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
It’s so hard to pick. I know that if I was going to the derby I would want to look my very best.
something flowery and a big straw hat
Tea length dress in light greens and some pink. Short sleeve or sleeveless. Hat with flowers and sandles.
I love all of the hats. I think my favorite total look is Winner’s Circle from Karen Lorraine Designs.
Love horses. Have 4 of my own. My granddaughter’s doll should have one too.
My granddaughter inherited my love of horses. She would be absolutely delighted to own a horse for her doll! Thank you for the opportunity to win one for her.
I grew up riding horses therefore my doll needs a horse. As my doll will be a winner she must be in the winner’s circle wearing the Winner’s Circle outfit. Thanks to all for a chance to win a beautiful horse.
We think the winners circle pattern is very cute!
I’m a huge horse enthusiast and would really love to win this beautiful horse for my dolls. I have only been to the Kentucky Derby once, and enjoyed the craziness of the infield! Didn’t wear anything special as it was just the infield. Would love to dress my dolls in new dresses and hats for Derby Day!
I would wear the pink wrap around halter dress and a straw hat from SweetPea. The light pink would be a cooler color for a hot day and the straw hat would block some sun.
A little jacket and twirly skirt with a cute hat and purse to match would be perfect!
I think a pretty floral sun dress with a very large brimmed hat.
Jeans are the best anytime…
Love them ❤️
I love the winners circle dress but I also love the wreath of roses for the horse.
What a perfect and fun giveaway! Who doesn’t love horses and dolls?
I love pink, so I would have a pink dress with a big pink hat!
A mid length flowing dress in a floral pattern with a wide-brimmed solid-colored hat decorated with silk flowers.
A bright, flowing sundress, with an absolutely big floppy hat
ohhh.. hats are so intimidating to make and wear! But I love how they look! Newsgroup with a flowery summer dress!
Love the horse. Perfect for my tomboy doll.
For Derby Day I love the Lillian Dress, so romantic and southern. A broad brim mesh white hat with a matching sash from the dress material around the brim! Yes, a perfect southern look.
Thank you for the giveaway!
I would wear a light weight purple flower dress with a large purple hat with ruffles and lace. Purple is my granddaughters favorite color.
Oh my gosh I have 4 granddaughters who would all fight over this horse. They would have to share it in that house full of girls ages 2-10
The outfit for the day would be a floral sundress with a wide brimmed matching hat.
My daughter would love to have a horse to go with her dolls. She would love to make blankets and other accessories for it.
I love the Springtime Straw Hat crochet pattern! My dolls could really use a horse!!
I would absolutely be wearing a flowered dress. And a hat to cover up all the not so dark hair that has been coming in.
I think the Winner’s Circle dress and hat are beautiful. That’s my choice.
I think I will make an elegant dress with a large brimmed hat. The horse would be a wonderful completion for my collection.
I would wear a flowy dress with a fitted bodice and a hat with a chin ribbon tie. Thanks for the giveaway!
Winners Circle outfit is adorable. I had no idea that dressing up for a derby could be so fashionable.
Fancy big hat for sure!
I’ve loved horses since I was a very little girl. I have my own now whom I love dearly.
I know the dolls would love a horse too.
They will wear purple dresses and a straw hat. I’ll wear my blue one with boots.
I would make a fancy hat for my granddaughter and her dolls! She would love to have a horse for her girls to ride :D
An elegant dress and a matching big hat.
I would probably find a lacy white dress and find a hat to match. A lot of my old Easter hats no longer fit.
I would make a big fancy hat or a fascinator to go with a flowery dress.
I would make a beautiful fancy lace dress, with a large hat with flowers on it. My favourite colors are shades of purple.
Winner’s Circle would be my choice.
a sundress and a BIG flowered hat!!!
It would be a joy to make equestrian ensembles for dolls to match their pet horse. Thank you for the opportunity to enter.
I would make a dress and fancy hat.
For Derby day I would chose white eyelet sundress trimmed with daisies and a white hat with Daisy’s and light blue ribbon trim .
Every year I love to look at the unusual Derby Hats worn by the people attending the Derby. I would love to make some doll sized hats for a special little girl who has had some health issues to deal with. Someone gave her an American Girl Doll that their daughter had outgrown and I love making clothes for it to give her for her Birthday and Holidays..
We’d love a fancy hat! With feathers and flowers! And a sophisticated dress with nice shoes.
The Primrose dress pattern above is on my wishlist. I think it’s a pretty design for summer.
I would love the horse, for soooooo many reasons. I sew for 20 plus girls as a ministry, no charge! They all have horses. I have made tons of your horse items, with your patterns, the whole get up, including boots and shoes. I have hundreds of your patterns, but their first choice is always horse wear, and outfits for them to wear with their horse. Haha, I bought your patters for horse blankets, English saddle and tons more, but nothing to fit them on to be sure they fit right. The clothes I’m fine with. You’ve given me tons of fun patterns for that, which I gladly purchased. But this is a whole new part of the sewing I wasnt ready for!! Ypur patterns are so great, and I’ve gone totally with pixie faire patterns only, as it’s what they always choose. So it would be great, but if not, I guess my next purchase is a horse. Lol. Either way, I remain loyal to pixie faire. Even buy the shoe soles, and a lot of your shoe patterns! So much fun. I check pixie faire everyday to see what’s new. Next I’ll start the courses to see what new things I can add to my limited knowledge!! Thankyou for so much fun!!
What a beautiful horse! i am sure any f the girls here would be thrilled with him!
My granddaughter would love a horse for her doll. She loves animals.
I would love to make a fancy hat for Derby Day. The Acorns & Thimbles hat pattern looks like it would be fun to make. I would make a sundress to match the hat.
I’d like to make the primrose dress pattern in something sheer and floral with a solid pastel lining. Then a white straw hat with a wide brim and flowers to match the dress.
The Kentucky Derby is perfect for an understated dress and a seriously elaborate hat. I always think of Eliza going to the Ascot when I think of dressing for a horserace.
My granddaughter would flip if she received this horse for her AG dolls. She gets new outfits for her dolls almost every month from us. I never thought to make a hat for the Kentucky Derby. I need to begin planning a fancy hat for her.
I’d like to make the primrose dress pattern in something sheer and floral with a solid pastel lining. Then a white straw hat with a wide brim and flowers to match the dress.
I’d definitely make a fancy hat. I love looking at them on Derby Day!
Having lived in a suburb of Louisville as I was growing up, Derby week was always special, as was seeing the hats the ladies wore on Derby Day, the fancier the better. I like the hats with a little tulle, bright flowers, and ribbons. Nothing too over the top, mind you, but tasteful. The hat is worn at an angle from the face and compliments the dress worn.
I’d like to make an outrageous hat!
What fun! Not one for fancy duds, I’d like the vest, jeans and boots look, part of the horsey set. Thanks for the opportunity, happy stitching!
Winner’s circle with a hat.
I would make a lightweight flowery dress and use an antique straw hat I have and put flowers on it that match the dress.
Would be a lovely addition to any collector.
I’m trying the swimsuit hack to make a cute sundress and adding new flowers to last year’s straw hat. Thank you so much for giving away the winning horse, we really really want it!
I’m trying the swimsuit hack to make a cute sundress and adding new flowers to last year’s straw hat. Thank you so much for giving away the winning horse, we really really want it!
I love the Winner’s Circle outfit – so Derby Day!
I would make a sundress and stay hat with flowers.
I’d like to make a wide brimmed hat with roses and ribbons to match the one I wore last year. A light weight summery dress with an embellishment to coordinate with the hat would be ideal! What fun!
I would like to make any thing . It would be fun.
They are all way too sweet!
However I love the look of the “Winners Circle” pattern and I believe to complete the look the “1940’s Pleated Felt Hat” would top it off!
I would do the primrose dress, floral sandals, (or maybe cowboy boots) and hat with flowers!
This has sooo many things to do..the hats, purses, shoes, and of course “the” dress and the horse with the saddle and tackle(?) and make a fancy horse blanket…so many thinks to do!!!
I love the Winner Circle dress and hat.
I would wear the Primrose dress with the Springtime Straw Hat.
Primrose dress with a large flowered hat sipping on a mint julep
It’s hard to pick just 1 so I’ll go for all of them. Can’t wait to start!
The Sweet Pea Springtime Straw Hat is adorable!
Yes, I would wear a “modest” sundress and hat, unless it’’s too windy for a hat:)
Thank you!
Take care and have an awesome week!
- Deb
Any fancy summer dress would look good, as long as the hat is over the top!
I love the primrose dress with a fancy hat.
They are all so beautiful !
I would like to make a Derby Day costume such as Eliza Doolittle made for the Ascot race, with a white/black hat. Thank you Pixie Faire!
A full skirt cotton dress, with a wide brim straw hat with flowers on that ma5ch the dress
Love Amelia dress…and I will make her a fine hat!
I love the Winner’s Circle Dress. That’s my idea of an elegant outfit to wear to the Derby. Hope it comes in an AG size.
I’d wear a simple black dress, but no hat!
Since I am from louisville I would wear a dress that was comfortable. like a simple sundress with a matching jacket. Never know if it is going to be cold wet and rainy or sunny and warn in KY. I would have on an pair of shoes that can be taken off easily in case they are wet and have a bag or back pack with dry shoes in it. You have to be prepared when going to the Derby.
I’d wear an A line dress w belt and matching bolero jacket. A large brim straw hat w ribbons n flowers and a big straw handbag to match my hat. Strappy wedge Sandles and sunglasses.
Always wanted a horse! Would be lovely to have one for my dolls! Loved My Fair Ladyand would really have fun dressing them like the movie for the race!
I have a sleigh in need of a horse—-and some jingle bells!
In derby fashion, I would make a sharp solid color dress with contrasting trim and bolero to match. My hat would have detail to coordinate with the contrast of the dress, and a wide brim dipping over one eye….
What a lovely way to celebrate the Derby.
I would like to make jockey silks for the jockey.
I love the Derby style you’ve pulled together. Absolutely gorgeous.
I love the Primrose dress, although I would lower the hem and put a big ruffle on the bottom. I would also have a wide brimmed hat with flowers and ruffles. The predominate color would be lilac with green, yellow and purple contrasting accents.
Since it’s already been hot as blazes here in Florida, I think we’ll have to go with light cotton sundresses and broad brimmed straw hats!
A pretty spring dress with a fun springy straw hat would be my choice for a derby outfit.
My granddaughter would live love the horse. Wouldn’t it be fun to wear a summer frock and a big hat.
I love the white dress with the matching hat. It could also be good for a tea party. Thank you for sharing.
My Derby outfit would be a mid-calf dress of a pretty floral, plain jacket that coordinates and a wide brim straw hat in a coordinating color with the outfit, with flowers and ribbons.
aaron
April 21, 2020
Sunny and full of life with plenty of greens and blooms.