Wildest Hats Ever Rock a Storied Steakhouse and Make This Party a Dream

The Kentucky Derby might already be relegated to sports world history but the hats that blazed through The Palm for the 10th annual “Run for the Roses” viewing party will not soon be forgotten. This year proved to be exceptionally spectacular as the ladies and a few gents went all out for millinery splendor.

The grace and speed of Always Dreaming was merely an animated backdrop for the fantasmical ornamentation and mile-wide brims that starred on this afternoon far removed from Churchill Downs. Consider, for example, Nancy Marcus Golden, Azar Taleghany, and Claudia Sierra. In their fashion oeuvre, bigger was certainly better. Taleghany, a jewelry designer,  took top honors for best chapeau, while our personal favorite was the lady in red — Tracy Faulkner on the arm of hubby Harry.

And then there was the always-over-the-top J. Michael Soliz. What can we say!

The mint juleps flowed as these and other Sunday afternoon partygoers stepped out in their best derby style. Think gents in seersucker and linens and ladies in garden party (or racetrack) frocks.

Cindi and Dr. Franklin Rose reprised their roles as chairs, along with Lily Paxson, of the event that benefits the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation. An standing room only crowd of more than 300 packed The Palm and raised close to $50,000 for the non-profit that provides free reconstructive surgery and college scholarships to cancer survivors. Cancer survivor and philanthropist Therese Landa was event honoree.

Winning, Placing and Showing: Adrian and Ashley Peterson, Dr. Monica Patel, Laura Max and Ben Rose (with 8-month old Selma in tow), Erica Rose, Angelica Chapman, Dr. Adam LaBlanc, Jennifer Roosth, Riyad Abu-Taha, Miya Shay with son Winston, Christine Tabrizi, Angela Lipsey, and Francesca Salinas. No also rans in this colorful crowd.