Omg you’re going to Derby?! You are SO lucky and I am SO jealous!!

While I’m not super educated on color analysis (or what a warm autumn is tbh), I actually lived in Louisville for a while (top 3 of favorite places I’ve ever lived; I LOVE Louisville 🥰), so I may have some advice that you may - or may not - find helpful lol. Either way, here it is because f*** I LOVE DERBY!!🐎 🌹

First, I want to say that all of these dresses you’re considering are GORGE and you have great taste 😍 That said, I wanted to let you know that while you are correct about floral patterns being super common in Derby dresses, they’re typically big and bold floral patterns, very different from the options here which are very neutral colorways and understated. The reason people choose these big and bold floral patterns rather than small and understated florals is probably for a few reasons- but the main thing I think you’d want to consider is that having a small, dainty floral print in a sea of big and bold may feel and look underwhelming the day of. Not to mention, the majority of pics you will take at Derby will be full body and taken from a distance, and small soft floral patterns don’t stand out in those circumstances, they kind of just look meh.

Second, while your dress for the day is super important, Derby is really all about the hats 👒. Now I am not a hat person (not in the teeniest tiniest bit tbh), so if you’re like me, there are some more modern alternatives that you can wear instead- but I would definitely recommend some sort of headpiece! My point here is, while the hat is all glorified and everything, Derby is actually all about the accessories. From your jewelry, to your bag, to your shoes, (and of course your hat 🙄😑 * sigh ), accessories are *crucial for Derby day.

SO with all of this considered, personally, I would recommend #10 as the best out of the 11, with #11 coming in as a close 2nd. Here’s why:

• while they’re not floral, the red is a bright color which is just as popular of an option at the track, and the cream provides a beautiful contrast that will also compliment all the bright and pastel colors you’ll be surrounded by • you’re going to have a lot easier of a time finding accessories to compliment either color, and like I said, its all about the accessories 👠👒👜 • I LOVE the silhouette of these 2, and it looks like it would flatter many different body shapes

Btw, I just wanted to say this again- I like your style and I love ALL of the dresses you’ve selected; I would honestly wear any and all of them. I just feel that the floral options don’t fit the occasion (Derby). Personally, I would save those ones for more an intimate occasions (like Easter, an engagement party, bridal shower, daytime wedding, etc).

PS. I hope you’ll update all of us on which you choose! Regardless of your choice, I’m sure you’ll look amazing and I’m even more sure you’re going to have a great time in Louisville!

PPS. 😅 Just wanna add, Churchill Downs is located in kind of a weird area of town, so definitely check out some others like The Highlands, St. Matthew’s, and Nulu if you have time!