Lady Kitty Spencer’s spring racing dress tips for Melbourne Cup Carnival 2021
As Spring Racing returns, we ask race-day regulars with distinct style how they’ll be dressing up for the occasion either trackside or from afar.
LADY KITTY SPENCER
This year’s Victoria Racing Club’s Melbourne Cup Carnival International Ambassador.
1. “I love any excuse to wear a hat and it’s definitely at the forefront of my mind when I choose my outfit. I will usually choose an outfit I love and then show it to the milliner – if we have enough time we can match the colour perfectly, or if not, then Philip Treacy always has something in his archive.”
2. “I love the hats and headpieces Vivien Leigh wore as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. She wore everything with such grace and style.”
3. “I keep jewellery simple and perhaps just wear a pair of diamond studs. I think simple jewellery is more elegant during the day, especially outdoors, and I then know that I can have more fun with my hat and dress.”
4. “The essential beauty product for the races is a moisturiser with a high SPF, setting spray for your make-up before you leave, and a good powder to help you stay looking fresh in the heat.”
5. “I would choose Dolce & Gabbana dresses for racing. I love their feminine silhouettes, the appropriate hemlines and cap sleeves. They embrace colour and bold patterns, as well as every fabric from lace to chiffon. My dream would be absolutely anything and everything from the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show in Venice.”
6. “The races in Australia are some of the most iconic racing events in the world and I love that the whole nation comes to a standstill on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day. That is something that is truly unique to Australia.”
7. “When it comes to shoes for race days, I will choose a thicker heel, if it’s an option. However, if there is a pair that looks better with my outfit, I would choose style over comfort every time!
ELIZA GRANT
Owner and breeder Eliza Grant of Silverdale Farm on her race-day must-haves and how to adapt for Myer Fashions on your Front Lawn.
1. “I have a favourite Chanel white watch that I never take off, so if it goes with the [race day] outfit I will be wearing it.”
2. “Right now, I’m loving Alessandra Rich. Beautifully cut, feminine and very elegant. I also wear a lot of Balmain, Gucci and McQueen, but I don’t tend to choose my outfits based on who designed them, more on what they look like.”
3. “For black and white on Derby Day, I was thinking of white lace this year – lace has been off the scene for a while but is due for a comeback in my books. I have a cute Miu Miu dress with pearl buttons. Perhaps [you could try] all white, no black at all or maybe a pop of colour instead – break a few rules.”
4. “I love a diamond bracelet/bangle stack, the more the merrier to really top off and complete a more traditional outfit. I also have an incredible Hermès silver cuff that I love, and an antique Chanel brooch. Brooches are making a comeback.”
5. “I’m not sure there’s just one [woman whose style inspires me]; racing fashion has changed so much. For traditionalists, I don’t think you can go past Queen Elizabeth II and Kate Middleton. The Queen is always on point – block colours and everything matching – while Kate is conservative but current. A great combination for the track.”
6. “The fragrance that helps me stand out is Louis Vuitton Cœur Battant. I bought it on holiday as I forgot my fragrance and it has become my favourite.”
7. “Pants-suits are super-cool and can be very edgy, teamed with a more masculine-style headpiece. A fedora for example; I did this for Everest Day a couple of years ago. Team the look with feminine accessories.”
8. “My biggest accessory on race day is, believe it or not, my husband’s tie. He always matches it to the colour I’m wearing.”
9. “For Fashions on your Front Lawn, make it fun! Go over the top, and ditch the shoes – remember, you can wear things that don’t have to be comfortable if you’re at home.”
10. “We can’t forget our masks. Even though we all dread wearing them, they’re here to stay. So let’s embrace this essential addition. Either match it to your outfit or headpiece, but don’t forget it.”
11. “I love a delicate veil [as a headpiece], just enough to pass under your nose so you can still eat and drink!”
SUZY ESKANDER
She’s known for dressing high-profile clients, and here, stylist Suzy Eskander offers tips on nailing race-day sophistication and choosing colour to enliven celebrations from home.
1. “When I think of iconic racing moments, it’s hard to resist model Jean Shrimpton, who raised the international profile of the Melbourne Cup Carnival when she attended Derby and Cup Day in 1965 wearing mini lengths. While her mod ensembles outraged racing purists, they’re looks that are still so relevant today, 56 years later.”
2. “Who wants to know the time at the races? The perfect timepiece is something classic that is refined and special, like a Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso.”
3. “There are so many special and embellished shoes to style and add some drama [to your racing look]. I love styling with Amina Muaddi and Mach & Mach shoes – sparkly, statement, and a bit of fun.”
4. “Your fragrance needs to last all day. Le Labo’s Thé Noir 29 is a polished fragrance for depth and freshness.”
5. “With a modern elegance and delicate femininity in her designs, I’m always drawn to Alessandra Rich. Her pieces command a sense of occasion, which means they translate perfectly into trackside elegance.”
6. “From Panama hats to berets, fedoras, pillboxes and quirky headpieces, Chanel-owned milliner Maison Michel has something for everyone. I adore Australian milliners – Millinery Jill and Nerida Winter for their high-quality materials, craftsmanship and incorporation of modern designs in traditional pieces.”
7. “Finish a race-day look with colourful micro bag; I love Amina Muaddi, Paco Rabanne or Gedebe, with pearls and crystal embellishments.”
8. “If you can’t make it trackside, you should still indulge in the joy and pleasure of getting dressed up. I suggest embracing colour to lift your mood – look to punchy sorbet shades like lemon yellow, green ash and bubblegum pink.”
9. “When styling a look for Fashions on your Front Lawn, opt for kitten heels for comfort, a midi-length hemline, and scale back on millinery, instead incorporating head jewellery, a scarf or padded headband. Also consider vibrant stained lips or uplifting colour on your eyes.”
LOUISE FIELD
Racehorse owner and breeder Louise Field shares her refined mix for race season — from her style inspirations and go-to labels, to the skincare products to use the night before, culminating in a perfect race-day look.
1. “A favourite fragrance for racing is Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle. Its olfactive elegance gets me every time.”
2. “You can never go wrong with Ellery; her dresses are so feminine and beautiful. For something more structured and sophisticated, I love Roland Mouret or Goat.”
3. “No matter what you’re wearing [for Fashion on your Front Lawn], add a headpiece – it can really dress up your outfit and make you feel part of the action.”
4. “A great milliner is Carole Maher, she’s so talented and makes the most beautiful pieces … headbands are also so versatile and can be made into anything you like.”
5. “If you’re attending in person, wear something that you feel comfortable in. It’s a really fun day and you want to be able to enjoy it, not worry about how you look or if what you’re wearing sits right. Also, you definitely don’t want to be limping around or going barefoot.”
6. “Queen Letizia of Spain is a woman whose style I admire. She has a penchant for classic style and has mastered the art of mixing high street with designer wear. She always looks amazing.”
7. “At the races, you spend a lot of time on your feet so comfortable shoes are a must. I live in my Manolo Blahniks – they are so comfortable and thankfully stylish, too.”
8. “The finishing touch for your race-day look is dewy skin – apply a hydrating mask to your face the night before. I also love the priming moisturiser from Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader – it gives you that perfect glow under your make-up.”
9. “Dressing for Melbourne Cup Day is all about big, bright and bold colours. Think of all the beautiful colourful flowers lining the walkway into the racecourse, that’s the theme to channel!”
10. “I always go for a pencil-style outfit, I like its sophisticated look … I love a good tailored two-piece pants-suit but very rarely wear them to the races as it can feel a bit corporate. But I think with some fun accessories and a great headpiece, you could really look the part.”
As a national event, the Melbourne Cup Carnival will still stop the nation, no matter the restrictions. For those looking on at home, Victoria Racing Club has announced the return of Myer Fashions on your Front Lawn, where Lady Kitty Spencer will join renowned British milliner Stephen Jones OBE to judge the Millinery Award. Prizes will be on offer across a multitude of style-filled categories. The Melbourne Cup Carnival, October 30 to November 6, will be accessible to all via vrc.com.au.
This article appears in the November issue of Vogue Australia, on sale now.