Spring Racing Archives - Page 2 of 7

What I Wore: 2019 Stakes Day

9th November, 2019

Out of all the race days during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Stakes Day is the most relaxed in terms of dress codes. It’s a family friendly event, with no formal dress code, so you can afford to go for something that’s slightly more casual. The only non-negotiable is that it you still look polished and elegant. It’s one of my favourite days as I’m also able to attend with Luke and the girls which always makes the day really fun.

I decided on a Dior maxi dress with earthy/navy tones for the event as I felt it worked perfectly with the attire this particular race day required. I loved the pattern on the dress and the flared 50s style skirt. The neckline featured a deep V-neck which gives the dress just a little edge. With such a voluminous shape, it was important that the dress have a little cinched in element so it didn’t look like it was swamping me, so I decided on a waist belt worn over the top. It gave me a flattering nipped in silhouette and helped give the dress a little more structure. Plus I love the shape of the belt, which features the iconic saddle bag shape of the brand.

Working with a mix of shades can make accessorising tricky but in the end I felt white would work best to complement the colour palette of the dress. I ended up going for a Dior wide brimmed straw hat, which looks relaxed but still polished and finished it with white Dior pointed toe heels with ankle straps. It was a way of doing accessories in a pared back way, but in a colour that would still allow it to pop against the dress. The ideal balance of making a statement without being overwhelming.

Credits: Dress, Christian Dior; Belt, Christian Dior; Shoes, Christian Dior; Hat

Fashion, Fashion & Beauty

What it’s really like to work with a stylist

7th November, 2019

Working with a stylist during spring racing has allowed to experiment with new looks

I have always styled my racing looks and really enjoy doing it but it’s also labour intensive. I have to source multiple options for every race day, and that includes my outfit, shoes, jewellery, and headwear. This year, I not only had several race days to attend but I had presenting commitments with 7 Racing that saw me having to also style outfits for those occasions, and not only that I had to ensure that my outfit was able to work on camera and co-ordinated with the other presenters. That’s a lot of outfits! So I enlisted the help of stylist Jess Pecoraro to make it happen.

Jess is the go-to fashion and celeb stylist for the likes of Jesinta Franklin and Gemma Ward and Delta Goodrem. She’s got a great eye and knows what I like and gets my style which is critical when you’re working with a stylist. We’ll often start by taking a look at the events I have coming up and what each look requires. For example there are strict dress codes for big race days like Derby Day and Melbourne Cup which we need to adhere to, and if I’ve got TV commitments I need to ensure that what I’m wearing works well on screen as well as the other presenters I’m working with. Additionally I work with a few key brands during spring racing so it’s important that we factor them into the styling process. It’s a big process and there are so many considerations to be made that it’s great to have someone to look after it all as it makes everything a little less hectic.

I’m quite open to trying new looks and Jess pulled together a number of different outfits for me to try. We did a few fittings at home to see what would work and the accessories to match. This can become quite a lengthy process as we experiment with different options to lock in the final outfit, all the while making sure that I’m keeping to dress codes and incorporating certain brands. I’m always able to direct the outfits where I want them to go but Jess is able to put forward combinations and suggestions of how everything could work together which is great as often it can be hard to have a vision for every outfit. That’s the great thing about working with a stylist.

I often get asked why I work with stylists and one of the reasons is that it’s great to be able to collaborate with someone else and get a fresh opinion or point of view on fashion. I know what I like but sometimes I might miss something that would look great, that someone else from the outside looking in might see. And being able to push boundaries and try something new is what fashion is all about.

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: 2019 Oaks Day

7th November, 2019

Oaks Day is traditionally ladies’ day so the dress code is all about soft feminine looks. It’s the perfect time to embrace my girly side, so I always have a lot of fun with my outfit on the day, favouring pretty prints and accessories.

I saw this Prada dress and thought it was perfect for the occasion. The accordion pleat skirt and the frilled bib detail is classic and polished, but the playful lip print gives it a more modern feel. It’s always fun to work a print into a race day look and I tend to gravitate towards those that are fun and have a vibrant energy.

It’s always great to designate a focal point to any outfit and in this instance it was definitely the dress. Pink and black is always a fun colour combination so I decided to accentuate the touches of pink on the dress with dark accessories. Of course, I couldn’t go past the black textured Maticevski Prometheus clutch with urchin-like beaded detail—it added a fashion forward element to my look and I love accessories that are unique looking. Black heels with knotted detail and an oversized bow worked well with the rest of my outfit. But it’s always fun to incorporate some truly beautiful jewellery into any race day look and the Chaumet bracelets I was wearing added a luxe touch to my ensemble.

Photography by Ashleigh Larden

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Credit: Dress, Prada (Net-A-Porter); Shoes, Mode Collective; Bag, Maticevski; Hair clip, Avenue; Jewellery, Chaumet

Fashion, Shop, What I Wore

What I Wore: Flower Child

6th November, 2019

The varied dress codes during spring carnival mean that there’s an opportunity to play with lots of different looks. This floral beauty by Alessandra Rich would be ideal for Melbourne Cup or Oaks Day with its feminine feel and vibrant pink shade. Working with pieces incorporating striking details is always a guaranteed way to achieve a winning look, especially when there’s also a strong silhouette in play. The statement sleeves and high neckline along with ruffled finish work together to create an ensemble that’s a little bit different.

A statement dress requires a pared back approach to accessories. It was a no brainer to work a Prada headband into the look, especially when it’s a complementary pink colour which creates additional cohesion within my look. A headband is seriously one of the easiest ways to tick the headwear box when it comes to spring racing outfits, not to mention it’s on trend so definitely make it a go-to. Working with such vibrant hues I opted to keep my shoes simple and chic—two-strapped Giuseppe Zanotti heels with a crystal heel for just the right touch of glam.

Photography by Sophia Athas, Hatrik

Shop the Look:

Dress: Ruffle-trimmed Floral-print Silk-organza Mini Dress, Alessandra Rich

Headband: Silk-Satin Headband, Prada

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: 2019 Melbourne Cup

5th November, 2019

It’s without a doubt one of my fave events to dress for and this year’s Melbourne Cup I wanted to go for a look that was pretty and feminine. Enter this pastel pink Macgraw dress. I wanted to wear a local designer this year and this frock definitely fit the brief. What I loved about this dress was that the overall design is pared back but elevated by the finishing touches. The diamante flower buttons gave it a touch of playfulness whilst injecting a bit of bling. Meanwhile the blouson sleeve and A-line skirt offer up some on trend elements.

The vibe of the dress demanded interesting accessories. Headwear is so important on Cup day and this Sylvy Earl straw boater in a similar shade to the dress provided the ideal complementary piece. It was also great to be able to incorporate a little texture. The feathered bag was a lot of fun and worked well with the pretty vibe of my ensemble. Lace up heels provided a slightly little grittier element. The final finishing touch was the selection of beautiful Chaumet jewels I was wearing. The gorgeous rings really lifted my entire outfit whilst adding a luxe touch that was just made for Cup day.

Credits: Dress, Macgraw; Bag, Olga Berg; Shoes, Tony Bianco; Hat, Sylvy Earl, Jewellery, Chaumet.

Photography by Ashleigh Larden

Beauty, Fashion & Beauty

How to ensure your makeup goes the distance at the races according to a makeup artist

4th November, 2019

Michael Brown is my go-to makeup artist for many an event. He’s worked with me on everything from Fashion Week to the races and many a launch, and one of the great things I’ve learned from him is how to ensure makeup lasts. For long days trackside, you want to take the proper steps to keep your face looking as fresh as it did when you walked out the door. There’s nothing worse than being all dolled up, only for your makeup to let you down because your eye shadow’s all but disappeared or your T-Zone is looking shiny. But there’s an art to makeup longevity and here’s how to do it, with tips from the man himself.

Prep your skin

As with most things, the more you prep the better the result. Michael says, “Trackside beauty needs to go the distance and it all comes down to good skin prep, so your makeup has that perfect bond.”

The combination of a long day and standing in the harsh sunlight can mean that your makeup is very visible and that means you need to ensure that you hydrate your skin as much as possible for a nice finish. To do this Michael says, “I recommend a sheet mask before you apply foundation/concealer. Sheet masks hug the skin, trapping all the moisture and goodness so that it can be absorbed correctly.” The more hydrated your skin is the better your makeup will look.

Have the right finish

All good makeup needs to look polished and if your skin has a tendency to go shiny Michael suggests using “a mattifying or blurring primer on your T-Zone to minimise shine coming through your makeup as the day goes on.”

It’s also important to ‘set’ your makeup. “[Use a] translucent powder and dab into shine prone areas with a Beauty Blender — this can really lock powder to skin. But you don’t want to be over powdering all day, as this can look dry, so invest in an appropriate primer to match your skin’s habits, such as going shiny when wearing makeup.”

Blend, blend, blend

Adopt the right technique when applying your eye makeup and you’ll find that most of the time it won’t budge. “Eye makeup generally stays put, once it’s applied, if its really pressed or blended correctly,” says Michael. “Try smudging and really blending product into eye skin, so there is a bond, rather than just dusting on top where it can easily fade.”

Dab your lipstick

A beautiful pout is perfect for a day at the races and Michael suggests opting for a long lasting lipstick which will stay in place throughout the day. “For those that prefer comfort over long wear (as they can feel dry) try dabbing your lipstick with your fingertip for application. This will bond and drain the pigment, so it’s actually in the lip, not sitting on top,” says Michael.

Carry concealer

What’s the number one thing every girl should have in her bag at the races? “Concealer! You never know when you might need a little brighten around the nose, mouth or under the eye, it can be that instant fresh effect we all sometimes need,” says Michael.

So if you want your makeup to stay Insta-worthy throughout the day, it’s worth investing the time and effort to ensure that you’ve locked your look in with the right prep. A few extra minutes spent in front of the mirror will avoid any makeup dramas and keep you looking fresh faced whilst trackside.

Fashion, Fashion & Beauty

What I Wore: 2019 Derby Day

2nd November, 2019

Derby Day is always one of the chicest race days on the spring racing calendar because of its monochrome colour palette. Working with black and white is always guaranteed to look stylish and it’s one of my favourite events to dress for. This year I centred everything around this knitted Christopher Kane dress. What initially drew me to it was its interesting shape. I loved its fitted style and the tiered hem, and the high neckline with long neck tie feature at the back gives the dress focal points from the front and the back. And I can’t go past glam embellishments such as the oversized crystal buttons.

I wanted to add some statement pieces to this look as I find a black dress is given a little extra depth when paired with accessories that pop. In keeping with the glamorous feel, I worked the look back with a black and diamante custom headpiece by Viktoria Novak. Headbands are such a huge trend right now and such an easy option when you want headwear that’s simple yet stylish. Also I opted for a Jimmy Choo clutch with a similar feel, the statement bow edged with diamantes to help tie the look together. And Giuseppe Zanotti embellished heels were the perfect finishing touch to this look.

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

Shop the Look:

Credits: Dress, Christopher Kane; Head-piece, Custom Viktoria Novak; Bag, Jimmy Choo; Shoes, Giuseppe Zanotti.

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

Fashion

A guy’s guide to dressing for the races

31st October, 2019

When it comes to spring racing what men wear trackside also comes with its own set of guidelines, much like it does for the ladies. Whilst sticking to the dress code of each day is key, there are a few important things that should be kept top of mind to ensure that you look dapper on the day.

A well-fitting suit

There’s no doubt that a suit is the most stylish option for men attending the races. However if the fit isn’t quite right, whether it’s the fact the sleeves are too long or the pants haven’t been cuffed correctly or the jacket’s too big or too tight, these little things can all ruin the overall effect. So it’s important to go to the extra effort to tailor a suit perfectly. And the great thing about suits is that they can be worn time and time again so it’s worth investing in one that fits like a dream.

Attention to detail

I think the little touches can make all the difference between a good look and a great look. Pay attention to the small details like wearing a tie and a matching pocket square, stylish cufflinks and quality shoes. And a good looking timepiece also never goes astray.

Shine your shoes

One of the things that can really let a look down is if your shoes aren’t up to scratch. If you’re wearing a beautiful suit but your shoes are scuffed and dirty it will ruin the overall effect. So spend a few minutes polishing your shoes and giving them a good clean to ensure they’re presentable.

Respect the dress code of each day

Whilst men have a little more freedom when it comes to dress codes it’s also important to adhere to the rules of each day. For example some events may let you in without socks, but others require that you definitely have on a pair. It’s worth checking beforehand to ensure that you’re not caught out on the day. Also there are certain flowers that go with each race day during spring carnival such as wearing a cornflower on Derby Day and a yellow rose on Melbourne Cup Day. It’s a nice touch and is respectful of the event.

Good grooming

Look sharp from head to toe by ensuring you’re well groomed. This means having a shave beforehand or if you’re rocking a beard, making sure it looks neat and presentable. When it comes to hair keep your ‘do tidy and you’ll look perfectly dapper.

Fashion, Fashion & Beauty, Shop, What I Wore

What I Wore: Spring Finery

26th October, 2019

Spring time always has me seeking out beautiful dresses — I think it’s just the perfect time of year to embrace them, particularly when they feature a great print or interesting embellishments. It’s precisely why I was drawn to this navy and white Alessandra Rich dress, the sweet bow print and the crystal buttons give it a really feminine touch. The subtly ruched skirt and the elbow length sleeves evoke a hint of 50s styling which I really love.

I decided to complement the look with white strappy heels by Billini to pick up the hints of white in the dress, plus their streamlined, minimalist feel still allows the frock to be the focal point. I’m embracing the hair accessories trend of late and love this cluster of clips by Alessandra Rich. It adds a glam touch to an otherwise quite pared back and classic look and I think you can’t go wrong with a hint of bling here and there!

Shop the Look:

Dress: Button-Embellished Printed Silk-Jacquard Maxi Dress, Alessandra Rich | Net-A-Porter

Shoes: Dalton White, Billini

Hairpiece: Set of Three Silver-Tone and Crystal Hair Slides, Alessandra Rich | Net-A-Porter

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