NEW YORK — For milliner Dora Marra, the Kentucky Derby isn’t about the winning horse — it’s about the winning headpiece.
What You Need To Know
- After a year with few sales, NYC milliner Dora Marra of Dora Marra Headdress is selling hundreds of fascinators in the city and across the country as Derby parties soar in popularity
- Fashion commentator Tijana Ibrahimovic says when the Kentucky Derby started to be televised, people wore bigger hats hoping it would help get them on TV
- Kentucky native Lori Cheek is back at Churchill Downs for the first time in nearly 30 years, after helping start the derby party trend in New York City with her annual bashes
- Dora Marra says in most years black is a big seller, but as we come out of the pandemic, everyone is buying bright colors
NY1 caught up with her as she brought dozens of her handcrafted headpieces for Tijana Ibrahimovic to try one. Ibrahimovic, a fashion commentator loves Derby parties and Derby fashion.
Marra had this advice for anyone wearing a fascinator: "You don't push it back on your hair like a headband. You crown yourself. you lift it up and place it down and that looks so much better.”
Ibrahimovic says fashion has always been part of the Kentucky Derby.
"Ladies and gentlemen have always dressed up for the derby party, and for the derby itself," she explained while trying on some large ones herself. “But once the derby became televised, and the spectators thought that they might get on TV, they started wearing bigger and more noticeable hats so that way they have a bigger chance to end up on television.”
Marra has been making cocktail hats or fascinators for decades. Business was so slow last year she didn’t open her space in Chelsea Market.
But over the last few weeks she’s been shipping and delivered hundreds of fascintators.
"It should be wider than your hair," Marra said about the size.
Royal weddings have boosted the popularity of this British mainstay. And coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, Marra says people are looking for styles that are big, fun, and downright outrageous:
"Kathie Lee wore this to Meghan Markle and Harry's wedding," she said showing us a swan fascinator the TV host wore.
Of course, Tijana was picking out her fascinator, but Marra kept showing me pieces that matched my dress, so of course I had to try them on, too:
We also checked in at Churchill Downs with New York City entrepreneur and Kentucky native Lori Cheek, who is back at Churchill Downs this year for the first time in nearly 30 years. She said she helped spur the popularity of derby parties in New York City with the annual party she started 18 years ago. Then, many restaurants and bars followed suit.
"I thought it was great that they were finally adopting the whole Kentucky Derby theme," she said from the racetrack via Zoom.
She's also going big this year with her headpiece that she bought in Kentucky. And big derby looks are social media gold.
"I think everyone wants to show off their outfits and dramatic hats," Ibrahimovic said.
Marra's pieces range in price from $50 to $300.
Multi-color is popular for those who haven’t decided on their outfit yet. But sometimes one just feels right.
And Ibrahimovic picked up a red, feathered fascinator up on that matched her red dress perfectly and fell in love with it:
"I love this. Perfect. Oh my goodness," Ibrahimovic exclaimed.
It's the kid of reaction Marra is used to. "It's a fun job. I love what I do," Marra said.
------
Did you know you can now watch, read and stay informed with NY1 wherever and whenever you want? Get the new Spectrum News app here.