New England’s Premier Derby Experience Comes to Omni Boston Hotel Seaport on May 2, 2026
BOSTON, MA — April 2026 — BostonMan Magazine and Wave + Woven (W+W) announce the return of Boston’s Fashion Derby, New England’s signature Kentucky Derby experience, on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 2 to 7 PM at The Sporting Club inside the Omni Boston Hotel Seaport. Now in its fifth year as the venue’s official Kentucky Derby party, the event brings together the pageantry, tradition, and spectacle of Churchill Downs and transplants it to Boston’s Seaport District for an afternoon as much about fashion and culture as it is about horse racing.
Guests will gather to watch the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby — thoroughbred championship racing’s storied Run for the Roses — with live coverage of the full Churchill Downs racing card on dedicated screens throughout the venue. But the experience extends well beyond the race itself. Woodford Reserve, Leyenda 1925 Tequila, and Moët Chandon anchor the beverage program alongside culinary creations from The Sporting Club kitchen, all soundtracked by the live music of The Elephant in the Room Band.
Boston’s Fashion Derby has earned recognition from the official Kentucky Derby Style Guide as an event that honors and upholds the presentation of Derby-themed attire — a distinction that underscores what producers Amanda Vargus and Matt Ribaudo have built over five years.
“The Fashion Derby has become one of the most anticipated events on Boston’s social calendar, and this year we are elevating the experience on every level,” said Matt Ribaudo. “From the runway presentations to the live racing coverage, we have created an afternoon that genuinely honors the history and spectacle of Derby Day — with a Boston energy that is entirely our own.”
THE FASHION DERBY SHOW
At the heart of the afternoon is the Fashion Derby Show, staged on The Sporting Club’s Runway for the Roses. Celebrity stylist Amanda Vargus returns to curate collections from four of the season’s most celebrated designers: Gretta Monahan, Sara Campbell, Lalla Bee by Melina Cortes, and Ellie Jian Millinery. Collections walk every 90 minutes, with each look crowned by a custom fascinator from Ellie Jian.
Walking the runway are models Bridget Wixted, Helena Greenslit, Shannon Bralley, and Kate Montana, joined by Kya McCarthy — the current cover model of BostonMan Magazine’s Runway Ball issue.
“Derby style is about bold choices and personal expression — it’s one of the only moments in American culture where fashion and sport genuinely collide,” said Amanda Vargus. “The collections we’ve curated for 2026 honor that tradition while pushing forward into something fresh and unexpected. The runway is going to be spectacular.”
“A Derby hat is not an accessory — it’s a statement,” said Ellie Jian of Ellie Jian Millinery. “Every fascinator I design for the Fashion Derby is built to complete a look from the top down and tell its own story. It’s an honor to be part of an event that takes that tradition as seriously as we do.”
2026 ATTRACTIONS
This year’s event features an expanded slate of activations running throughout the afternoon. The Best Dressed Mr. & Miss Boston’s Fashion Derby competition returns, with judging honors going to 2025 Miss Fashion Derby winner Meli Guzman — prizes to be announced. A custom Kentucky Derby art and memorabilia display will be featured on-site alongside a Woodford Reserve Ice Bar, a Kentucky Derby photo booth and memories station, and live viewing of every race at Churchill Downs throughout Derby Day.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026 Time: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM Location: The Sporting Club, Omni Boston Hotel Seaport, Boston, MA Producers: Amanda Vargus (Wave + Woven) & Matt Ribaudo Sponsors: Leyenda 1925 Tequila, Woodford Reserve, Moët Chandon, Higs Tickets
ABOUT BOSTONMAN MAGAZINE
BostonMan Magazine is New England’s leading men’s lifestyle publication, covering fashion, culture, business, and the personalities defining Boston’s identity.
ABOUT WAVE + WOVEN
Wave + Woven is a Boston-based creative styling and fashion production agency led by celebrity stylist Amanda Vargus, specializing in editorial, event, and runway productions across New England and beyond.
ABOUT ELLIE JIAN MILLINERY
Ellie Jian Millinery is a Boston-based atelier celebrated for bespoke fascinators and custom headpieces for fashion events, editorial shoots, and private commissions.
