High Stakes

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Dress: Anthea Crawford embroidered mesh, satin, tulle

Heels: Kitten D'Amour vegan leather

Bag: Swinging Chicks Shop via Etsy velvet

Bracelet: Gift, Kellie's Antiques silver

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver

Headpiece: Swinging Chicks Shop via Etsy velvet, faux pearl

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Pulling out all the stops for the final event of the carnival - Stakes Day - wearing an absolutely stunning black mesh flared midi dress with silver & gold embroidery, satin lining & tulle underlay (once again) from formal wear maestro Anthea Crawford. I've styled it up with a pair of vintage-inspired black vegan leather dual buckle heels from Kitten D'Amour, a velvet knot bag & matching velvet & faux pearl headband from Spanish boutique Swinging Chicks Shop (discovered on online emporium Etsy), a chunky Victorian silver bracelet with heart locket & teeny tiny key from Kellie's Antiques that a dear friend gave me for my 30th birthday & finally, a brushed silver cuff from Wallace Bishop for that extra touch of daytime shine.

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Mighty Oaks

 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford sequins, mesh, embroidery, satin

Heels: Jo Mercer leather

Clutch: Witchery resin

Bangle: Dinosaur Designs resin

Ring: Dinosaur Designs resin

Headpiece: Lovisa silk

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Oaks Day is traditionally Ladies' Day when it comes to the Spring Racing Carnival calendar & accordingly, I'm dressed in something that's rather dainty, sparkly & girly. This gorgeous silver & grey embroidered leaf-print sequinned mesh midi dress is from the inimitable Anthea Crawford (honestly, once you've tried on one of her dresses, you'll know what I mean) & I've styled it up for the day's festivities with a pair of strappy silver leather heels from Jo Mercer, a silver & white marbled resin hardcase "limited edition" clutch from Witchery to carry all the essentials, a matching black resin bangle & rosette ring from Dinosaur Designs & finally, a black silk floral headpiece from Lovisa to pull the entire look together.

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Race That Stops A Nation

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Dress: Anthea Crawford mesh, sequins, embroidery, satin

Heels: Carvela by Kurt Geiger via David Jones ombre patent leather

Clutch: Asos velvet

Hinged Bangle: Precious Stones Jewellers

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver

Hinged Bangle: Oxfam Shop silver

Ring: Gift, silver, crystal

Headpiece: Hummingbird the Shop velvet, embellishment

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All sparkles all day long for the "race that stops a nation" (that's the Melbourne Cup to the uninitiated) in this beautiful, Anne Boleyn inspired ensemble. The utterly divine navy & duck egg blue sequinned & embroidered mesh midi dress with satin lining, sweet little cap sleeves & stunning cut-out hemline is from one of my all-time favourites, celebrated Australian designer & event wear queen herself Anthea Crawford & I've styled it up with a pair of shiny, ombre navy & beige patent leather pointy-toed heels from Carvela by Kurt Geiger (discovered at my local David Jones store & last worn to my brother & sister-in-law's wedding dinner), a blue velvet roll-top clutch from online emporium Asos to carry all the essentials including hand sanitizer & mask, a selection of gorgeous jewellery - a chunky silver "wave" hinged bangle from Precious Stones Jewellers, a brushed silver cuff from Wallace Bishop, a thin silver hinged bangle from Oxfam Shop that I've had for twenty years & a rectangular-shaped silver ring with blue crystal that was given to me by a dear friend for my birthday earlier this year. To complete the look & comply with raceday ettiquette, I donned a velvet headband heavily embellished with embroidery, beads & sequins from Hummingbird the Store, perching it on top of my bob for that "Tudor" era look that just evokes true royalty.

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Derby Darling

 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey

Heels: Wittner patent leather, matte leather

Bag: Review vinyl

Bangle: Dinosaur Designs resin

Ring: Dinosaur Designs resin

Headpiece: Target mesh, satin

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Another magical monochrome ensemble, this time for Derby Day itself. I've gone with a 1930s vibe in this stunning black & white floral jersey midi dress with ruched waistline from celebrated Australian designer Anthea Crawford, white patent leather heeled slingbacks with black matte leather pointy-toes & pink & black striped grosgrain strap detailing from Wittner, a boxy black vinyl handbag with white piping & bow from Review to carry all the essentials & in a break from tradition, soft pink resin accessories - bangles & rings - from Dinosaur Designs to pick up on the pop of colour added by the shoes. As before, the large black satin & mesh swirl headpiece is from my local Target store & has been going strong for about a decade now.

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Derby Delight

 

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Dress: Sister Jane textured jacquard

Ankle Boots: Wittner matte leather

Bag: Swinging Chicks Shop via Etsy velvet

Hinged Bangle: Precious Stones Jewellers silver, mesh, onyx

Ring: Precious Stones Jewellers silver, onyx

Headpiece: Lovisa satin

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Donning the traditional Derby Day attire of black & white for an absolutely marvellous monochromatic fashion show (before the big event) in the River City. I'm wearing a stunning white textured jacquard empire-line midi dress with tie straps that's utterly festooned with white flowers that have teeny tiny black centers - from whimsical British label Sister Jane, of course - that I've styled up with a pair of matte black leather ankle boots from Wittner for a modicum of height, a black velvet knot bag from a delightful Spanish boutique called Swinging Chicks Shop on Etsy, matching art-deco-inspired silver & onyx mesh hinged bangle & ring from the lovely ladies from Precious Stones Jewellers in the Myer Centre & finally, a divine three-dimensional black satin flower headpiece from my local Lovisa store.

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