Friday evening of Derby week traditionally includes a red-carpet affair where stars and horse racing lovers alike get to put on their suits and gowns to celebrate the greatest two minutes in sports, the KY Derby! This year I attended the fourth annual Unbridled Eve Gala, an Official Kentucky Derby event, and it was definitely an affair to remember. Co-founder sisters Tonya York Dees and Tammy York Day continue to out-do themselves, making this year’s event the best one yet! The event drew celebrities from film, TV, music, sports and comedy, horse racing industry professionals, business and community leaders, to name a few. Everyone was entertained with fun craft cocktail tastings followed by dinner, dancing and live music that went on late into the evening. Even our Derby-winning jockey Victor Espinoza was enjoying this evening before his big race the following day, so it definitely is not one to miss!
For fashionistas like me, there was plenty of eye candy at the event and not just on the red carpet. I would say as a whole, guests were dressed with elegance and ease. The celebrities who attended were gracious and warm with everyone, which made the atmosphere even more enjoyable. Some of my favorite red carpet looks included Sara Hyland's look from "Modern Family" and Jen Hoffman Fowler's look from "The Amazing Race". As for the men, I thought David Walton from "About a Boy" looked dapper, and I always enjoy whatever creative look Louisville’s own Gunnar Deatherage from "Project Runway" puts together! Check out the slideshow below for a few more of my favorite looks.
Something even better than great fashion, is supporting a great cause. Another thing I love so much about Louisville is how philanthropic the people are. This event’s mission is not only to show the attendees a great time, but most importantly to raise money for Blessings in a Backpack, a non-profit that currently feeds nearly 76,000 children in 800 schools in 44 U.S. states. It’s always a bonus to be able to support a great cause while also celebrate our city’s proud tradition of horse racing!
Enjoy the gallery of photos below captured by Matthew Guss, and to see even more photos from the event please visit http://matthewguss.pixieset.com/unbridledeve2015/!
