Off & Racing: Fashion Wrap Up

 

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Dress: Trelise Cooper twill

Heels: Wittner patent leather, matte leather, grosgrain ribbon

Bag: Review vinyl with silver hardware

Bangles: Gift, sparkly resin, beads

Headpiece: Hummingbird the Shop velvet, beads

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It's plain to see (particularly if you happen to be an avid reader of this blog) that my favourite part of the Spring Racing Carnival is, of course, the fashion, so I was elated to be invited to a post-carnival fashion wrap up with some of Brisbane's most beloved & respected sartorial pundits. For the occasion, I chose to wear a stunning green, pink & yellow large-scale floral twill fit-to-flare midi length dress from New Zealand designer Trelise Cooper that I styled up with an audacious & somewhat unexpected pair of shiny, white patent leather slingback heels with matte black leather pointy-toes & stripy pink grograin ribbon straps from Wittner & a boxy black vinyl handbag with white piping & a bow detailing (as well as silver hardware) from vintage-inspired Aussie label Review. Such a bold statement required little further embellishment, so I chose a few sparkly beaded bangles in shades of green & pink that a dear friend brought back from a trip to India & a black velvet headband topped with three-dimensional beaded flowers from Hummingbird the Shop in Paddington to complete the ensemble in keeping with racewear tradition.

Off & Racing: Stakes Day

 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford embellished/sequinned mesh, satin

Jacket: Carla Zampatti taffeta

Heels: Nine West suede, patent leather

Bag: Vera May via Simona Ricci Shoes patent leather with silver hardware

Bracelets: Pitlochry Boutique beads

Headpiece: Tie Rack leather, beads

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One of the final events in the Spring Racing calendar is Stakes Day, traditionally spent with family - both young & old - at the racetrack. This year, of course, was different & much quieter, yet when it came to outfit choice, something a little funky or eclectic was the order of the day. After being asked to act as a judge for "Fashions on the Field" at the River City event that I attended, I decided to add a jacket to the mix for that truly classic racewear look - a beautiful mint green taffeta number with short sleeves & a tie belt at the waist that some dear friends gifted me from Carla Zampatti that I "styled up" with a divine silver, grey & mint green embroidered & embellished mesh shift dress with satin lining from the inimitable Anthea Crawford, a pair of black suede pointy-toed mules with stiletto heels & shiny patent straps from Nine West & a shiny, patent art-deco inspired handbag with grey marbled accents & silver hardware from Vera May via Simona Ricci Shoes at Mt Ommaney. When it came to jewellery, I chose some old favourites - a chunky grey & clear beaded bracelet & matching dual thin grey beaded bracelets that I purchased in a little boutique in the small Scottish village of Pitlochry while on holidays a few years ago & added a black leather flower headband with grey beaded centres from Tie Rack to my black bob to complete the look & create a sense of cohesion. 

Off & Racing: Oaks Day

 

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Dress: Review satin

Heels: Jo Mercer leather

Bag: Forever New vinyl, glitter with silver hardware

Bracelet: Gift, Kellie's Antiques silver, filigree

Headpiece: Lovisa satin, faux flowers

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Another day, another beautiful Spring Racing ensemble; this time for what is colloquially referred to as "Ladies Day," but is actually called Oaks Day & has a dress code of floral or pastel prints/colours & "girly" accents for women. To this end, I donned a gorgeous, creamy floral print satin fit-to-flare midi length dress with v-neckline & bow detailing on the shoulders from vintage-inspired Aussie label Review, a pair of flesh-tone/beige leather Mary Jane heels from Jo Mercer (word to the wise: size up on this style for a comfortable fit during the warmer months) & a glittery beige vinyl handbag with silver chain strap from Forever New to carry a few important things. Jewellery was simple yet effective - a single, chunky silver Victorian belcher bracelet with oversized heart locket & teeny tiny key from Kellie's Antiques (gifted by a dear friend on my 30th birthday) & the entire look was "topped off" with a darling faux floral & satin headpiece from Lovisa for that final, feminine flourish.

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Off & Racing: Melbourne Cup Day

 

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Dress: Ganni organza

Heels: Jo Mercer leather, laces

Clutch: Asos velvet

Necklace: Gift, silver, semi-precious stones, pearls

Bracelet: Gift, silver, semi-precious stones, pearls

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver

Headpiece: Etsy velvet, faux flowers

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Following on from yesterday's post, I'm happily sharing all the darling photographs of the gorgeous ensemble that I styled up to attend a socially-distanced function for the biggest event of the Spring Racing Carnival calendar, the "race that stops a nation," the Melbourne Cup. As usual, there is no dress code other than the blending of high fashion & traditional elegance & the wearing of a headband, hat or fascinator for women & all of these elements came together to create the eclectic look you see before you - a beautiful, leopard print organza tiered mini dress with v-neckline & ruffled collar from Copenhagen-based designer Ganni, a pair of chunky black leather lace-up heels from Jo Mercer for added height & stability & blue velvet roll-top clutch from online retailer Asos to carry all the essentials (including hand-sanitizer, a mask & gloves in this time of Covid 19). When it came to jewellery, I chose a beautiful matching set comprising of a semi-precious stone & pearl beaded necklace & bracelet with silver clasps that were given to me by some dear friends & a smooth silver cuff with the words "All You Need is Love" engaved on the inside from Wallace Bishop. To complete the look, I chose a Princess Leia inspired headpiece made from a dark brown velvet headband & large, realistic-looking faux flowers & leaves in shades of blue & green from a funky little boutique on Etsy, picking up on the "pop" of colour provided by the clutch bag to create cohesion.

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