The 2025 Kentucky Derby Was A Fashion Nightmare For Everyone There

During the 2025 Kentucky Derby, which took place on Saturday, many avid sports lovers flocked to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, to place bets on their favorite horses while drinking mint juleps. While the race is usually focused on which thoroughbred makes it to the finish line first, the fashion worn by the onlookers is definitely top priority, and this year, many famous faces failed to impress. Traditionally, Kentucky Derby 'fits include bright, colorful dresses and hats adorned with lots of flowers and feathers. With such elaborate looks, one can't just grab something out of their closets at the last minute. As milliner Jenny Pfanenstiel told The Athletic, "People plan their outfits for the Derby much like a wedding. It is not just another day at an ordinary event; it's the Kentucky Derby."

For such a fashion-forward event, you'd think celebs would make sure their outfits are top-notch, but unfortunately, it looked as if a few hastily threw on a basic dress and called it a day. And then, there were others who went way overboard and looked as if they were going to an entirely different bash. There's no hard and fast dress code for the Kentucky Derby, but it looked like some stars missed the memo on how to properly adorn themselves for the annual race.

Former MLB player Jayson Werth color-coordinated with his wife Julia Werth in shades of green on May 3 at the Kentucky Derby, and while their attempt to match was cute, they looked completely out of sync. Jayson looked dapper with his black suit with chartreuse accents, but Julia looked like she was ready to perform a double lutz on the ice skating rink. While incorporating bright colors into your wardrobe can make you look younger, her emerald-colored beaded dress featured tassels that were more fitting for a night out in Las Vegas than a classy horse race. It's safe to say that her 'fit was not a home run.

While many celebrities have proven that little black dresses have a timeless versatility, they're not meant for every occasion, and that includes the Kentucky Derby. Sadly, Alix Earle decided that May 3 was the perfect day to pull out her LBD and accessorize her look with even more black. From her large-brimmed fedora to the closed-toe pumps on her feet, Earle's all-black attire was just too lackluster for a color-forward sporting event.

Star Jones' Kentucky Derby look started off strong with her sheer gray hat adorned with bright flowers and feather accents, but it went downhill from her neck down. The short white dress featured a keyhole neckline that fell into a shapeless silhouette and ended with a feathered hem. While white is perfectly acceptable for the Derby, we would have loved it if Jones had picked a pastel dress that coordinated with one of the colors on her hat so that her whole aesthetic was more cohesive.

Country singer Lana Scott revived the coquette cowgirl trend at the Kentucky Derby this year with her pearl-studded denim dress, but that was the wrong venue to do it. While the button-down frock looked perfectly adorable for a backyard barbeque, it was way too dressed-down for the annual racing event. If Scott had worn a cute set of wedges instead of her white cowboy boots, her look would have been more elevated, but they just didn't go with her frilly white hat and sheer gloves. All in all, the whole outfit was a confusing mess.

Perhaps this was Tianna Robillard's first time at the Kentucky Derby, but the internet personality should have done some research to see what the appropriate attire is. Instead, she did the least with a knit sage green top and matching skirt set that was more fitting for a casual brunch. Robillard did try with her white bucket hat that featured a lone green flower, but that was about it. If the Kentucky Derby had a "bare minimum" category for outfits, Robillard would have won first place.