Derby Day 2024: Every fashion look from Melbourne Cup Carnival
Fans of Carrie Bickmore have flooded her most recent Instagram post to tell the star: “I’m kind of disappointed. Love you, but not this decision.”
The fashion at Penfolds Victoria Derby 2024 didn’t disappoint with the stars and the regular punters all turning out looking very fancy on Saturday.
Derby Day is famed for its black and white dress code, but no area is stricter than the prestigious Birdcage, which has a long list of dos and don’ts when it comes to what to wear at Flemington Racecourse.
Most famous people adhere to the rules, including Carrie Bickmore who was glowing in a skin-tight gown at the Penfolds marquee.
The 43-year-old cut an elegant look in the form-fitting cream dress which featured a cut-out on the bust from Australian designer Effie Kats. She made the whole outfit pop with a little black hat and matching sunnies teamed with gold jewellery.
However fans of the star flooded her outfit pictures on Instagram to complain about Bickmore’s attendance at the race.
“I’m kind of disappointed you would support the races. Love you, but not this decision,” one said.
“You can literally go out to a bar and dress nice,” another shared.
Elsewhere in the Birdcage, porn star Annie Knight turned up to Derby Day in an outfit she said was unexpected, telling news.com.au ahead of the event she was “excited” to wear her custom gown.
“I feel like my Derby Day outfit this year is a lot more ‘out there’ than my Cup outfit,” she said.
“I’m really excited to wear it, it’s not something you would expect to see at the races. But it’s still on theme,” she said.
“It’s black, which is in line with the black and white dress code. The dress itself is very classic but it’s more the accessories that are very not typical for the races.”
The 27-year-old’s bold outfit was black floor-length black gown with a plunging neckline and matching gloves.
Knight, dubbed “Australia’s most sexually active woman”, also revealed it was a Melbourne fashion brand who designed her dress which she modelled while at the G.H Mumm marquee, the official champagne sponsor of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“I feel like I’m very creative and when I have a vision for something I know exactly what I want, so it was really great working with Amber who runs House of Waterstone to come up with the designs,” she said.
Meanwhile guests of the Crown marquee, “Bali princess” Lindy Klim and her 18-year-old daughter Stella, opted for matching slinky black dresses, with Stella looking just like her glamorous model mum.
The younger sister of pop singer turned swimmer, Cody Simpson also turned up and slayed.
Ali Simpson, 26, rocked a mini dress that showed off her cleavage and had a trendy bow in her hair.
Michael Clarke and his new girlfriend, Arabella Sherborne, were also sighted at the annual horse race.
The 43-year-old former cricketer wore a classic black suit with a crisp white shirt, and Arabella looked adorable in a black mini dress.
Bec Judd outdid herself in the style stakes this year. The 41-year-old looked fabulous in a sleek and over-the-top white outfit.
That included a giant oversized hat and white gloves.
She later wore the same ensemble, minus the hat, to the Tequila Don Julio 1942 X Bar Bambi Derby Day after-party.
The dress, a custom number from Bianca and Bridgett, featured a striking cape detailing which hung off her arms.
Judd, the official ambassador for Crown, sent fans wild with the outfit.
“Stunning,” one said, as another declared the mum-of-four “looked beautiful”.
Of course, Judd is never usually far from her gal pal Nadia Bartel, with both spending the day trackside and partying together at the after party.
Bartel had put on a loved up display with her boyfriend Peter Dugmore while enjoying the amenities inside the LANDMARK by Lexus marquee.
The mum-of-two had also worn her own fashion label Henne while at the annual race event held by the Victorian Racing Club.
Fans went wild for the “stunning” ensemble, declaring Bartel “best dressed”.
Comedian Andy Lee and his long-time love Rebecca Harding were all smiles during the festivities on Saturday.
The 34-year-old influencer looked stunning in a plunging black dress, that she accessorised with a black headband.
Andy Lee matched in a dark grey suit styled with a black tie.
Radio host Lauren Phillips looked gorgeous in a chic black dress with a plunging neckline. She paired the look with sunglasses and was also seen hanging out with her Nova 100 co-host, Jace, who looked dapper in a black suit.
AFL player Rory Lobb was also in attendance with fiance Lexi Mary.
The AFL star went traditional in a black suit, and Lexi wore a gorgeous floor-length white dress and went for the bold accessory of wearing black gloves.
Jackson Warne and Brooke Warne, the children of the late and great Shane Warne, turned up matching for the Derby Day.
Jackson looked so much like his late father as he wore a classic black suit, and Brooke glowed in a black mini-dress.
Jackson’s girlfriend, Kiah Broadsmith also accompanied him and rocked a black mini-dress with a statement sleeve.
Samantha Armytage, who has just been announced as the host of 10’s Golden Bachelor, stunned in a tight-fitting black dress and little white hat while posing trackside.
The 48-year-old was beaming in the black ensemble which was clinched at the waist. It was an unexpected choice for the star who usually opts for a more classic race-day look.
Newly engaged couple Collingwood star Josh Daicos and influencer Annalise Dalins also pulled out all the stops.
Dalins wore a white mini dress and Daicos looked dapper in a classic black suit.
Former Love Island star Tayla Broad went completely chic in an all-black outfit.
She wore a black skin-tight mini-dress and a giant oversized hat and paired that with sunglasses.
Model and mental health advocate Molly Olivia Rogers was seen rocking a bridal look for the day.
As one of the first arrivals, the stunning model wore a strapless white dress and a chunky headband.
The 32-year-old, who separated from ex-husband Justin Mckeone after eight months of marriage in 2022, looked beautiful in all-white.
Erin Holland, who completely turned things around when she was hailed as the style icon of Derby Day in 2023 after a very public mishap the year prior, didn’t return for 2024.
The TV host was the unlucky celebrity at Flemington Racecourse who hit headlines after she suffered a wardrobe malfunction in 2022, but two years on, the 35-year-old instead opted to attend the Golden Eagle race at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
After inadvertently flashing her undies in the past, Holland – who was styled by fashion guru Donny Galella – went for a custom Eliya the Label gown for the Australian Turf Club event.
While missing out on Derby Day, fans loved Holland’s Sydney-look, declaring it “AMAZING”.
Holland is not the first person to fall victim to a wardrobe mishap at Derby Day in 2022, with New Zealand movie director Taika Waititi having to take emergency action to stop his suit pants falling down.
After accidentally giving the “wrong size” to luxury fashion brand Armani, Waititi received pants on the day that were far too big, a crisis that was resolved with a spot of quick thinking.
“I had to do a little emergency stitch down in the toilets and I stitched these (an extra button on his pants) myself,” he said.
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