesome goodies for racing fans

Here are the Top 10 Fan Favorite/Best Selling NASCAR Drivers. Click on any name to  check out awesome products and gifts featuring each driver

1. Jeff Gordan Jeff takes the #1 spot in fan apparel over Dale but just barely.
   
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (has won favorite driver award 7 times since 2000. And this year hasn’t been announced yet….)
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Tony Stewart
5. Carl Edwards I’m not exactly sure why men love him but I know why women do! He is very, very yummy!
6. Matt Kenseth
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Kurt & Kyle Busch (think of them as The Manning Brothers of NASCAR if you will)

Half of the top ten best-selling jerseys in the National Hockey League bear the names of retired players. One hasn’t played in more than a quarter of a century. What’s it mean? A lack of star power, youth and recent trades of popular veterans has–along with a messy lockout–left fans groping for the glory years of legends like Bobby Orr, Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. In many cases, top-selling jerseys don’t have player names on them at all–of the top 100 best sellers, 73 have only team logos.
–Forbes.com

It is a bit sad that the big name NHL jerseys are from way back in the day. I mean, even I know the names Orr, Messier and Gretzky!

The Top 10 NHL Jerseys Sales (both all-time and current players) come from 5 NHL Teams:

1. Pittsburgh Penguins: The Stanley Cup Champs definitely top jersey sales, especially because they have not 1, but 2 big names on their team: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
2. Philadelphia Flyers: Flying high in sales because of Mike Richards and because of the intense rivalry between the Flyers and Penguins which has been fueled after the Penguins championship win.
3. Washington Capitals: Riding on the success and star power of Alexander Ovechkin
4. Boston Bruins: Because fans are still living the glory days of Orr! And Boston fans of any sport never stop loving their team.
5. NY Rangers: Kinda the same as Boston, except substitute Orr for Messier.
6. Anaheim Mighty Ducks I have to throw this on there since the Mighty Ducks movie is just too cute for words and features my fave man, Josh Jackson as little Charlie Conway.

Today’s Top 8 Best Selling Big Name NHL Players & Jerseys

1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins Well, he’s the captain of the team that won the Stanley Cup last year so that makes him pretty important in hockey land! He was also the youngest captain ever to lead his team to the championship win!
2. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals. Ovechkin is like the Jeter or Kobe of the NHL. Fan favorite, immensely talented, wins every award possible multiple times, paid extremely large amount of money to play…..
3. Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers
4. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers Was voted Rangers MVP back to back. Only other player to do saw was the legendary Mark Messier. Lundqvist is also ranked in the top 100 NY Rangers of all time.
5. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins Pretty much any member of the Stanley Cup Champ Team is a hot jersey right now!
6. Stephane Matteau, New York Rangers Matteau’s two OT goals against the New Jersey Devils in ’04 paved the way for the Rangers to win the Stanely Cup that year. Ranger fans cry with the joy with the mentioning of that name
7. Guy Lafleur,  Montreal Canadians (Okay so he might not be the all-time best selling but my hockey fanatic friend Etienne who helped tremendously with this compilation would never forgive me if I scorned the Canadians!)
8. Reggie Dunlop, Charlestown Chiefs Haven’t seen the movie Slap Shot? What kind of hockey fan (or friend of a hockey fan) are you? Reggie is the main character, played by Paul Newman in the iconic hockey flick.

Top 5 Best Selling Big Name NHL Players’ Jerseys of All Time

Like I said, even I have heard of these guys and I rarely watch hockey!

1. Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
2. Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
4. Mark Messier & Jaromir Jagr New York Rangers
5. Patrik Elias, & Martin Brodeur New Jersey Devils

I’m also going to throw in the Montreal Canadians Jerseys because like I said, Etienne would never speak to me ever again

*Stiletto Sports’ Top Three Horses based on Name Only:

I thought I’d be mulling this over until Saturday. I mean, it takes me forever to make important decisions —like what to wear to the David Cook concert tomorrow or what to order off my Chinese food menu I’ve been staring at for three hours.

But to my shock, it took all of thirty seconds (or however long it took me to read the whole list of names) to pick my winning horses for the Derby. It was so simple! There were three horses that just jumped right in front because their names are three of my favorite things: hot men, chocolate and reality dancing shows!

1. Mr. Hot Stuff*
2. Chocolate Candy*
3. Join the Dance

*These two are neck and neck  in my top spot as I cannot live without either. I am allowing Hot Stuff to take the lead in my life, knowing that I have Chocolate Candy to console myself with when if he lets me down.

Top Three Horses Based on the Jockey Silks

I’ve already talked about how The Kentucky Derby is launch party for the Race-Track-Fashion Season. But the fans aren’t the only ones donning their Day-At-The-Races Best. The jockeys sport their official silks to represent their owners and farms. Over the years the jockey silks have become almost flamboyant in colors/patterns and are almost as integral to the races as the Race Day Hats!

Mine That Bird–their logo is a hat! Or maybe it’s a UFO……

Musket Man –there are a few other costumes silks that try, and fail, to look like Super Heroes this year. But this one’s definitely worthy of Wonder Woman.

Pioneer of the Nile –because the crazy color combo is just plain fierce!

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Kentucky Derby Horses & Jockeys

For a complete list of all the jockeys, owners, trainers and all the facts and figures about the horses, head over to The Official Kentucky Derby Website

• Pink = my picks
• Red = other ones I like
• Green = ones everyone is fussing about, the ones favored to win and all that hoopla

1. West Side Bernie
   • Stewart Elliot
2. Musket Man
   • Eibar Coa
3. Mr. Hot Stuff
   • John Velazquez
4. Advice
   • Rene Douglas
5. Hold Me Back
   • Kent Desormeaux
6. Friesian Fire
   • Gabriel Saez
   • why I like it: not really sure, to be honest. I just do.
7. Papa Clem
   • Rafael Bejarano
8. Mind That Bird
   • Calvin Borel
9. Join the Dance
   • Chris DeCarlo
10. Regal Ransom
    • Alan Garcia
11. Chocolate Candy
    • Mike Smith
12. General Quarters
    • Julien Leparoux
13. I want Revenge
    • Joe Talamo
14. Atomic Rain
    • Joe Bravo
15. Dunkirk
    • Edgar Prado
16. Pioneer of the Nile
    • Garrett Gomez
17. Summer Bird
    • Chris Rosier
18. Nowhere to Hide
    • Shaun Bridgemohan
19. Desert Party
    • Ramon Dominquez
    • why I like: it reminds me of Las Vegas, the ultimate party in the desert. And also my friends ET & Ashley, who I would love to visit and party with in Arizona.
20. Flying Private
    • Robby Albarado

*Once again…Stiletto Sports does not endorse or condone the betting on animals. Nor can we guarantee that if you pick horses because we tell you to, that you will win. In other words, if you lose, it’s so not our fault! But if you win, you really should give us half!

Throughout the year there are significant Fashion Trend Monitoring Moments. First, of course, is New York’s Fashion Week, which premieres all the Couture You Will Never Own and projects the trends that you will be buying.  Everyone eagerly anticpates the Academy Awards because it is Haute Evening Gown Premiere Night. And I just learned that the NBA All-Star Weekend is also the Sneaker Fashion Premiere Week.

Kentucky Derby Museum pays tribute to it's long-standing fashion history in their Derby Decades exhibit

The Kentucky Derby is actually the Summer Track-Season-Fashion Launch Party. If you want to know what the Southern Belles, Upper Crust Connecticut Country Clubbers and Long-Island Snooty Socialites will be wearing to the Hamptons, et al, this summer, just tune in to the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet.

Yes, there is a red carpet outside an event that is centered around a horse poop covered dirt track. Go figure.

Race Day Fashion  has become such an integral part of the Kentucky Derby, that they have dedicated an actual museum exhibit to showcase it’s long history.

I remember the first time I was invited to go to the races up in Saratoga, New York. Talk about a fashion 911 crisis! I had no idea what I should wear. Thinking about it now, I have to laugh because becoming “Day-at-the-Races-Chic” is really simple.

First, it’s all about the hat! Don’t waste time and money on your outfit until you find your perfect headpiece. Everything you wear should be made to showcase your hat, not distract from it!

Second, it’s all about the attitude because Track Fashion (not to be confused with NASCAR Track Fashion….) is all classic elegance.

Think….Audrey Hepburn.

Think….Charlotte York in S&TC.

Think….the polo match in Pretty Woman.

Think….Southern Belle meets Upper-Crust Connecticut Country Clubbing Socialite

Think….Kentucky Derby Barbie

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Think….Playboy Bunny & the Girls Next Door?

No, I’m not just making sure you were paying attention! Even the Girls know how to be elegant and chic for the Derby:

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Track Fashion is:

Chic, classic looks that still look fun, modern and flirty!

I have always been a fan of the classic and timeless looks. They always seem to flatter every body shape and their simplicity means you get to wild on fabulous shoes, purses, jewelry and…..hats! Here are some tips and must haves to complete the Timeless Beauty Looks. I’ve also added photos of some really fabulous classic yet chic looks. Click on any photo to get buying info!

• Sheaths: especially with a cinched and belted waist.
• Wrap Dresses. I swear, there is NOTHING more flattering than a wrap dress. They look great on just about anyone and they always seem the flaunt the good while hiding the bad–even if you gain or lose 50 pounds, somehow the miracle dress will still fit!
• Strapless dresses with a-line skirts: another form flattering shape. Pair it with an coordinating cardigan and you are oh-so-preppy-chic!
• Ankle/calf-length dresses: Sure above the knee has the in your face sex appeal, but a longer dress with a slit that plays peek-a-boo with your legs…that’s subtle-hot!
• Pretty in Pink: and all other pastels!  Country Club Colors like pale yellow and pink or baby blue and cream are definitely high-society must-haves.
• Floral: The Ultimate Spring-Summer Must Have –whether it’s the pattern on your dress or the flowers in your hair and on your shoes!

Classic Black, White and Oh, so Chic

Ever notice that you don’t see a lot of polka-dots until summer? Maybe it’s because of that “Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini” song? Summer always seems to catapult polka-dots back into the spotlight, especially black and white dots. I think there is nothing classier than a crisp white and black outfit– sometimes with a pop of color or without.

And there you go! Pretty simple! Stick to the classics in your outfit, and get a really over-fabulous hat and you are ready for the Summer Track Season and the parties!

And as a little girl I thought she was coolest lady in the world because she had so many hats! Apparently this has scarred me for life because to this day, I have a very serious hat affliction addiction obsession.

You know how when the seasons change, people switch over their summer and winter clothes? Well, I live in Florida, I don’t have to do that. But I do have to switch over my summer and winter hat collections. Yes, plural. That’s how many hats I own. It’s scary.

So I absolutely adore the Kentucky Derby because it is pretty much the Hat Party of The Year and it’s the official kick off for the Summer Track-Fashion Season.

The most important element in Track Fashion is not the perfect dress or fabulous shoes; it’s the flamboyant, over-the-top Hat. Keep the outfit basic and simple and rock the biggest, baddest, loudest, frilliest, feather-covered, rhinestone-studded, giant-bow-covering hat that you can find!

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I went online to find a few examples of fun hats. Really, it was only going to be like three hats.

Only you should never, ever, ever, send a Hat Addict onto Amazon to look for Race Track Worthy Hats. HOURS later…I had looked at thousands (literally) of hats and was only able to pry myself away when my eyes started to burn so badly that I couldn’t see the hats anymore. So….there are a lot of hats for you to look at! But if you are like me, you won’t mind at all!

The hats are broken down into:

• Classic & Timeless
  • Black White & Oh So Chic
• Head Turning Colors
• Haughty Haute Couture

I tried to give descripts for all but I may have missed some! You can click on any picture to get all the buying info. They are all located on Amazon.com, because that seemed to be the biggest hat database I could find! Huge love to Luxury Divas and E4Hats because their products were really amazing!

For outfit ideas, check out my What to Wear to the Kentucky Derby piece.

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Classic & Timeless

Crushable Toyo Straw Hat

J’adore this pink and white classic hat. It’s effortless simplicity screams taste, money and high society.

2 Tone Feather Swirl Sinamay Hat

This blue and white hat is more like an artfully gift-wrapped present complete with ribbons, feathers and flair.

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Black, White and Oh, So Chic

First off, I am a huge fan of black and white together, especially in the summer. Second, anyone will tell you that at the Derby, or any racing events, the black and white combo hats provide a hint of elegance and drama.

Glamorous Black & White, Ultra Wide Floppy Hats

Polk-A-Dot Brim Sinamay Hat

The intricacies of this hat are so amazing that it’s impossible to capture them in just one photo.

Lace Downbrim Hat

The official name implies the hat is woven with lace but the pictures detail so much more. The intricate design is full of unique beading and embellishments. The once casual-style hat is now Kentucky Derby ready!

STUNNING BLACK & WHITE TWO TONE CANVAS FLOPPY HAT

That’s right, this fun, funky hat is actually your basic canvas, floppy hat! But instead of just creating another reversible bucket hat, Luxury Divas added a fun twist to the brim to make it stylish and modern.

TROPICAL BLACK LINEN WIDE BRIM FLOPPY HAT

Linen hats tend to grow on trees here in Florida but I’ve never seen one like this around here. And I worked for a retailer that specialized in Florida-lifestyle hats for a while! The added dimensional swirls and fringe take this hat from tradition to funky.

Large Sinamay Knot Center Hat – Black

Snake Print Organza Hat – Silver & Gold

Solid Upbrim Reversable Hat

Detachable flower. Featured are the khaki and plum colors. Also available in red and black.

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Head Turning  Colors

Reversible Wire Floppy JLO Hat

Jennifer Lopez is definitely the queen of the floppy hat trend. She brought the style back years ago and we flocked to it! She has a great collection out now that comes in a variety of bright summer-loving colors like fuchsia, lime, yellow and orange! The burn-out pattern all over the hat makes it fun to wear—but it’s also reversible!

LADYLIKE RED SHAPEABLE FABRIC FLOPPY HAT W/FLOWER

How can you not love a bright red, shiny hat with a flower that you can customize and shape to meet your mood? The brim bends, flips and molds so you can have a floppy hat one day and a derby the next!

Two Tone Shapeable Hat-Orange Flower

This peek-a-boo-pattern hat is fantastic! The summer orange shade would make any outfit pop! But the it’s the fun tropical print hiding underneath the brim that really makes this hat WOW!

Large Brim, Floral Print Sun Hats

These casual floppy hats add a pop of fun and color to any look. It would be fabulous paired with a perfectly tailored summer sundress and really hot, high-heeled sandals!  They are whimsical, yet not over the top and could be worn all summer long! I’ve featured the white and the lime but it is also available in pink, red, black and natural.

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Haughty-Haute Couture

I really thought I was done. I tried to be done. But it was so addicting that I just couldn’t stop looking at hats! And then right when I was about to go to bed, I came across this amazing place on Amazon.com called KaKyCo. Their shop was filled with hundreds of gorgeous headwear unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, most of the hats are actually wool and felt—which is fabulous come New Years Eve but not so great heading into the broiling hot Summer Track Season.

Don’t fret my fellow Hat-aholics, I did find a a bunch of other, non-wool super gorgeous hats for you to check out!

The Church Hats:

My family has never been overly religious but if I was told that I get to wear hats like this, I would be at church every Sunday! And probably Saturday night too!

Blue Satin Church Hat

Animal Print Church Hat

Peach Satin Ribbon & Beige Satin Ribbon Church Hat

Yellow Satin Ribbon Chuch Hat

The Metallic Hats

Winter Wool Felt Sinamay Combination Hat

I did have to throw in this one wool hat because it is just too darling and fab to leave it behind! Besides, it’s a Sinamay (the really lightweight, open-weave material) Wool Combo! It’s like the two balance each other out!