‘Buddy and I don’t coordinate outfits’
JESINTA Franklin reveals her love of racing fashion, starting new projects, and why she and her husband will never be a “matching” couple.
Stellar
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IT’S a rare woman who can look elegant while the horse they’re sitting on does his business, right in the middle of a glamorous photo shoot. Which makes Jesinta Franklin a particularly precious find: the model and television presenter just laughs and gets on with the job, as the photographer’s camera starts snapping again.
Once off the horse and settled in the lounge area of Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse to speak with Stellar, Franklin is energetic in spite of an early start and more than six hours of hair, make-up and modelling. Each of the crew members come over to say goodbye with a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug. “That was so much fun,” Franklin says. “I loved it.”
She enjoys racing in part because “my dad and husband are really into it and enjoy it”, but Franklin admits it’s mostly about the fashion for her. “I find it more interesting to watch the people coming and going from the track than to watch the horses running laps on the track. I love the elegance and glamour of racing fashion. You’ve really got to think about your outfit differently compared to any other event you go to. You have to think headwear, accessories, shoes — everything coming together to create one really fluid look.”
The “old school” tradition also appeals to Franklin. “Nothing is too tight, nothing’s too short and there are ladies wearing gloves and big hats,” she says. “Back in the day, listening to my grandmother speak, you’d get dressed up just to go and get eggs from the corner store. There was a real pride people put towards the way they looked and presented themselves. Not that it’s the most important thing in the world, but there’s something special about that.”
On April 14, Stellar and Longines will host a three-course sit-down lunch in the Longines Ballroom at the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney during the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day. As ambassador, Franklin will be presenting the coveted Longines Prize for Elegance to the most stylish female racegoer on the day. Elegance, to Franklin, is all in the attitude. “It’s about character for me. It’s about finding someone who is really confident in their own skin.”
There are also practical matters to consider, says Franklin: layers are key, culottes are more on-trend than a full pant... and, if it’s a windy day, “Make sure you take your headpiece to the hairdresser and get them to pin it in for you. That way it stays on all day, no matter what the weather is like.”
Her husband, Sydney Swans star Lance “Buddy” Franklin, enjoys the races even more than Franklin, albeit the actual racing side of things. Just don’t expect them to coordinate their outfits. “He does not like me telling him what to wear, how to wear it, none of that,” Franklin says. “He knows what he likes. And when he makes his mind up, there’s not much chance of you changing it. But I admire that about him. If he tried to get me to coordinate with him, I’d probably tell him where to go!”
Franklin is currently working on a big project — one she’s not yet willing to reveal, but teasingly drops a few hints such as “it’s all mine” and “it’s been challenging but really exciting”.
“I’ve put a lot of my savings into this project,” she will reveal of the mystery venture. “This year I have a relatively clean slate, work-wise... so now is the time.”
Originally published as ‘Buddy and I don’t coordinate outfits’
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