By Leigh O’Connor.
In 1965, a lady attending the Melbourne Cup was expected to wear a proper hat, white gloves and stockings to Flemington Racecourse – imagine the horror, when ‘It girl’ Jean Shrimpton raised eyebrows and hemlines with her minidress!
In fact, it was marked as a crisis for fashion hats and the passing of a generation as she appeared hair blowing in the wind, gloveless, sleeveless, stockingless in a minidress against a sea of hats at Melbourne’s biggest social event.
She made everyone else as dress historian Prudence Black says look ‘old and dowdy’ along with causing the Lady Mayoress to fume that ‘not wearing a hat or gloves on a Saturday was very bad manners’.
So, what are the fashion faux pas to avoid for Melbourne Cup Carnival? Here are five to take note of (ladies especially number one):
•Never remove your shoes and go barefoot, no matter how sore your feet are! It’s not okay. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, some girls will definitely commit to the cause and do the full four-inch heel, but if you want to last the day go for a block heel or a cool pair of pumps. You can find really comfortable shoes that are still beautiful.
Photo credit: Victoria Racing Club.
•Victoria Racing Club’s website clearly states that ‘short jumpsuits or playsuits, garments that show the midriff and shorts’ are unacceptable forms of clothing. A message that was lost on Bec Hewitt in 2006 when she made a grand entrance to The Birdcage with her tennis star husband, Lleyton, wearing a bizarre boob tube-inspired top, teamed with white bike pants.
•Then there’s Melbourne socialite Brynne Edelsten who garnered attention for all the wrong reasons at Melbourne Cup Day in 2010, sauntering up the red carpet wearing an extravagant peacock-inspired feather headdress that plumed high above her. No Cup Day is complete without a hat or fascinator, just make sure to pick the right one that complements the colour and style of your dress, but also stands out as a statement piece.
Photo credit: Victoria Racing Club.
•No torn or ripped clothing is allowed, even if it is considered ‘designer’ tears and don’t even think about tucking your pants into your socks or footwear!
•Men cannot wear shorts of any kind that are above the knee – such as bike shorts, stretch shorts, board shorts, sports shorts and casual shorts.
The Melbourne Cup is not only a prestigious horse racing event, but also a showcase of the latest fashion trends. It is all about making a statement with bright colours, bold patterns and eye-catching accessories; last year saw plenty of pops of hot pink, glowy orange, citrus yellow, cobalt blue and lime green.
What will 2024 bring? The main fashion trend we can all agree on is to stay classy!
