Country Club, Derby and Race Day Outfits

At a country club or on Derby Day, wear a dress at the knee or longer, a tailored blazer with pants, or a floor length jumpsuit. Choose shoes that stay on top of the grass. Luna cuts the Alexa blazer in white and in navy, and the Tina jumpsuit in yellow and in green for a race day in pants.

For the full dress code at the track, read what to wear to the Kentucky Derby or a race day.

What the country club and Derby dress code means

Country club casual, often written as smart casual, means neat daytime clothes. That is a day dress or a skirt at the knee or longer, or tailored pants with a blouse and a blazer. Most clubs keep denim and very short hems out of the dining room. Many become dressier after 6 p.m. and in December, and each club posts its rules, so read them before you go. For a wedding at a club, follow the dress code on the invitation. The Kentucky Derby, run on the first Saturday in May, calls for upscale spring party clothes in color, florals or pastels: a dress, a skirt suit or a tailored jumpsuit. The track sets a stricter dress code for its reserved clubhouse areas. Many women wear a hat or a fascinator there, though the track does not require one. Polo matches and other race days call for the same spring clothes, with more walking on grass.

Dresses for the luncheon and the Derby

• The Julia Navy and White Floral Midi Dress ($695) is navy and white, a classic choice for a Derby luncheon. Its short sleeves suit a club dining room, and a wide belt with a round buckle sets the waist.
• The Amanda Midi Dress in Floral ($695) is a sleeveless midi in an artistic floral print with a draped neckline and a belted waist. With this much color in the print, a plain hat is enough.
• The Betty Ruffle Dress in Black Polka Dot ($695) has a square neckline and a 2-tier ruffled hem that ends just above the knee. It suits a Derby party. At a club with a knee length rule, the Julia or the Amanda is the safer choice.

Jumpsuits for race day

• The Tina Jumpsuit in Yellow ($695) and the Tina Jumpsuit in Green (also $695) are floor length wide leg jumpsuits with a belted waist and an ombre upper layer that detaches. There is no skirt to hold down in the wind at the rail, and the fiber resists wrinkling through a long outdoor day.

Blazers and pants for the club

• The Alexa Tailored Blazer in White ($610) has long sleeves, 4 covered buttons and flap pockets, and it is lined throughout. The Alexa Tailored Blazer in Navy ($610) has the same 4 covered buttons with notched lapels and a 3/4 sleeve.
• The Lola Tailored Blazer in White ($610) is collarless and cropped to the waist, with 3/4 sleeves and pearl buttons on a lace trimmed placket. Wear it over a dress at a luncheon.
• The Agatha High Waisted Wide Leg Pants in Ivory ($595) have a pressed crease and a removable self belt. The Natasha Wide Leg Pants in Sand Beige ($395) are fully lined and close with a single button at a high waist.
• For fall at the club and a December party, choose the Elena Houndstooth Tailored Pants ($580). They are black and white houndstooth twill, straight through the leg, with a red belt at the waist.

The guide to dressing for luncheons, tournaments and member events covers the club calendar, and the yacht club outfit guide covers the dining room by the water. Tea and garden luncheons have their own page in garden party and luncheon outfits. A sailing club or a cruise is covered in cruise, yacht and resort outfits. Every occasion is on the Shop by Occasion page.

Questions before you choose

What does smart casual mean at a country club for women?

Smart casual at a country club means polished daytime clothes: a day dress or a skirt at the knee or longer, or tailored pants with a blouse and a blazer. Denim and athletic wear usually stay out of the dining room, and every club posts its own rules.

Can women wear pants at a country club dinner?

Yes, at most clubs, women can. Wear tailored pants or a dressy jumpsuit with a blouse and a blazer. Some dining rooms become more formal in the evening or in December, so check the club’s dress code for that night.

What should a woman wear to the Kentucky Derby?

Wear an upscale spring outfit, such as a floral midi dress, a skirt suit or a tailored jumpsuit. Add a hat or a fascinator and shoes you can walk in all day. The reserved clubhouse areas keep stricter rules than the infield.

Do I need a hat at the Kentucky Derby?

You do not. A hat or a fascinator is a Derby tradition and many women wear one, but the dress code does not require it. With a large hat, keep the neckline of the outfit simple.

What shoes work on grass at a polo match or race day?

Wedges, block heels and dressy flats stay on top of the turf, and a thin stiletto sinks into it. At a polo match, wear shoes you can walk in on the field at halftime.

Does Luna ship club and race day outfits free, and can I return them?

Shipping to any US address is free, orders arrive in 2 to 5 days, and every order has 30 days for a return with no questions asked.