High Stakes

 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford embroidered mesh, satin

Heels: Jo Mercer leather, elastic

Bag: Shein velvet

Bracelet: Pitlochry beads, crystals, semi-precious stones

Bracelet: Pitlochry beads

Ring: Daisy by Marc Jacobs metal (gift with purchase)

Headpiece: Hummingbird the Shop satin, embellishment

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Pulling out all the stops for Stakes Day with embroidery, velvet & embellishment... oh my! Once again, I'm wearing a beautiful dress made from floral embroidered mesh with a black satin tie belt from celebrated Australian designer Anthea Crawford & have styled it up with a pair of black leather & elastic strappy heels from Jo Mercer for height, a baby blue velvet knot bag from online emporium Shein to carry all the essentials, a pair of heavily beaded bracelets (augmented with semi-precious stones & crystals) from a little boutique in the small village of Pitlochry in the Scottish Highlands, a dainty metal "daisy" ring that was a gift with purchase years ago with Marc Jacobs perfume & finally, an embellished satin headpiece from Hummingbird the Shop in a complimentary colour palette of blues, silvers & golds to truly make a statement.

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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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. 

Spring Racing Carnival Recap: High Stakes

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Dress: Anthea Crawford brushed cotton

Heels: Wittner glitter with silver buckles

Clutch: Anthea Crawford patent leather with silver hardware

Cuff: Gift, Kellie's Antiques silver

Hinged Bangle: Gift, vintage silver fleur de lis

Headpiece: Etsy velvet, faux florals

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The final event in the Spring Racing Carnival calendar is the family-orientated Stakes Day, where things are kept just that little bit more casual in terms of dress code. For the occasion, I donned a gorgeous Grace Kelly inspired 1940s style number from Anthea Crawford, updated by virtue of the blue brushed cotton fabric with silver glitter heels with ankle straps from Wittner for that touch of fun & daytime sparkle & carried a navy patent envelope clutch with silver hardware (also Anthea Crawford) to hold all the essentials without taking away from the most important thing - the divine headpiece! As soon as I saw it on Etsy I was in love - it reminded my of both a character straight out of C.S Lewis' Narnia & Princess Leia simultaneously - & when it arrived in the post I was instantly smitten with the quality & craftsmanship. Once the headpiece was in place, all that remained was to complete the look with botanical jewellery - a vintage hinged fleur de lis bangle that a dear friend gave me for my 30th birthday on one wrist & a vintage silver dragonfly on the other from the Kellie's Antiques store that used to be in the Brisbane Arcade - & have a final flutter until this time next year...

High Stakes

The final event of the Spring Racing Carnival, Stakes Day, is a comparatively low-key affair; a time to reflect on the beauty & splendour of the equine competitors, reminisce about past winners & instil a sense of the grandeur, spirit & tradition of horse racing in the next generation.

Lucky enough to be invited to attend a "High Stakes Fashion Luncheon: What to Wear" on Friday, I decided to evoke the past with an ensemble reminiscent of the 1940s... 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford textured jacquard

Heels: Novo leather

Bag: Forever New straw & ribbon

Hat: Vintage, 1940s quilted cotton

Necklace: Adorne

Bracelet: Adorne

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This gorgeous tangello hued textured floral jacquard dress with stunning portrait neckline really gives off that "war years" vibe when mixed with a pair of white pointy-toed pumps (or court shoes, as they used to be called) & a sweet picnic-basket-style handbag - complete with little twist clip to open! - decorated with pastel ribbon detailing on the sides. Minimal accessories were then added in the form of a matching pink & gold beaded necklace & bracelet for a modern take on the ever-popular strand of pearls.  

A vintage floral quilted cotton hat in a (predominantly) contrasting shade of green is the perfect finishing touch, adding an unexpected element & FRESH colour combination that elevates the entire look. 

As with the majority of my outfits for the 2014 Carnival, it's the quirky little vintage details that enhance the modern shapes & styles, making a BIG impact. The secret? Visiting my local antique shops, vintage boutiques, second-hand stores & flea markets to find something inexpensive & unique that will really turn heads! The saying goes that "one man's trash is another man's treasure" & I have found this to be abundantly true, as with out-of-the-box thinking even the most bizarre "bit of tat" can be spruced up & turned into a distinctive focal point. 

Speaking of vintage, this look had me humming that old Glenn Miller war-time ditty, Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me), one of the highest-selling records of 1942...

Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me

Anyone else but me, anyone else but me

No! No! No!

Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me

Till I come marching home

Don't go walkin' down Lover's Lane with anyone else but me

Anyone else but me, anyone else but me

No! No! No!

Don't go walkin' down Lover's Lane with anyone else but me

Till I come marching home

FINAL NOTE:

Scroll down for pictures of the stunning Anthea Crawford "Spring Racing Promotion" corsage I was elated to receive. What a perfect way to end the season! The luscious, saturated coral/red of the petals is not only race-day appropriate, but will be the perfect additional "pop" of colour in a myriad of looks during the fast-approaching festive season...