Melbourne Cup fashion takes a digital turn

Fashions on Your Front Lawn replaced the traditional Fashions on the Field for Cup Day

Ali Rauf of Bird Skin won the Emerging Designer Award Winner at 2020 Fashions on Your Front Lawn competition.

Just as nothing could stop the Race That Stops a Nation, neither would racewear devotees put their fascinators down merely because of a global pandemic.

This year, the annual Fashions on the Field competition took a digital turn, dubbed Myer Fashions on Your Front Lawn.

In the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup Carnival, racewear fans, milliners and designers had submitted their looks to be judged ahead of the event.

On Cup Day, designer Ali Rauf and his label Bird Skin won the Emerging Designer Award, while Stephanie Spencer took home the Millinery Award — remotely, of course.

Rauf won his category on his fourth attempt, with a colour-blocked design that evoked the hues of spring after a long period of lockdown in Victoria.

The fabric was inspired by the work of early 20th century Spanish designer Mariano Fortuny, using finely pleated fabric made at Australia’s only pleating workshop.

Geelong-based Rauf says it has “always been a dream of mine to win this prestigious crown”.

Rauf’s approach to design aims to mix the aesthetics of his Middle Eastern and European heritage with the embroidery skills he learnt as a teenager in Pakistan, where his father was posted with the military.

As an adult, he studied architecture, which has helped hone his skills in fashion design through 3D modelling and pattern design.

Rauf said the racewear community was thrilled Myer and the Victoria Racing Club went ahead with the virtual competition.

“We all needed this,” Rauf told The Australian. “We needed some type of outlet to keep creative and distracted. It’s not the same as being at the races — nothing can compare to that — but considering the circumstances it has turned out pretty well.”

Spencer’s design was based on ballet shoes, created from millinery fabric on a headband and whose ribbons seemingly defy gravity.

“I am so surprised and elated,” she said following her win. “I’ve just won the Millinery Award at my bubble buddy’s house in her living room. Think about that — could you imagine that in 2019?”

The national winners of men’s and women’s racewear will be announced on Thursday’s Oaks Day.