From models to WAGs: How the A-list parties at the Melbourne Cup Carnival

A soggy Flemington didn’t deter some of Australia’s most well-dressed celebrities and socialites from attending black and white-themed Derby Day.

Nadia Bartel has debuted her glamorous new TV role on a very wet and wild Derby Day.

The mega WAG returned to the spotlight with an official gig during Ten’s Melbourne Cup Carnival coverage.

Wearing a Dion Lee dress and a pair of Louboutin heels, teamed with a Gucci bag and Sylvy Earl hat, Bartel co-hosted Studio 10 on Derby Day and on Cup Eve live from Ten’s pop-up studio inside the Birdcage.

The mother-of-two and fashion influencer appeared alongside Sarah Harris and Angela Bishop in the special broadcast, from Ten’s custom-built marquee at Flemington.

The first of Studio 10’s trackside specials to feature Bartel – and former Bachelorette Georgia Love reporting on celebrity arrivals – aired from 8.30am on Derby Day.

Ten is one of a string of high-profile marquees, including Lexus, GH Mumm and Bumble, set for the Birdcage during the Cup Carnival.

Wearing Dion lee, Nadia Bartel pictured inside the Bumble marquee on Derby Day. Picture: Getty Images

The mother of two has a new TV role with Ten during the Cup Carnival. Picture: Getty Images

Myer ambassador Elyse Knowles was on track for the retail giant’s Fashions on the Field. Picture: MATRIX

BYO brolly. Picture: MATRIX

It has been a tumultuous season so far for spring racing, after a slew of negative stories about animal cruelty involving racehorses.

Amid the controversy, Taylor Swift and Netflix star Lana Condor of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before pulled out of appearances, citing scheduling conflicts.

Birdcage regular Megan Gale – a Lexus ambassador – also went public about not attending the races this year.

Cricket WAG Candice Warner – who is the VRC’s special guest on Derby Day and will be in the 1 Oliver Street marquee – said she was “appalled” by reports of animal cruelty in the racing industry.

“It’s unacceptable treatment of the horses and no animal … should be subjected to that kind of cruelty, that’s for sure,” Warner said.

“I’m going to the races purely for the fashion side of things.”

The wife of Australian test cricketer David Warner said Derby Day will be her first time at the Cup Carnival, which she will attend with fellow cricket WAG Amy Finch, the wife of Australian captain Aaron Finch.

Cricket WAG Candice Warner was a special guest of the VRC on Derby Day. Picture: Getty Images

She had a girls’ day out at Derby Day. Picture: Getty Images

“We get along really well so she will be accompanying me on the day,” Warner said.

Except to see her in one of the trends of the season – a headband.

“I’m really big on the headbands, I think they look really elegant,” she said. “They’re not over the top,” she said.

“I love seeing the men dressed up too, putting on a suit and really going to some effort.”

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Mega WAG Rebecca Judd, wearing Dion Lee. Picture: Getty Images

AFL WAG Jessie Murphy. Picture: Getty Images

Another familiar face trackside will be Anna Heinrich, who is co-hosting Myer Fashion on the Field.

“I’m MC’ing the event, so I’m not an official judge which is great, so I don’t have to make a decision – with Fashions on the Field, the stakes are so high,” the lawyer/model said, adding she will wear a white Forever New mini-dress.

“People are preparing their outfits for a month. For me, headwear is going to be huge for all the days. And then I guess with Derby Day, it’s how people work that in … obviously, Derby Day is black and white (themed), and it’s one of the most sophisticated race days when it comes to clothing attire.

“Yes, you can only wear black and white but when you get to Derby Day, you can see so many variations of what you can do.”

Sydney-based Heinrich has been spending more time in Melbourne this year, while her husband Tim Robards shoots Neighbours.

“You just make it work, I love going to Melbourne and he loves coming home, we really appreciate each other’s time,” she said.

Anna Heinrich is white hot on Derby Day, where the dress code is black and white. Picture: MATRIX

She co-hosted Myer’s Fashion on the Field on Derby Day. Picture: MATRIX

WHERE TO SPOT A CELEB ON DERBY DAY

LEXUS

Models Jordan Barrett and Montana Cox, along with WAGs Jessie Murphy and Phoebe Burgess, influencers Tahnee Atkinson and Nadia Fairfax, Neighbours actor Jodi Gordon, E! presenter Ksenija Lukich, Julie Bishop, Ian Thorpe, Cameron Robbie, fashion designer Rebecca Vallance, Tom Waterhouse, Matt Preston, and Billy Meakes.

BUMBLE

Fashion influencers Rozalia Russian, Brooke Hogan, and Laura Henshaw, models Samantha Harris and Jordan and Zac Stenmark, WAGs Bec Judd, Jessie Murphy and Nadia Bartel, fitness model Steph Claire Smith, former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Bachelor alumn, Keira Maguire.

Jodi Gordon at Lexus. Picture: MATRIX

The Neighbours actor continued the OTT hat trend. Picture: MATRIX

TEN

Ten stars Tommy Little, Grant Denyer, Andy Allen of MasterChef Australia, Jennifer Keyte, Sandra Sully, Neighbours actors Bonnie Anderson, Jemma Donovan and Olivia Junkeer, along with Studio 10’s Angela Bishop and Nadia Bartel, and Adam and Symon of Gogglebox.

1 OLIVER ST

Cricket WAG Candice Warner, AFL WAG Brit Davis, Neighbours’ Tim Robards, AFL player Nathan Jones and his wife, Jerri Jones, Brooke Warne (daughter of Shane Warne), Tegan Martin, and Myer Fashions on the Field ambassador, Georgia Connolly.

MUMM

Australian fashion designer Dion Lee, Bachelor couple Anna Heinrich and Tim Robards, Lindy Rama Ellis and her husband Adam Ellis, Matt Preston, Andy Allen of the new MasterChef, and designer Genevieve Smart.

Originally published as From models to WAGs: How the A-list parties at the Melbourne Cup Carnival