It’s that time of year again! The weather is warming up and the excitement is in the air, and our team have been busily working away for months on top secret projects for the ‘race that stops the nation’. Yes, that’s right, we are now officially in Spring Racing season with Melbourne Cup Carnival just around the corner!
With only weeks left to prepare, we show you how to inject spring floral into your race day look whilst simultaneously respecting traditions and dress codes and acknowledging current fashion trends.
Derby Day
Derby Day is the first race day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and a much anticipated one at that! Racegoers adhere to a black and white dress code for Derby Day with this tradition being the most widely observed of all the race days so it is advisable to leave your colourful frock at home for later in the week. Instead opt for a monochromatic black and white outfit, or head to toe black or an all-white ensemble. Black may not traditionally be your first pick for a Spring outfit, but Derby Day ladies use it as the opportunity to inject some stylish edginess into their race day look with sheer patterns and lace over bare skin and strappy heels. White is fresh and feminine and looks great paired with a wide brimmed hat adorned with a cluster of stark white spring blooms.
For the blokes, blue cornflower is the traditional race day bloom so be sure to pick him up a buttonhole to finish of his Derby Day look.
Melbourne Cup Day
Melbourne Cup Day is one of the most celebrated events in horse racing the world over and is also the most attended day of Spring Racing Carnival. With no colour code to stick to, Melbourne Cup Day is the opportunity for fashion forward women to go bold with colour and style whether they’re a part of Fashions on the Field or attending the race day with the masses. Creative and unique head pieces are perfect for injecting the wow factor into your Melbourne Cup Day style, and we recommend wearing artistic floral headwear of bold and brightly coloured full blooms combined with textural botanicals. Metallic sprayed blooms paired with structural leaves are another great alternative to the fascinator and perfect for showing off your unique Melbourne Cup Day style.
The yellow rose is the traditional race day flower with male racegoers wearing buttonholes of the bright bloom. If matching outfits are your thing, complement his yellow rose buttonhole with yellow in your race day style.
Oaks Day
Oaks Day, otherwise known as ‘ladies’ day’, is the most feminine of all the race days. Female racegoers should leave the bold structured outfits at home and instead opt for soft floaty fabrics, lace or floral prints in soft muted hues. Flowers are the perfect accessory for Oaks Day, with a full flower crown being our pick over fussy fascinators. This year we are loving lightly dusted blush pink baby’s breath worn ear to ear or incorporated into race day headwear with other pretty pink blooms.
Adhering to tradition, men should wear a pink rose buttonhole which will be the perfect accompaniment to his other half’s soft feminine Oaks Day style.
Stakes Day
Stakes Day is also known as ‘family day’ being the most casual of all Melbourne Cup Carnival race days. This may the most difficult day to dress for as your outfit should reflect the relaxed and youthful nature of the day whilst still appearing dressed up and classy. Stakes Day provides a great opportunity to wear something a little different such as a jumpsuit or separates in a fun pattern. Headpieces for Stakes Day should be small and understated such as a sweet headband or hair clip adorned with matching spring blooms.
Men should be finish off their look with a red rose buttonhole being the traditional Stakes Day flower.
We would love to work with you in creating a bespoke floral accessory to complement your spring racing outfit this year. Whether you know exactly what you want, or you would like us to take creative control, we look forward to designing the perfect botanical accessory for you this racing season.
