So now, you’ve read part one and have decided between a hat or fascinator. I’m sure you also might have an idea of what colors you will look for. Annnd we’re off! (Derby joke)

Step one, find a hat. I’ve gotten hats everywhere. Dee’s Crafts in Louisville, KY, is my go-to when I’m there. And if you’re in the area after Derby, you can get a hat for the next Derby at a huge discount!!

But just about any hat can become a Derby hat. My hat for this year I got a Target! It’s just a large brim sunhat but it fit well and has so much potential. If you are going the fascinator route, I suggest a wider headband in the base color you want. (The best headband that I used was wrapped in ribbon so I could just pin my fabric flowers on)

Step two, is heading to the craft store and looking around for something that jumps at you. Sometimes I go thinking I want flowers, then I see feathers I can’t do without or vice versa. Decide if you want to permanently attach things to your hat or headband or maybe look for things that you can attach with pins so you can remove it later.

Once you have everything you think you’ll want, do a mock set up to make sure you like it all together and the placement of items before you go gluing and possibly permanently create something you don’t like.

Below are a couple of my hats and how I put them together.

This hat above is one of my favorites. I spent countless hours on this one. I tacked the ribbon to the crown and then hot glued all of the feathers and silk flowers to the hat. The hat, in plain black, I had purchased the previous year after Derby and got it for next to nothing. I usually try to include a peacock feather whenever I can since they are thought to be lucky. I also wanted a signature theme for my hats.

These feathers are my favorite to work with and are featured in the 2010 hat. The small ones on the left are individual strands that come in a bunch. They stand straight and you can manipulate them fairly easily.

The other, on the right, you can build off of and lay it flat on the brim of the hat as I did or even on the side of the hat so they stand up. The one on the right has a felt half moon that you could glue more feathers or flowers to and then add a pin to the back so you could make a removable hat clip or fascinator.

Derby 2012 I decided on the fascinator. This was the only year that I bought a dress first. Let me tell you, never again! Finally, I did find a white tulle flower clip (also with pin) at Hobby Lobby and hot glued white and green feathers to to make it more extravagant. The feathers were straight so I followed this tutorial from Dee’s Crafts on how to curl feathers! It’s much easier than you’d think!

Last, but certainly not least, Derby 2014. This is another hat that I was lucky to find at Dee’s after the 2013 Derby. I really liked it because it was more of a sheer fabric, but had a great wire brim so I could mold it to fit how I wanted. It also has a drawstring at the crown so you can adjust the size!

It came with the white and black sheer bow and band already attached. I found the two pink fabric flowers at a craft store for 50% off! They have a pin and clip on the back so reusing them (or the hat) will be really easy.

If you’re getting ready for the 142nd Run for the Roses, visit Kentucky Derby Party DIY for some easy crafts and foods to make your party a winner! For more ideas and hat etiquette for ladies and gents check out my post Etiquette & Style. Or you can see a full Tutorial for my 2016 Derby Hat!