Rebecca Vallance is the winner of this year’s spring racing fashion stakes
There was only one designer the A-Listers were clamouring to wear during the spring racing carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne.
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Every year there’s a fashion brand which turns out to be the hero of spring racing – this year, it’s undoubtably Australian success story Rebecca Vallance who has reigned supreme.
The creations of Vallance, or RV as she is known by her loyal clientele, were worn by racing’s best-dressed celebrities, models, TV personalities and musos including Candice Warner, Kate Waterhouse, Abbey Gelmi, Dannii Minogue, Demi Brereton, Jackie O, Lucia Hawley, Luciana Damon, Mary Vitinaros, Michelle Payne and Rey Vakili to name a few. It comes as no surprise to celebrity fashion stylist Suzy Eskander, who turned to Vallance to create multiple racewear looks for her clients.
“I do a lot of racing styling and Rebecca Vallance is my go-to for the racing and party season, without a doubt,” Eskander tells Insider.
“I could spot RV everywhere trackside.”
She credits Vallance’s effortless take on glamour.
“Rebecca’s designs look elevated and sophisticated, which is the perfect racing style,” says Eskander.
“They have nailed that balance between elegant, sexy and sophisticated.”
Among those in RV during the spring racing season so far is Matt Damon’s wife, Luciana, who wore a custom, off-the-shoulder dress with pearl detailing which will no doubt be a top seller when it hits the shelves in May.
“We did a custom piece for Luciana Damon,” says Eskander.
“That midi length, which Rebecca does so well, is so elevated for the races.”
While there’s no denying Vallance was the top pick among Sydney and Melbourne’s style set, Olglialoro, Mariam Seddiq, Lillian Khalouf and Eliya the Label were also in hot demand by racegoers.
One insider said racegoers opting for such a wide range of designers was partly due to sponsor Myer cutting ties with the Victoria Racing Club after nearly 40 years.
“This has given celebrities the freedom to wear whatever they want,” one insider said.
“When Myer sponsored the event and Fashions on the Field, anyone who was a sponsor of Victoria Racing and the Birdcage had to wear Myer-friendly brands and not wear anything that was stocked in David Jones.
“It was hard for stylists who were working with really limited brands and often everyone ended up looking similar. This has made the racetrack a whole lot more stylish, with celebrities and punters allowed to wear whichever brand they love.”
Rey Vakili wore a pink off-the-shoulder Alaya midi dress to the Melbourne Cup and says she has long supported Australian fashion, describing Vallance as one of our great success stories.
“I have been a big fan for years,” she says.
“Aside from being an altogether beautiful person, Bec is an incredibly talented designer. I also love that she’s not afraid to play with colour and for me, that’s what Melbourne Cup is all about.”
But the success of the RV brand hasn’t come easily. The mother-of-two didn’t see huge success in Australia following her launch in 2011, prompting her to look overseas to “crack the market”. Although Australia is home, 40 per cent of her business comes from the US – 60 per cent of her online sales are international.
“In 2016, I had a business meeting with the-then market editor of Net-a-Porter, Lisa Aiken, about why I wasn’t breaking into some major retailers,” Vallance tells Insider.
“I remember scribbling down writing notes, and we went away and put everything that she had requested into the next collection. And then, when we presented again, we were picked up by Net-a-Porter. Taking on feedback and acting on it is crucial. It is the best gift Aiken could have ever given me.”
Since then she has acquired stockists in 20 countries, launched into Selfridges and Harrods London, and is about to open a sixth store in Australia. She will also expand a retail presence with brick and mortar stores in London and New York, and has been hand-picked by Qantas to create pieces in celebration of its Sydney to New York via Auckland long haul.
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