‘Not a case of anything goes’: One thing banned from race day

Victoria Racing Club have rolled out new race wear rules, with midriffs and cut-outs allowed for women in member areas. But there’s a catch.

The club behind the Melbourne Cup has relaxed some of its race wear rules. But there’s a catch for members who want to show off a bit of extra skin.

Embracing summer fashion trends, the Victoria Racing Club has updated its dress regulations for exclusive member areas at Flemington Racecourse, including the prestigious Birdcage, with women now able show off their midriffs, wear cut-outs and expose backs, according to The Age.

However, with members still “expected to maintain a suitable standard of racewear attire” there’s a major caveat to the rules.

According to the publication, backless dresses must stop at the waist, above the buttocks.

Those looking to embrace midriff and cutout trends much like Aussie model Lara Bingle at the 2013 Derby Day, also are also prohibited from showing off their belly buttons.

“This is not a case of anything goes”, Neil Wilson, chairman of the VRC, told the publication of the new rules.

“A cut-out in this context is what we believe is appropriate for our brand. It needs to be considerate of the environment and think about the elegance of that.”

Lara Bingle wore a black cut-out crop top at the 2013 Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. Picture: News Limited

Women can also reportedly now wear shorts, but they must be tailored, resting just above or below the knee.

However, jeans, leggings worn as pants and denim of any kind, are still out.

Men can also wear shorts in member areas, but the club stipulates they must fall on or below the knee.

Sneakers, tracksuits, open-neck shirts and ripped clothing “even if considered ‘designer’ tier” are also not allowed.

But while the rules are laid out clear, they are not always followed.

In 2006, Bec Hewitt, the wife of Aussie tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, infamously rocked up to the Melbourne Cup in a black and white outfit, that invoked the fashion police in droves at the time.

As well as getting the “theme” wrong, the mum-of-three wore a bra with a low-slung boob tube and a pair of knee length white shorts.

Four years later, singer Enrique Iglesias’s broke the rules when he wore jeans and an open white shirt to the Cup in 2010.

Bec Hewitt wore a bra with a low-slung boob tube and a pair of knee length white shorts during the 2006 Melbourne Cup. Picture: News Limited

Singer Enrique Iglesias wore jeans and an open white shirt at the 2010 Melbourne Cup. Picture: News Limited

The updated dress regulations comes after VRC changed the rules of the Fashions on the Field competition last year, opening the Best Dressed and Best Suited prizes open to all genders.

With the Melbourne Cup a week out, the VRC announced last week Melanie Chisholm, aka Sporty Spice, will DJ a set at the carnival.

The singer will headline the carnival’s newest festival-inspired entertainment, Palooza, during TAB Champion Stakes Day on November 5 in Flemington.

Joining Chisholm on the Palooza stage are English producer Jax Jones and Croatian-German DJ Topic, with other talented acts such as Sneaky Sound System, Felix Da Housecat and Crooked Colours also set to perform.