Halloween came early at Derby Day

Spooky sophistication ruled the day as more than 75,000 headed to  Derby Day at Flemington for the first time in two years.

Spooky sophistication ruled the day as more than 75,000 headed to Flemington Racecourse for Derby Day for the first time in two years.

Derby Day - the first day of Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival this year - returned with a bang.

While #nuptothecup protesters lined up outside Flemington Race Course more than 75,000 flocked to the track for the first time without Covid restrictions in two years.

The celebrity enclosure - The Birdcage - was back to full capacity of Australia's who's who and 'who's that?'.

Hundreds of media personalities, influencers and politicians - including NDIS Minister Bill Shorten (Flemington is in his local electorate) and Sydney-based Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes - were spotted mingling with crowds in the marquees sponsored by Lexus, Penfolds and GH Mumm champagne.

The break did nothing to quash the creativity of celebrities who adhered to the black and white dress code. 

It's the best the enclosure has looked in a long time. Variations of Morticia Addams were spotted with Max Mara clad Nicole Trunfio returning again wearing more than $100,000 worth of jewellery. While some hometown heroes like Rebecca Harding mixed some Halloween kook into her demure Bridgerton ensemble designed by Sydney's Mariam Seddiq.

Also making strides off the track was the official fashion competition which, has replaced the women's and men's categories in Myer Fashions on the Field with Best Dressed and Best Suited awards.

The winner will be announced on Cup Day on Tuesday, where the weather is expected to deliver chilly winds of about 5 degrees.

Best of the fashions inside The Birdcage at the weekend however was Sydney designer Pip Edwards, who resembled a new age JR Ewing, except with a chic polish rather than a corrupt one, thanks to her Armani suit and Nerida Winter straw Stetson.

Perennial racing favourite, Nadia Fairfax, was giving Jean Shrimpton circa 1965 in her P Johnson Femme mini and exaggerated pillbox hat by Jill Humphries.

Elsa Pataky, in custom Christian Dior, was reportedly paid more than $100,000 to appear inside the Lexus marquee on Derby Day.

Elsa Pataky said her Dior boater hat was a nod to her Spanish roots.

Shane Warne's kids - Jackson Warne & Brooke Warne.

Fashions on the Field ambassador Christian Wilkins, during the first Cup week to do away with men's and women's competitions.

Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse in Rebecca Vallance.

Stylist and shoe designer Lana Wilkinson in Toni Maticevski.

2022 Melbourne Cup Ambassador Demi Brereton in sass & bide.

Ashley Hart (left) wearing a Richard Nylon embellished tux and her sister Jess Hart in Mossman.

Nicole Trunfio in a Max Mara dress and jewellery by Anton Jewellery and Cerrone around her neck and on her gloved finger, worth more than $100,000.

Director Taika Waititi.

Kris Smith in MJ Bale.

Duckie Thot in Micheal Lo Sordo and Nerida Winter hat.

Former Carlton captain Marc Murphy and wife Jessie Murphy, in Cappellazzo Couture.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood and wife Brit Selwood in a Norman Kamali dress.

Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding wearing Mariam Seddiq.