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Melbourne Cup

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Melbourne Cup 2023

7th November, 2023

It’s hard to believe it’s time for another Melbourne Cup day. It’s always one of my favourite race days as the dress code gives you the freedom to push the boundaries a little and take your look in another direction. This year, I turned to Aussie designer Mariam Seddiq who designed this pastel mini dress. I always gravitate towards colour at Melbourne Cup and with pastels trending for race attire, I thought this ever so delicate yellow hue would be perfect. What I love most about this design are the combination of curves in the scalloped edges worked back with the sharper lines on the neckline and sleeves. It’s a great balance and I thought the contrasting effect was quite striking. The finishing touches such as the split sleeve detail and the oversized buttons and plunging neckline with high collar also add an element of interest and boldness to the dress. It definitely fit the Cup attire brief.

I wanted to wear a brimmed hat for this occasion and the white hat by Somewhere Here worked back nicely with the rest of my ensemble. To further carry the white theme, I opted for a white Bulgari chain bag which made created a nice thread of consistency into my accessories. With a sprinkling of gorgeous jewellery by Jan Logan and yellow knotted heels by new shoe brand Edie Collective, I was ready for a little Walking on Sunshine moment with this yellow themed ensemble.

Credits: Dress, Mariam Seddiq; Bag, Bulgari; Heels (other colours here), Edie Collective; Hat, Somewhere Here; Jewellery, Jan Logan

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

Fashion

Up close and personal with my Melbourne Cup day jewellery

8th November, 2021

A race day look isn’t complete with a touch of sparkle and when it’s the kind of race that stops a nation then it definitely has to be extra special. I have had the privilege of working with the high end French jeweller Chaumet over the past few years and one of the highlights is being able to wear beautiful pieces from one of their collections. For this year’s Melbourne Cup day, I chose some stunning jewellery from the Joséphine collection— a range that is inspired by the famous pieces made for Empress Joséphine, one of the first clients of Maison Chaumet. The collection features rings, bracelets and pendants and each uses eye-catching stones fixed in an elegant and regal setting.

Working with a plunging neckline on my dress, I wanted to keep my decolletage quite simple so I decided on earrings, rings and a bracelet to accompany my look. Whenever I decide on an edit of accessories, particularly jewellery, I always take into account my entire outfit from top to bottom, from shoes to clothing to bag to ensure that there is cohesion. While I was spoilt for choice, I eventually gravitated towards a few key pieces to complete my look.

The rings are a true statement piece on their own but I wanted to dial up the drama and wore two rings next to each other for a bold effect. When you’re working with such beautiful jewellery, why stop at one, right? The Joséphine Aigrette pavé diamond bracelet in white gold was the perfect complementary piece. It’s the kind of jewellery that has a understated elegance to it that means it doesn’t overwhelm, it just has a presence to it that still makes an impact. The final piece of the puzzle were my earrings, the Joséphine Ronde d’Aigrettes earrings in white gold, set with brilliant-cut diamonds truly dialled up the sparkle. What I liked about these earrings were the fact the curved shape had a slightly more contemporary feel, yet still had a classic look to them that made them versatile and easy to pair back with a variety of different pieces. On a day like Melbourne Cup day, I do think bringing the sparkle is key and Chaumet certainly delivered.

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

This post was produced in collaboration with Chaumet

Fashion

What I Wore: 2021 Melbourne Cup

3rd November, 2021

Melbourne Cup looked a little different this year. Instead of being at Flemington, I spent the day with friends enjoying a beautiful lunch at Silks at Crown Sydney. As much as I missed being trackside, I also loved being at a more intimate event. However I still (as I do every year) enjoyed the opportunity to get all dressed up. After the ultra feminine look I wore last year, I changed gear this year and I opted for a sleek, form fitting dress by Versace. With its deep neckline and subtle cut-out detail, it made a bold statement and was a great foundation for the rest of my look.

When working with a black outfit I think it helps to add splashes of colour to avoid it look too flat. Jewel tones were the ideal hues to add a little punchiness to my outfit and I found the perfect pieces to fit the brief. I opted for a deep emerald green Bottega Veneta bag with chain strap along with a oversized pink straw bow by Nerida Winter with a subtle veil. Both hues worked to complement each other and when set against a black dress, it really allowed the colours to pop. I wanted to create a streamlined silhouette so instead of a statement shoe I opted for a classic pair of black pumps to tie into the colour of the dress and the effect was one that elongated my frame. It’s one of my favourite styling tricks!

What Cup day look would be complete without a little sparkle? I was lucky enough to work with French jewellery brand Chaumet again this year and was so spoilt to be able to wear a selection of beautiful pieces. I opted for matching pieces, which entailed a pair of earrings, stacked rings and an elegant bangle. Timeless and sophisticated, they were the perfect accoutrements to finish off this year’s look for the race that stops a nation.

Credits: Dress, Versace; Bag, Bottega Veneta; Shoes, Christian Louboutin; Headpiece, Nerida Winter; Jewellery, Chaumet

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: 2020 Melbourne Cup

3rd November, 2020

It felt a little strange waking up on Melbourne Cup day in Sydney this year, given I’d usually be in Melbourne, but it’s also exciting to be doing something different. Even if I wasn’t able to be at Flemington, I was still excited to be spending the day with my Lexus Australia family and getting dolled up!

It’s always hard trying to narrow down my look every year, but I couldn’t go past this design by Constantina Danis. It’s the epitome of pretty and playful and definitely in keeping with the spirit of the day. I was lucky enough to be able to have this dress custom made to a colour of my choosing, and this soft pastel pink definitely fit the bill. The sweetheart neckline and crossover bodice is such a flattering silhouette but without a doubt the standout feature of the dress is the detached puff sleeves. They’re so much fun and such a great contrast to the fitted lines of the dress.

When your dress is of the statement-making kind, striking a balance when it comes to accessories is key. I opted for a beautiful ombre bow by Nerida Winter in place of a hat or other headpiece as I didn’t want anything fussy that was going to compete with the dress. I went with a pair of neutral Pierre Hardy heels to complement the pink shade of the dress, and finished it off with understated jewellery by Chaumet. A Sydney-style Melbourne Cup is certainly an enjoyable way to spend the race’s 145th year.

Credits: Dress (available in other shades), Constantina Danis; Headpiece, Nerida Winter; Jewellery, Chaumet; Shoes, Pierre Hardy

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

Fashion

Your guide to spring racing dress codes

14th October, 2019

There are a few key days in the spring racing carnival calendar that will require you to dress in a certain way. It’s important to respect these dress codes and choose an outfit fitting of the day. One of the key things to remember is that whatever look you go for is that it maintain an element of polish. So leave overly casual things like denim and sneakers at home and instead enjoy this opportunity to get dressed up. Make sure that you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing  as a day at the races can be long so you don’t want to constantly be fidgeting or adjusting something or worse having to hobble along in uncomfortable heels for the rest of the day. It’s a big no-no to take your shoes off at the races so be sure to have broken them in beforehand and have put in additional padding to make walking or standing for long periods do-able. Overall take advantage of the fact you get to wear a great outfit and just enjoy the day!

Derby Day

Derby Day has a black and white dress code. You can either go for an all black or all white ensemble with accessories in either colour. Monochrome is a great colour palette to work with as it looks so chic and it’s relatively easy to pull pieces together given the colour scheme.

Melbourne Cup

As far as spring racing carnival go, Melbourne Cup is the day to go bold. It’s all about colour so you can either go for a vibrant shade or print. Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries a little and be sure to have fun with your look —this is the day for it.

Oaks Day

Oaks Day is ladies day so the dress code is quite pretty and feminine. This is the time to embrace florals and soft pastels. Keep this theme going throughout your accessories and go for accoutrements that incorporate a slightly girly touch such as bold flowers or bows.

Stakes Day

There’s no formal dress code for Stakes Day but it is family day so it’s the most casual and relaxed of all the key dates in the spring racing calendar. Whilst there’s no strict colour scheme or stipulations on what should be worn on the day it’s still important that whatever outfit you choose is polished and elegant.

Fashion

The making of my Melbourne Cup look

6th November, 2018

I love a fashion challenge and I have to say that every year, dressing for Melbourne Cup day is one of them. I have multiple professional commitments throughout the day so I need to ensure that I get my outfit just right. This year, I was lucky enough to once again work with Net-a-Porter to pull together my look which admittedly makes things so much easier. It’s one of my absolute favourite shopping destinations and they are always guaranteed to have multiple pieces for me to fall in love with. I had a busy few weeks leading up to Melbourne Cup so I enlisted the help of one of my favourite stylists, Jess Pecoraro to help me with pulling looks together for a few of the key dates in the Melbourne Cup Carnival, most especially Cup Day.

I knew I wanted to wear something bright and bold as I always like to have fun with my outfit at Melbourne Cup. After trying a few different dresses on, I eventually zeroed in on the floral Miu Miu dress I wore today. I liked the long hemline which is a little different to my other Cup Day looks over the past few years. We were playing around with the dress and actually found that we could adjust the straps to create an off-the-shoulder/bateau neckline so I ended up going with it as it had a really flattering effect.

There were a few heels we were tossing up between that were already in my closet but how could I resist wearing a pair of amazing Salvatore Ferragamo wedges? It had such an interesting shape I thought it added a great element of interest to my overall look. I also liked the gold heel and the strap across the foot echoing the look of a mule. It really grounded the colourful nature of the dress and its bold print.

As for my accessories, we tried a few different bag options and considered working with a few different headpiece styles and colours but I really loved the way my bag and oversized picked up a few of the subtle colours in my dress.

After we had decided on some looks, I did a final fitting in my home with Jess (with my kids providing a great audience!) to ensure that everything worked together — dress, shoes, bag, the lot. I always like doing this as I want to take a final look at what I’m wearing as a whole and make sure there’s cohesion and everything is spot on. And lucky for me, I found a look I loved for yet another year.

One of my super cute style advisors

I adored the vivid and colourful vibe of this dress

Aren’t they so amazing? Such a different silhouette

View from above

Jess helping me try on another dress option

Trying on shoes (and a sneak peek at one of my other looks)

Decisions, decisions…A girl can never have too many shoes, right?

 

 

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: 2018 Melbourne Cup

6th November, 2018

I cannot believe Melbourne Cup is here again! It’s always one of the most exciting days on the spring racing calendar and I look forward to it every year. When it comes to this particular day the fashion brief is loads of colour and definitely more scope to push the boundaries. I wanted to do something that was vibrant and fun and couldn’t resist this floral Miu Miu dress. The punchy green and oversized flowers and paint splatters work together to create a striking effect. I decided to wear the dress with the straps worn slightly off the shoulder but they can also be worn straight which I love as it offers a little extra versatility with the dress. The ruching at the side is also a big plus as it always gives a really flattering effect.

I saw these Ferragamo wedge mules and instantly knew they would be perfect for the day. The wedge/mule hybrid is a little different and adds an interesting silhouette to my look. Additionally I loved the gold panel on the heel which is a great complementary shade to the green of my dress. Bright and bold really was the main theme throughout this look and the pink Bvlgari Serpenti bag added another pop of colour that further lifted the look.

Adding the final finishing touch to my look were the most beautiful pieces from the jeweller, Chaumet. I was particularly enamoured by the Hortensia Malachite earrings which perfectly complemented my dress and added an elegant and understated element to my outfit. With all the prints and colour in my outfit I wanted to keep my headpiece quite simple and one of my favourite milliners Nerida Winter definitely delivered. The cream oversized bow gave my look a statement feature from behind and was the ideal feature piece to cap off my Melbourne Cup ensemble.

Credits: Dress, Miu Miu; Shoes, Ferragamo; Bag, Bvlgari; Jewellery, Chaumet; Headpiece, Nerida Winter

Photography: Sophia Athas

This post was produced in collaboration with Net-a-Porter

Fashion, Shop

Melbourne Cup: your outfit, shoes and headwear sorted

30th October, 2018

It’s the race that stops a nation and without a doubt it’s the perfect reason to get dolled up. Melbourne Cup is the biggest day in the spring racing carnival and it’s always a lot of fun to get dressed up for as the dress code is all about colour and having a lot of fun with your look. This is the day to really take a step into bold territory and wear vibrant shades and prints with statement accessories. So if you’ve yet to lock in your outfit, I’ve got you covered.

 

Dresses

Melbourne Cup is the ideal time to embrace a dress that’s got wow factor. Go for lots of colour, interesting prints and embrace texture and striking finishes. Whilst your look still has to be polished it’s also the ideal time to have fun with fashion.

 

Shoes

From sky high stilettos to a 60s style block heel and an architectural mule, it’s time to up your shoe game when it comes to Cup Day. Definitely have fun with statement footwear but also make sure to keep comfort in mind—you need something that will stand up to a long day at the races.

 

Headwear

Headwear is a must but you don’t have to confine yourself to a hat. Think everything from headbands to a gorgeous turban as the perfect adornment to pair with your outfit at Flemington.

Fashion

What I Wore: Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour launch

9th June, 2018

Every year since 2003 the Melbourne Cup Tour has visited more than 400 rural, regional and metropolitan areas to give people the chance to see the iconic 18-carat gold Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy in the flesh. This year, the Cup will tour 37 countries including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and for the first time South Korea. As a Lexus ambassador I was thrilled to attend the launch in Melbourne, alongside champion jockey Michelle Payne and Flemington ambassador Georgia Connolly.

For such an important event I wanted to wear something classic but also with some bold touches. I think you can’t go wrong with monochrome so I decided on this DVF midi dress with a honeycomb print. I think it was understated and polished but the pattern helped give the look some depth. To tie the look together I wore simple black heels with a crossover strap and sheer tights (it’s freezing in Melbourne so these also helped keep me warm!).

I think accent pieces in a strong colour work really well against a black and white canvas. I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting piece of headwear than this hot pink felt hat by one of my fave milliners, Nerida Winter. The colour allowed my outfit to pop without being too overwhelming and when we were able to find a matching lipstick shade it was a dream pairing. By adding just the right amount of colour, I think the outfit was really taken up a notch and able to stand out.

Credits: Dress, DVF; Hat, Nerida Winter

Photography: Karon Photography

Handle with care! With the Lexus Melbourne Cup and Flemington ambassador Georgia Connolly

With jockey Michelle Payne

With Lexus Australia CEO, Scott Thompson

 

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Lexus Melbourne Cup announcement

15th February, 2018

I was thrilled to head down to Melbourne this week to a big event at Flemington Racecourse that saw Lexus announced as the new principal sponsor of the Melbourne Cup. Having been a Lexus ambassador for several years I was excited to be there alongside my parents to hear the announcement.

I kept my look classic and elegant for such an occasion and was immediately drawn to a white Alex Perry dress with a drop waist and full skirt. It was understated and polished and was in keeping with the tone of the day. I always love some statement making accessories so this veil with a gold and black scorpion added a dramatic flair and metallic Giambattista Valli heels, which had adorable little bows as a finishing touch. In keeping with the vibe of my outfit I went for vintage inspired curls as a way to tie the ensemble together. Dressing up for this event has me already excited for other racing events on my calendar this year, especially Melbourne Cup!

Credits: Dress, Alex Perry; Veil, Jill and Jack Millinery; Heels Giambattista Valli,

Photography: Danielle Castano