A little rain doesn’t dampen fashion flair

By Harriett Hendren of the Lexington Herald-Leader

Despite a rainy and coolish start to Derby Day, some of the most popular accessories for women were bare arms, legs and shoulders.

The drizzle stopped before the first race, and while the occasional Wellie or trench coat could be spotted early on, rain gear was harder to find on the well-dressed crowd by the second or third race. MORE FASHION PHOTOS

Gren Wells came prepared for nippy weather with her fitted tweed coat that covered a black dress by designer Richard Tyler. But she still looked glamorous in round-toed pumps and a vintage hat of layered black fabric.

Wells was born in Kentucky but now lives in California, where she works as a screenwriter.

“I thought it was going to be freezing,” she explained while sipping what looked like hot coffee.

Is she working on anything we’d heard of? Kate Hudson will be starring in something of hers this fall, Wells said, a movie called Earthbound.

Others in the crowd also claimed Hollywood connections.

Decked out in a black and white, sparkly, rhinestone-studded jacket bearing the label of one-named Nashville couture legend Manuel was Larry Spielberg. He’s the younger brother, he said in a quiet voice, to Steven, the Oscar-winning director. “We just call him Steve,” he said. The jacket was special made, he said: “I just got it for this.”

And of course, what would the Derby be without the statement-making hats?

Kathy Trommer of Lexington wore a design with a brim so wide that it swept past her shoulders. She bought it at Keeneland and admitted it might be an issue with the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds later in the day.

“I’ve already bumped into a couple of people,” she said with a shrug and a smile.