Fashion notes on a sporting event

Yesterday was the 151st running of the Belmont Stakes, we've gone for the last several years, and this was a particularly fun day (would have been a MORE fun day if I had just put down $2 on a long shot who's name I liked, because then I would have made several thousand dollars, but that's just horse racing). 

I am glad to report that over the last few years the post-frat crowd of NYC millennials has started treating it as more of an NYC late spring festival, and less of an ersatz Kentucky Derby event. The guys have moved to a proper preppy style, blue blazers and seersucker pants or chinos, and away from the "crazy" suits of years gone by including the proper implementation of white bucks. Fedoras and boaters are still en vogue as are the ubiquitous "this is my first cigar and I might barf" for both boys and girls.

Women's fashion is closer to festival style than Derby style (plenty of fascinators still, but they are on the wane) festival with a preppy NYC edge, more Lilly than Anthropology.  Best look is floppy sun hat, good shades, nice clutch, and cute sundress or romper and shoes you can (mostly) walk in, especially on grass. The midriff trend has moved to a thin line, just below where an Empire waist would hit. It looks great on nearly everyone.


My best advice would be to skip the long dresses and totally flat sandals, because some of the millennials new to Belmont  have not yet learned to pace themselves, and aren't well acquainted enough with the effects of day drinking bourbon. Have fun, don't bet what you can't afford to lose, and then you can consider all wagers as entertainment budget - cheaper than a day at Yankee Stadium and you don't have to watch baseball.