How short is too short when it comes to Melbourne Cup Day fashion etiquette?

OPINION: Forget fillies and form guides, Flemington has turned into a big flesh fest. But when is short simply too short and how much skin is appropriate to show?

There were far too many tiny, tight numbers such as this at Derby Day. Picture: Instagram

FORGET fillies and form guides, Flemington has turned into a big flesh fest.

At Derby Day on Saturday there were more tandoori legs on display around the one-time elegant surrounds of Flemo than on the BBQ ducks hanging in Chinatown.

So when is short simply too short and how much skin is appropriate to show?

I posted a shot of a totally anonymous racegoer wearing THE shortest skirt I've ever seen at the races on my Instagram account on the weekend.

The reaction was huge. Most people thought the skirt was too short, others disagreed entirely.

The camera guy I was working with turned to me and said: "You can see cheeks!" as we wandered through the corporate marquees.

There were far too many tiny, tight numbers such as this at Derby Day. Picture: Instagram

Sure, some people might think it's 'cute' or 'sexy' but I think it shows no respect or even acknowledgment of the quaint, old-fashioned thing called a "dress code".

Don't racegoers read fashion form guides of any kind?

Two racegoers opted for two very different lengths on Saturday. Picture: Instagram

For the hours spent on TV and the miles of digital space and magazine ink spent on "what to wear to the races" guides, I don't know why anyone even bothers creating them.

Taking a look around the track at Flemington. There was soooo much skin on show that some parts of the track resembled a nightclub.

Races are a day, and let's stress 'day', where you can make like an elegant young woman and leave the club style until after dark.

Lara Bingle and Kate Waterhouse both had plenty of skin on show in the Birdcage. Picture: Getty Images

Sure some people will ask: "Who's this snob talking about what we should and should not wear?"

But to hell with it, the racetrack is different. If anything, it's a chance for everyone - male and female - to wear clothes that are, dare I say, elegant. And stylish. And sleek. It's a chance to wear clothes that are appropriate as opposed to those that leave absolutely zip to the imagination.

Leading stylist and Westfield ambassador Donny Gallela agrees.

"When dressing for the races, women should dress like a lady and adhere to basic racing style rules such as not flashing too much flesh and always wearing headwear," says Gallela.

"Even looking at the fashion in the celebrity-packed Birdcage, I was horrified by the number of celebrities exposing their midriff, sporting cut out details on their dresses and not wearing a hat. "They should be leading by example. Cut-out style dresses and Miley Cyrus midriffs may be on trend but they should not be seen trackside."

Luckily, the well-dressed racing folk outweighed the not so appropriately dressed but the track is not a place for backless, frontless frocks and tops that suddenly get called dresses.

What do you think of fashion racing etiquette? Comment below or continue the conversation on Twitter @melissahoyer or @newscomauhq