Dress up for the races

By Nicola St John

Spring Racing Carnival seems to bring the inadequate dresser out in all of us.

Ladies are seen en masse clutching their heels in one hand, glass of champers in the other leaving nothing to stop the windy gusts and flimsy short dress combo. The feathers begin to look limp, sequins lose their sparkle and you end up looking like a disheveled peacock rather than a dignified female on the field.

Some advice for the gents. Don’t wear the same suit you wore to your graduation, your job interview, a funeral or to work that day. There are more options for you. A boxy black or navy suit with an outlandish tie is not race wear. That’s what 16-year-old-boys wear to their school formals.

The races are a rare occasion to dress up during the day that isn’t for a wedding and to show that hats are not just for the royals. It should be seen as an opportunity, rather than a web of potential pitfalls.

For those gents daring enough, head wear is not just for the ladies. As well as protecting you from the sun, a panama hat teamed with a linen suit, brogues and well-placed handkerchief will have you feeling a bit jaunty.

Ladies do have things a bit tougher. How to master stilettos in soft grass, wear a suitable concoction of flowers, feathers and flimsy head wear without looking like an adorned cocktail and how to simultaneously manage a race guide, glass of bubbly and clutch bag can be difficult.

Perhaps we can all try to study the form, gamble less, drink better champagne and try and look decidedly good doing it. But that sounds all a bit too serious, doesn’t it?