My favorite fashionable holiday of the year is upon us! Every year I look forward to the basics of horse racing fashion— the wide brim hats, fabulous UK-inspired fascinators and headbands, unapologetic splashes of color, and well tailored-with-a-capital-T sheath dresses. Although I’ll also be posting a more colorful Derby Day outfit in the next few weeks, I also wanted to share a more casual black and white Derby Day outfit idea, too.

Contrary to what many southern women believe, you don’t need to run out and purchase the most expensive and ostentatious dress and/or hat you can find, although it’s your prerogative to do so; a classic dress with simple pops of color can transform itself into the most classic Derby Day outfit of all. Case-in-point, this striped Ann Taylor sheath dress has become an instant staple of my professional wardrobe, but it also pairs pretty gosh darn perfectly with a wide brim black hat and hot pink accessories, making it a killer Kentucky Derby-worthy ensemble. Scroll to the bottom for full outfit details or click here to shop the whole outfit on Stylinity!

As for Derby Day hats, I will never judge a woman for splurging on a hat the size of a miniature skyscraper. I may or may not be guilty of such behavior myself. However, if you’re opposed to dropping three or even four figures on a costume accessory, invest in a classic straw hats instead. This Croft & Barrow wide brim hat is from Kohl’s, and it’s on sale right now for $17. It even comes with a removable floral accent pin, so use that– or an elegant silk scarf– to spruce up your look.

Shop the Look: Sheath Dress: Ann Taylor [Coupon] | Heels: LC Lauren Conrad (similar) [Coupon] | Derby Hat: Croft & Barrow [Coupon] | Clutch: Marley Lilly | Watch: Michael Kors [Coupon] | Ring: BaubleBar [Coupon]

Ahh, Derby Day is less than a month away, y’all. What will you be wearing? If you need a quick guide, here’s an awesome post by David S about the basics of horse racing fashion. Enjoy!

_{Thank you, Stylinity, for sponsoring this post.}