‘Evening at the Races’

The “Hats & Horses: An Evening at the Races” party was a brief break for Jessica Pilarski, 40. She’s a Maryland Environmental Service communications specialist and mother of two boys — Thomas, 10, and Tanner, 6. Sharing “taxi” duties with husband, Tim Pilarski, a Morgan Stanley attorney, for their sons’ after-school schedule of baseball, soccer and basketball games doesn’t leave this Phoenix resident much time to peruse local stores.

Pilarski said she goes online to find things that fit her “classic, feminine and fun” style.

“Every once and a while I’ll follow a fashion blogger. I’ll click on something and it’ll take me to the link, and I’ll order something. Right now, I like snoopnattynat — Natalie Mason — on Instagram,” she said.

When it comes to stepping outside the box, Pilarski said, she’s been relying on what’s inside the box — the one she receives each month from stitchfix.com, the online personal styling service that selects five things each month to send to its subscribers, which they can keep or return.

HER ENSEMBLE: LOFT black and white polka-dot sleeveless dress with lace trimmed neckline and empire waist. Fuchsia straw and feather fascinator borrowed from a friend. Steve Madden black patent leather heels with ankle straps and ruffle trim. Rhinestone bracelet and crystal drop earrings from Francesca’s. Moonstone and silver bracelet that was a gift from her mother-in-law. Tory Burch fuchsia clutch embellished with a Meals On Wheels giveaway yellow fabric rose brooch.