Your first look inside ‘The Birdcage’ — the hot ticket enclosure for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival

IF your invitation got lost in the mail, here’s what you’re missing. The corporate tents are set to bring the fabulous for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

THERE’LL be no crop tops or cut-outs but plenty of champagne and celebs inside Flemington’s famous Birdcage.

The Birdcage is the hot-ticket enclosure to see (and be seen at) during the Cup Carnival.

Key marquees including Myer, Lavazza, Emirates, Lexus, Swisse and G.H. Mumm unveiled their invitation-only sites today, ahead of Derby Day on Saturday.

They’ll feature wall-to-wall celebrities and socialites, with an increasing number of Sydney names making the trip to Melbourne for the four-day carnival.

So what is it like inside the Birdcage this year?

Mixing business with leader ... Nick Phillips, Britt Battams, Tayla Lemon and Reid Monks with the German Slap Dancers at the Emirates Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel

Sleek and stylish

Myer’s marquee, themed around the department store’s new slogan “find wonderful”, features fashion-inspired artwork, a “cabinet” of desserts, perfume bar and hand-dyed orchids, with colours inspired by the retailer’s designers, including “Ellery green” and “Alex Perry yellow”.

Guests inside the breezy white Myer marquee — which will host about 220 guests each day — will be served acai berry smoothies, cucumber sorbet and spiced tuna tartars.

A little something between drinks ... the food at the Emirates marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel

Myer spring carnival blogger and Go-To Skincare founder Zoe Foster Blake said she expected racegoers to adhere to the “no crop tops” dress code.

“Yes, crop tops and cut-outs are in fashion, and yes, the races is very much about fashion, but there is also a huge emphasis on elegance and traditionalism at the track, which I reckon deserves to be respected,” Foster Blake said.

“It’s only one day, girls. You can get your midriff out again next week.”

Italian inspiration ... Nadia Bartel and Nicole Warne inside the Lavazza marquee. Picture: Andrew Tauber

Party marquee

With its rep as the party hub of the Birdcage, Lavazza has kept on-theme with an Italian-inspired design, including a Renaissance-themed mural, coffee bar and chandelier made out of about 160 wine glasses.

Guests in the coffee brand’s marquee — dubbed “Caffe Lavazza” — will be served a menu designed by chefs from Sarti and Pilu at Freshwater.

Lavazza style consultant Nicole Warne (aka Gary Pepper Girl) said she would stick to the traditional black and white on Derby Day.

You’re not terrible, mural ... inside the Lavazza marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel

“They have such strong traditions here and I think the dress code ... keeps it to a high standard,” Warne said, speaking inside Lavazza’s marquee.

Lavazza fashion insider, blogger Nadia Bartel, said a key trend this Cup Carnival would be veil-look headpieces.

“I’ve noticed a trend for the finer pieces this year, so lots of gold detailing and crowns. They’re not as structured, it’s about keeping it really delicate and feminine,” Bartel said.

No midriff ... Zoe Foster Blake will be with the Myer enclosure.

Marquee name ... Bambi Northwood-Blythe will front the GH Mumm ‘celebration crew’. Picture: Damian Shaw

Day to nightclub

Model Bambi Northwood-Blyth will be one of the “celebration crew” at GH Mumm’s VIP enclosure, which will turn into a Cannes-inspired nightclub from about 4pm.

“We’ll be taking it from a French day club with cocktails and champagne into a nightclub and dance party,” Northwood-Blyth said.

Organisers of Swisse’s health-themed tent unveiled a full-scale paleo menu, including salmon and salad, and almond cream and zucchini lasagne.

Star guest ... Margot Robbie. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Finishing touches ... workers install the German-themed Emirates marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel

The German-themed Emirates enclosure has prime position in front of the racecourse and will host more than 1000 VIPs across the carnival, with Lancome make-up artists on hand for lip and eye touch ups.

At Lexus, Real Housewife of Melbourne Chyka Keebaugh was putting the finishing touches on the marquee, which she worked on with her company The Big Group.

Wolf of Wall Street star Margot Robbie (at Swisse), supermodel Gigi Hadid (at Emirates), singer Solange Knowles (at Lavazza) and Thor actor Chris Hemsworth (at Johnny Walker) will be among the most recognisable faces in the Birdcage this year.

On the A-list ... singer Solange Knowles. Picture: Instagram

Celebrity firepower ... Chris Hemsworth. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images