LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In the last days leading up to Kentucky Derby 149, the countdown is on for horse racing fans to finalize all their fashion choices.
In the NuLu neighborhood, one fashionista has created a two-stop shopping experience for everything both men and women might need for the race.
A boutique in the Derby City was Melissa Huff’s dream for years. A few years ago, that dream came true. She first opened her boutique Mamili in the NuLu Marketplace during the pandemic, then opened her hat store, Mad Hatter 502, next door last year.
Huff has always felt a special tie to the Kentucky Derby.
“When I was younger, my great uncle owned a few race horses. So I was always at the track with him, so we’d go to the races, and then I’d go with him on the backside and help feed the horses. So I’ve always been around it,” Huff said. “Then, as I got older just seeing everybody dress up and then when we started going and dressing up, it was pretty amazing.”
In 2017, the Louisville native began dabbling with making her own Derby head pieces. They grew popular among her friends, leading her to open a pop-up shop. That led to her eventually opening Mamili, then Mad Hatter 502.
Huff and one other hatmaker create all the women’s hats, fascinators and crowns. They also sell men’s fedoras.
This year, some hats Huff made were featured in the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Annual Derby Hat Show. She was chosen for a coveted spot as one of the Derby Museum’s featured milliners for Derby 149.
“I really wanted to be one of the milliners, so when I found out they were going to add on one more this year and I was in the running for it, and when they told me I got it, I was so excited.”
Huff is hoping the honor will bring more notoriety not just to Mad Hatter 502, but to Mamili, as well.
Mamili features Derby party supplies, Derby-themed jewelry, and head to toe outfits for the racetrack.
The best part of it all, Huff says, “Just being able to style people. I mean, when somebody goes to the track and they tag us on Instagram and they’re texting me throughout the day saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve had my picture taken so many times throughout the day. Thank you so much. I’ve gotten so many compliments,’ that, to me, is the reward.”
It’s a reward she hopes she’ll get again and again this Derby week.
Mad Hatter 502 will host a pop-up shop for last-minute hat purchases on Thurby, Oaks and Derby Day at the AC Hotel on East Market Street in Louisville, right around the corner from Huff’s brick and mortar boutiques. She’ll have both women’s and men’s headwear for sale in a room at the hotel in the afternoon and evening on Thurby, the morning and evening of Oaks, and the morning of Derby Day.