Going to the derby is not just about the races these days; style is just as much a part of it as the sport itself. I was recently asked to sit on a panel as judge alongside Alan Pavlakovic from Holt Renfrew and Kelly Grant, marketing manager for MCL Motor Cars, for their best-dressed award at Hastings Racetrack. I kept my answers and decided to hand it over in this week’s style column. There were over one hundred contestants and we chose five men and women as finalists. Although most contestants were dressed appropriately for the occasion, it was the attention to detail that put certain contestants to the top of our list.

For women:

Contestant #1 wore an off the shoulder knee-length dress with was a classy touch that was modern. Her neutral heels also took the black from more of a nighttime look into the day. To top her outfit off, her fastener had neutral and black tones which complimented the rest of her outfit. You have to love a woman who can pull off a plain black dress and make it racetrack ready with class.

Contestant # 2 also showed off her style and received top points for paying attention to detail. Her gloves and faux fur shawl took an otherwise simple black dress to a racetrack-ready look. The neutral tone in her shoes tied the color palette together for the entire attire. Her fastener was also fantastic, and her outfit was just plain fierce.

Contestant #3 stood out because she managed to pull off light green to her matching scarf and fastener in the same color. She also had the fastener with the most personality. I liked the belt with the dress to add detail to the outfit.

Contestant #4 made it to the final round because of her ability to bring a modern feel to a day at the races. Her outfit paralleled something you would see from designer Michael Kors. Simple but classy reflected this outfit.

The winner, Ursula Bolivar, was stunning in a red dress with details that accentuated the silhouette. Her hat was a show-stopper too. The black jacket was a good finish to balance off the outfit.

For men:

I was most impressed by the men in the bunch. Lighter colors were definitely appealing and stood out.

Contestant #1 had red suspenders and a bow tie which caught the eye. Bow ties are on trend for the season. I loved how he tied the color scheme together with red shoes for an overall coherent look.

Contestant #2 had the best top hat of the day. The bow tie made an appearance again and really balanced the outfit. The vest was also a nice touch to colour-block the look.

Contestant #3 stood out because he used both extremes of the color palette which added bold lines to an otherwise plain white dress shirt. It really drew in the eye. The bow tie made an appearance for the third time.

Contestant # 4 was among the most impressive of the bunch. The trendy scarf tucked under a dress shirt was a great touch. Pocket squares are also great to add detail to a suit jacket. A lighter suit is also different and the colour pairing was so complimentary.

The winner, Jimmy Sentes, proved that classic never goes out of style, especially when it comes to a well-put together three-piece suit. The gold accents and dark tie paired with a neutral suit was the perfect balance. It was the sprinkling of gold accent pieces that really won me over when it came to his outfit.

And there you have it. It’s all in the subtle details.

Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.