Suzy walked on the Pink Carpet with such a smile that she showed the crowd she was confident while having fun. Her pink outfit stood out in the crowd of 200 women and won our social media vote! We were honored to be able to chat with this fabulous woman and here all her thoughts on the competition as well as the details of her winning outfit!
First of all, congratulations on your win! How nervous were you and what was going through your head while you were standing in the Top 10 line? 
I was so excited to be chosen, especially alongside my friend Criselda (she is contestant #65 in the lineup)! We were both so happy to be up there together, because it made the whole experience even more fun. I even grabbed and squeezed her hand before they announced the winner, because I figured it was probably my last (and only) chance to be in a pageant-esque scenario.
When they said your number, what were your first thoughts??
I was not 100% sure I heard them call my number at first, but my friend grabbed me with her to walk on stage. I had only actually heard her number, so when I was walking on stage, I thought “this is going to be embarrassing if they didn’t actually call me up and I have to go back down those stairs.”
When did you start styling your outfit?
On New Year’s Day 2013, Criselda called me to find out what outfit I was planning on wearing for the pink-themed Kentucky Oaks Ladies’ Day. I said “Are you kidding? You’re crazy! It’s five months from now!” And she said “You really haven’t decided yet? Do you at least have your hat?” She made me feel even more worried and panicky when she started sending me links to various pink outfit possibilities online. That was my impetus to get my act together. The pressure! The irony is, as you can see from the photos, Criselda herself ended up wearing WHITE! Maybe that is why she did not win the contest.
Tell me about the outfit from head to toe. You said there was a funny story about your hat? Where did you get everything?
I pre-ordered the Oscar de la Renta top and skirt online, and just hoped it would fit. It was from the Spring/Summer 2013 collection. The top came with a matching “shocking pink” camisole, I decided to buy a tight, nude Spanx tank top and wear that under the shirt instead.I liked how the nude underlay made it easier to see and appreciate the embroidery.
As for the hat, I happened to be going to London in April, so I researched a bunch of milliners to visit while I was in town. By this time, I had my ODLR outfit, and I brought it with me so I could match it to whichever hat or fascinator I found.
I went to Harrods, Liberty of London, Misa Harada and Gina Foster. I found some really spectacular hats everywhere, especially at Harrods. It was a really hard decision to make. But it was at Philip Treacy’s shop on Elizabeth Street that I found the ideal topper for this ensemble. I originally purchased a pink hat with a white squiggle on top. The sales clerk wrapped it up really well in tissue paper and put it in a big, silver cardboard box so I could bring it safely with me on the plane home. Criselda–who, if you haven’t noticed by now, was seemingly obsessed with my sartorial choices for Derby weekend–texted me quite a few times during my trip, urging me to send her a photo of the hat I bought. But the hat was so perfectly wrapped up for the flight, I didn’t feel like unwrapping the whole package just to photograph the hat for her. I looked online to find a photo, but didn’t see anything remotely like it. Criselda would not let up with her hat inquiries, so I finally decided to just unwrap it and snap a quick shot of it so she’d leave me alone. But then I couldn’t find it! I looked around my hotel room for that silver box, and did not see it. I thought maybe the hotel housekeeper had placed it in a drawer or maybe on top of something, but no! It was nowhere to be found. I was traveling with my friend Joyce, and the two of us tore the entire room apart. Surely, it had to be somewhere. I didn’t think for one second that anyone would have stolen the hat, because–really, now–who on earth would want a shocking pink hat with a white squiggle on top? It’s a very particular item, and probably wouldn’t suit everyone’s tastes (or match many outfits). However, the box had indeed disappeared from the room, so it was necessary to alert the hotel staff. The security team from the hotel came to the suite and asked me a bunch of questions. They then forwarded through hours and hours of security tape until they saw me walking into the room with the box one afternoon, and then–about 24 hours later–the hotel maid walking out of the room with the garbage (including the big silver cardboard hat box from Philip Treacy) in tow.
Unfortunately, by the time we got to the bottom of this, it was time for me to fly back home to Miami. So the hotel manager had to contact the Philip Treacy boutique, order me a new hat, and ship it to me in the US. This time, I went with the pink squiggle. It came just in the nick of time, a few days before I left for Louisville. Because the squiggle was so long, thin and delicate, I did not trust transporting it in any sort of a hat box on the plane. So I just carried it in my hand the whole way. At one point, a flight attendant suggested I put it in the overhead bin, but she was going to have to throw me off the plane first before I was going to do that. I would never have smooshed that hat up in the overhead bin, especially after all it had been through! I still can’t believe she asked me to do that.
I have been to a few Kentucky Derbys, and since this wasn’t my first rodeo, I knew that comfortable shoes are of utmost importance. You’re on your feet from at least 11 am through dinner and beyond! There is no point in wearing gorgeous shoes that give you blisters, because then you won’t feel up to walking around and enjoying the experience. So I bought a pair of silver Jimmy Choo pumps with heels of a moderate height. I walked around the store for about 25 minutes to make sure I was not going to have any unexpected issues.
The color of my skirt somehow rubbed off onto my white Chanel bag, and turned it pink. That was a bummer. You have to be so careful with white leather handbags–they pick up the color of whatever clothing you wear, especially denim or anything too bright. I learned my lesson the hard way!
What did you think the judges would be looking for?
I had no idea what the judges would be looking for, because horse racing fashion in America tends to skew country, with wide-brimmed, floppy hats and floral, A-line dresses. That’s not my style, but looks like those have won in the past. In fact, that’s even how a lot of the celebrities at the Derby dress. You’ll see actors and actresses, musicians and models look stunningly polished at the Emmys, Grammys or Oscars, and then they show up at the Derby as if they thought it was a country and western costume party. For this event, I just bought an outfit I was comfortable in that felt “Kentucky Derby” mixed with a little “Palm Beach.” Hats with oversized brims look dated to me.
Who is your favorite designer? Milliner?
I love Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera for daytime parties, but usually wear a lot of Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Fendi and Naeem Khan for nighttime events.
Philip Treacy is fabulous, but I like the special one-of-a-kind pieces I found at his boutique in London more than what’s available at the department stores in America. Department stores buy a lot of “safe” hats, because their clients probably aren’t as comfortable taking millinery fashion chances. I think the best hats are whimsical and beautiful at the same time, because it always guarantees you’ll get smiled at by the people who see you–whether it’s because they are amused or just think you look nice. When it comes to hats, there is a fine line between silly and chic, and you should definitely stay on the chic side!
Do you think fashion is important at the horse races? If so, why?
Of course. The world has turned into such a jeans-and-t-shirts place these days. Everybody always seems to want to wear jeans to everything, all the time. That’s so boring. Maybe it’s because I’m from Miami, but I love to see color, texture, beading, sequins and great silhouettes. It’s stimulating to the senses to see artful ensembles, especially when you don’t see people dressing this way on a daily basis. The horses are gorgeous, the weather is (hopefully) beautiful, the flowers and track look lovely, and the people are dressed up creatively. I think dressing up for races heightens the experience of everyone who attends, and almost takes you back to a more romantic era in time.
What is your favorite racetrack to visit and why?
It’s a tie between Churchill Downs and Arlington Racetrack. They are both spectacular venues, so well-maintained and magnificent.
If you were designing the next winner’s outfit for the competition, what would you design?
It would be a form-fitting, pale pink dress, in the style of Roland Mouret or Victoria Beckham, with a belt-cinched waist and some sort of interesting shoulder detail.
