How to dress for the races

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The Spring Racing Carnival is upon us and the weather is heating up, which means it's time to dust off those fascinators and get out to the track in your best race day outfits!

Dressing for the races is unlike dressing for any other event, so if you think you can throw on whatever you might normally wear to a bar or a night club you’ve got another thing coming.

Racewear etiquette for ladies and gentlemen comes from a strict dress code handed down through the generations by racing clubs and their members. It’s important to remember that the races is not just a bar at the horse track, it’s a private club where members have a strong tradition of dressing smartly and appropriately, taking into consideration the true racing style. Think ‘is this wedding appropriate?’ and you’ll be on the right track, pun intended!

So, to unleash your inner princess and look your best among the fashionistas on course you’ll need to follow a few of these simple rules:

Wear a head piece

First things first you must wear a head piece. It might seem silly at home, but you’ll be one feeling left out if you have a bare head beyond the front gates to the races. There are multiple places you can buy hats, fascinators and headwear from now, from Diva and Target to Myer and David Jones. Try to match the colour of your head piece with your bag and shoes.

Be on trend without being trendy

Influences from current fashion trends are invited but don’t go overboard. Nothing says fashion victim quite like six inch platforms and psychedelic neon colours. At its heart the female dress code for the races is elegance, structure and sophistication.

Suitability for the weather

Spring is the season to embrace floral colours and prints, but remember there have been many a Melbourne Cup day held in the wind and the rain, so check the forecast and if the weather might turn you’ll need to be prepared and dress appropriately. You won’t be a very happy race goer if you’re shivering under your sheer silk frock, so bring a jacket and an umbrella if you think you’ll need it.

Comfortable shoes

There’s nothing worse than seeing frocked a lady walking around in bare feet, swinging her heels from the straps at her fingertips. Make sure to choose a pair of heels that are comfortable or have at least been worn in. A small platform is handy in case you need to walk across wet grass, and wedges are a good option if you plan to be on the lawn. Some girls have been known to bring flats or thongs in their handbags for emergencies, and although this is tolerated it’s still very uncouth.

Shoulder bag

A clutch bag is classy, but if you plan to survive a whole day at the races you’re better off bringing a shoulder bag so that you can fit all your essentials: wallet, phone, sunglasses, camera, blister band-aids, touch-up make-up, and leave room for a pen and a form guide.

Here are some other races fashion tips to ensure you look the part:

Racewear fashion 'do-dos':

- Match your head piece with your bag and shoes
- Break in your heels so they are comfortable to keep on all day
- Sheer stockings on bare legs, but not with open toe shoes
- Lace gloves and a clutch purse

Racewear fashion 'no-nos':

- No shorts, pants, onezies or jumpsuits
- No spaghetti straps, strapless or one shoulder dresses – shoulders should be covered
- No dresses or skirts shorter than just above the knee
- Don’t use too much fake tan
- Don’t put your hair in a messy bun or a hap-hazard pony tail
- Don’t take your shoes off to walk bare foot or BYO thongs
- No chewing gum

For men:

- Fitted suit a must, in pale blue, grey or navy
- Suit pants that stop at the ankle with brown or black leather shoes
- Stripes and checks are ok, but never together. No polka dots.
- Traditional (think English gentleman)
- No pony tails, mullets or unruly hair
- Keep your suit jacket on

Beyond the betting and the fashions, at the end of the day the races are for fun so it’s important to be comfortable while still trying to adhere to the dress code.

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