Technically, the Kentucky Derby is a celebration of horse racing. But let's face it: hats are wild, oversized, detailed, and artistic. Wearing a hat was once a functional choice for participants (because it often gets hot), but it soon morphed into an opportunity to display social status. It then became almost a parody, with participants competing for the most ornate headgear. Here are some of the Kentucky Derby's most gorgeous hats, perfect with a mint julep.

Let's start with this sweet and dapper moment. The boater's straw hat is the perfect platform for a bouquet of roses around the brim. The red of the checkered blazer matches the flowers on the hat, adding to the theme.

"Who said white was boring" (technically, I think the crown is gray, but that doesn't matter.) The point is that the layers of sheer white ribbon around the wide brim and the delicate white buds laid over it are both eye-catching and subtle in an unintuitive way That is to say.

If huge headpieces aren't your style, how about a smaller fascinator with a pretty veil to the front? The colors keep the "derby" look and don't give off a "fancy wedding" feel, and this guest made the smart choice of matching the lip color to the headpiece.

While this hat will very likely be part of the "weirdest Kentucky Derby hats" list (there is a fine line between over-the-top and simply weird), I think it is returning to a cool vibe with the colorful feathers and flowers collected on the front. The sides are a bit manta-like.

Floral boater hats proved popular with the gentlemen. Put a little horse figurine on it and it literally looks like it's circling around your head. The flowers are matte fabric (as opposed to shiny), which helps to give them a more homespun look.

Feeling inspired by a literal vase? Really lean into vertical space with some fake leaves extending vertically from your fascinator. (I'm getting serious here: either lots of stems or height. Or both).

We often see colorful hats, but this guest chose one that was visually stimulating, yet matched her black and white dress. The delicate layers of ribbon and the clear beads encrusted throughout kept the simple graphic style from becoming boring.

If you want to explore a more neutral palette, say, if your outfit is more colorful and you don't want to draw focus from it, this textured cheesecloth-like material is a cool base for a hat. The layering makes the hat look less like something you would actually wear in the garden.

Bright, vibrant shades like these don't require much to dress up. The floral design is sturdy and minimalist so as not to distract focus from the (extremely wide) brim. Dress in an unexpected but complementary color. It won't lose you in the crowd.

I really like the throwback hat construction (reminiscent of the hat Queen Elizabeth once wore). It's a lovely choice, especially if the rest of the outfit isn't a throwback, like the hoop earrings and chain necklace.

Ostrich feathers may not be the most original hat decoration, but the added chaos makes it look like a cool art installation. The disorganized arrangement of the feathers with the blue pin in the center makes it seem like an explosion rather than an over-designed piece of art.

Doesn't this look like an homage to the red soda can? If "goofy" and "wacky" really resonate with you, you could decorate the red flower hat with matching feathers on the rim and a giant red flower on the top. Slightly unrelated: I love this themed necklace.

Am I wrong or does this feel like something Princess Diana used to wear? The polka dots (which contrast nicely with the gingham dress) and the big pink pleated brim make this feel vintage in a good way.

If you want to avoid the popular red, go a few shades up the color wheel and opt for a deep, rich pink instead. The various shades (magenta for the feathers, raspberry for the wings) add dimension and richness without looking like a bridal bouquet.

You know those black-and-white photos that look like swirling black and white stripes? Dare to stare at it.

Like the shabby chic section of Michael's arts and crafts store? Bulb-like flowers, dark brown ribbons, woven hats ...... The whole thing looks like a very fancy throw pillow.

You might be wondering if this guest is going to be sipping a fancy cocktail today, but you can rest assured right away that her hat has an actual drinking glass (and umbrella) on it. It's also nice to know that you're literally riding on the back of a floundering fish.

"Kentucky Derby hat" doesn't immediately turn my mind to lime green, but that's the genius of this particular topper. It's asymmetrical and cool, with a flower on the brim, but I would have expected more if they had chosen pink or white. We salute you.

If you have a Y2K sensibility (or happen to like butterflies and find them relatable), consider the fascinator that makes it look like a butterfly is floating overhead. The complexity of the wings is remarkable.

I really like this choice. The light green tones are a bit unexpected, given the many colors used on the hats during the event. It's counter-intuitive, but perfect.

While there are a lot of floral hats at the Kentucky Derby (which makes sense, since the hats are so much more than just a floral pattern), I think this hat is a great addition to the event. This hat is, in fact, beautiful and delicate, but it looks like a resin sculpture.

If you're going to the Kentucky Derby (or just a theme party), and if you're bringing friends, you're destined to wear matching hats. I slightly prefer the one on the left (more flowers overall and more cohesive), but both are garden parties personified.

If you are going to use real or lifelike flowers, make them stand out. This simple angled hat, with the flower stems laid across the top (and the theme continuing under the brim), is striking for being so simple: it doesn't need anything else.

This is a fashion statement. You don't need to choose something overly ornate to have a glamorous derby experience. Just pick a rich color like this, match everything to it (including your lip color), and be prepared for every single compliment.

If I were faced with actually going to the Kentucky Derby and designing a hat that represented my essence, I would choose this hat. A fine plastic lawn ornament (wearing Mardi Gras beads, naturally) and a mini hat that looks exactly like me.

I apologize to this person who probably heard the dinner plate comparison about 20 times that day, but this is a real compliment. In addition to the delicacy of the sequins and ribbons, the see-through mesh makes this look more like stained glass.

Wear a headpiece so rich and architectural that you might compare it to a building spire. This hat can be a fake wedding cake if you don't look too closely. Fake ladybugs and butterflies are my favorite.

It may be a bit on the nose (at gunpoint), but it shows everyone that this guest knows exactly what kind of event she is at. And/or that she is a big horse fan. Or that she is into hat making. The rose in her mouth is, I have to admit, a nice touch.

You get what I'm trying to say. And this particular guest chose to go so big that he wore a rose the size of a truck tire. Matching red lipstick and red dress. I'm 100% yes. Plus: it's also a sun hat.

In other words. This top hat has an actual plastic horse embedded in the design. Lots of questions: 1) is it heavy, 2) did you make it yourself or did you hire a designer?

In other words, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." It's both on-the-nose and just exceptional to use an actual little horse to make a cranium topper that literally looks like a horse racetrack. My favorite might be the paper tree on the crown.

This is the most magnificent piece of workmanship in the history of this event. It is both the best and the worst derby hat I have ever seen. It is thematic, incredible, overdone, but I want more (does the horse turn?). It defies every explanation in the world. The very hat.