Caulfield Cup: From fashion, fillies, and dresses to celebrities, goss and glam

THE frocks have been sourced, the form guides creased and the punters champing at the bit, yes spring racing has reached fever pitch for the Caulfield Cup.

Jessica Gomes and Montana Cox at the Caulfield Cup Picture: Tony Gough

RAVISHING red, tropical prints, lace and contemporary sculptured headpieces dominated the fashions trackside at the 135th Caulfield Cup.

David Jones ambassador Jessica Gomes oozed Parisienne chic in a red and white single-shouldered dress from Scanlan Theodore and straw boater from Suzy O’Rourke.

“It’s really fun, I wanted something different to the more seductive look from last year,” Gomes said.

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Youth ambassador Montana Cox was stunning and playful channeling the Statue of Liberty in metallic Dion Lee and spiked Suzy O’Rourke headpiece.

“It’s young and edgy and something different for the races,” Cox said.

Fresh and contemporary small sculptured headpieces in silver and gold were a standout trackside, with Thurley designer Helen O’Connor also sporting a version.

Racing ambassador Emma Freedman was also gorgeous in a navy feathered headband reflecting an emerging trend towards back of the head pieces.

“I think it’s nice to keep it simple, fresh and young,” Freedman said.

In keeping with the traditionally more relaxed fashions at Caulfield, there were plenty of midriffs and exposed skin on display.

Freedman said she had adapted her Melbourne Cup Day outfit to accommodate the VRC’s stricter dress codes, with designer Helen O’Connor from Thurley sewing in a piece to cover a cutout.

“It was a tiny triangle, but if the VRC are going to be so strict on the rules I’m happy to oblige,” she says.

“If it’s a tiny section I don’t see a problem with it. If you’ve got too much skin going on everywhere that’s a big no-no.”

Looking his debonair best, Vince Colosimo and partner Diana Glenn arrived at the Crown Golden Ale marquee marking their first public appearance since having a baby.

The happy couple took turns holding the Caulfield Cup.

Melbourne Storm’s Billy Slater and Mick Molloy also lapped up the heady scene with gusto.

Chris and Rebecca Judd were the first to arrive in the David Jones marquee.

The couple said they would soon head to their annual post season Noosa holiday before jetting off overseas for a proper family getaway.

Judd mingled in the retail giant’s marquee with bubbly ambassadors Jessica Gomes, Montana Cox and Jason Dundas, Simone Callahan, Patricia Ilhan and Jo Hall.

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Seven stablemates Melanie Vallejo, Virginia and Katherine Hicks were in heavy teapot-posing mode, showing off the enviable “skinny arm” for cameras as they mingled in the Pegasus marquee alongside Former face of Caulfield Bree Laughlin.

The crop top ban was certainly not evident at Caulfield, with many celebrities including Rachael Finch baring the flesh. Who knows how the Flemington fashion police will react?

A-lister Jessica Marais was a last-minute scratching in the Crown Golden Ale marquee. It is understood their star guest called in sick at the 11th hour.

Swimming royalty James Magnussen and Michael Klim rubbed shoulders in the swanky trackside marquee with snowboarder Alex “chumpy” Pullin surrounded by a bevy of fillies and horse trainer David Hayes setting himself up to watch the race in prime position.

The food and drinks flowed all day long, with MasterChef’s Gary Mehigan designing the menu for the prestigious Heath Enclosure.

Revellers at the David Jones marquee enjoyed Veuve champagne and freshly shucked oysters designed by Ollie Gould from Stokehouse.

Exotic to eccentric in the fashion stakes

FIERCE fashionistas had their stylish moment in the sun yesterday, with more than 200 competing in the Chadstone Fashion Stakes.

From exotic to eccentric, sophisticated to sexy, the energetic contest with women aged from their teens to their 40s, inspired the large crowd with a showcase of the season’s most stylish spring racing looks.

The top trends favoured by racing’s glamour girls included bold geometric prints, pencil skirts, sleeves and a pretty pastel colour palette of sugary sorbet hues including mint green, canary yellow and candy pink.

Structured hats and refined shapes dominated the millinery department which complimented the clean, sharp tailoring of the dresses.

A few opted for more whimsical ensembles with some swapping hats for oversize floral blooms and bright feathers as well as minimalist metal headbands and crowns.

Crystal Kimber, of Richmond, earned the coveted winner’s title, mixing high-end and home-made to striking effect.

Kimber, 25, wore a Peter Pilotto cropped jacket and a white and pale aqua skirt she made herself, teamed with a mint green sculptural headpiece by Rebecca Share.

General racegoers embraced the warm weather with plenty of skin on show in strapless designs, backless dresses and cheeky midriff cut-outs.

They also opted for the brighter hues of the season with a sea of magenta, hot pink, aqua, lime green, cobalt blue and bursts of high octane neons creating a melting pot of colour trackside.

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