This Post is in Partnership with J.McLaughlin.

The Kentucky Derby is one of my favorite times of the year, since it’s the perfect opportunity to get dressed up and don a hat. The weather is typically warm and sunny, and everyone is sipping on mint juleps. This year, I partnered with J. McLaughlin to bring you two derby date outfits. These outfits are wonderful for either attending the Derby or a derby themed party!

It was tough to pick just two outfits, but I finally decided on this embroidered lace shift dress since the touch of blue makes it the perfect sundress. I paired this with their palm river hat, that has a grosgrain ribbon trim in a matching blue. I finished the outfit with their ostrich embossed leather wristlet, since it adds a fun pop of yellow. This wristlet is fashionable, yet also functional since it comes with a cross body strap, making it easy to carry around with you. And voila, you have the perfect derby day outfit! My other outfit for the horse races included a yellow lindbrook houndstooth skirt with an egret white renata sweater. As a southern lady, you can never go wrong with houndstooth!

The gorgeous Frederica Stables on St. Simon’s Island provided the perfect backdrop for these photos. Since the Kentucky Derby is such a renowned southern tradition, it’s the perfect opportunity to host your own race themed party! Since Mint Juleps are such a classic derby drink, creating a bourbon bar is the perfect way to set up a cocktail station for your guests.

To display the bourbon, I used my family’s gorgeous heirloom decanters filled with an assortment of different bourbons from my husband’s collection. I used my husband’s Nana’s silver-plated English Oak Biscuit Barrel to hold the beautiful floral arrangement from the Vine Garden Market.

When I found this unique cowhide at Two Friends, I knew I wanted to incorporate it into the bar. It served as the perfect table runner and also added just the right amount of texture. The rustic look of this community table fit in perfectly with the scenery. The brass lanterns and bronze tray from Beachview Events really added to the look of the table. Of course, no party is complete without cocktail napkins, so I used my favorite white with gold embroidered napkins from Emily McCarthy. And of course I love these handcrafted wooden horse stir sticks from Hope Farm Co!

Kelli Boyd Photography