WHETHER it’s a straw boater with grosgrain ribbon, simple metallic headband or elaborate floral crown created from fresh blooms, millinery is a must trackside.
It’s a chance to embrace tradition, express yourself and take your inner show pony for a trot. Melbourne racegoers don’t hold back when it comes to millinery.
In 2015 we bought 75, 000 hats and fascinators for Cup week alone. A further 30,000 handbags were sold in Victoria to women planning to debut their new accessory at the races last year.
David Jones head millinery buyer Sarah Clancy told News Corp that crown-style headbands in metallics and leather, bohemian style florals and veiling are popular this year. Navy is also having a moment.
“Black has always been our strongest colour and people are looking for something a little softer,” she said.
She said the preferred order of shopping is dress, hat, bag, and shoes.
Floral dresses work well with a headpiece in one colour picked from the print that is then replicated through the bag and other accessories.
“Tonal always looks beautiful. It’s always a classy, chic look.”
Traditionalists often advised against buying your hat first. But Clancy said if you find a headpiece that fits well, suits your face and makes you feel amazing don’t let the fact you don’t have a thing to wear with it put you off!
This strategy works particularly well if the headpiece has bold colours, she said.
When matching a dress to a hat the silhouette is key.
“If they have chosen a hat in a dark colour, they would choose a more classic silhouette, something geometric, maybe not floral, elements of suiting,” Clancy said.
“Headbands work better with a softer flowing frock.”
There are some rules that should never be broken.
Clancy said fascinators are always worn over the left eye and hair should always be worn up to allow the piece to sit properly.
Most stylists agree that when it comes to pulling an outfit together the most obvious choice is to go with the same colour for your shoes, hat and bag.
This works especially well for Derby Day’s black and white dress code.
A white dress paired with black shoes and accessories looks polished and is easy to pull together – we all have at least one pair of black heels and a decent black bag in the wardrobe.
The other days on the spring racing calendar usually call for colour, but that doesn’t mean you have to have a rainbow of accessories at hand.
A nude shoe and bag work with just about any shade and can be paired with headwear in neutral tones.
Until recently the “matchy matchy” look was considered pretty old school, especially on the runway.
But the fashion wheel has come full circle and the recent spring fashion shows featured a lot of matching accessories, bags and shoes.
Perfectionists also consider the hardware on their bags and ensure that it doesn’t clash with their jewellery or buckles on their shoes.
If you decide to buy a new bag for the races a small shoulder strap bag is your best bet.
It will hold your essentials – lippie, phone, wallet, keys, band-aids and sunnies – and leave your hands free for champagne and race book. Opting for a neutral tone in beige, grey or black will increase its versatility.
