Melbourne Cup Carnival



Image from 2012. Marie Claire Australia, November, p.199 

Melbourne Cup Carnival

November is fast approaching and hence the Melbourne Cup Carnival. For one week in spring, Flemington becomes the nation’s focus for the heart-stopping race on Melbourne Cup day and an array of colourful outfits and dazzling hats (Melbourne Cup Carnival 2012/13).

What I love about the Melbourne Cup Carnival is the fashion and glamour aspect more than the horse racing. Nevertheless, you cannot help, but get engrossed in the hype and excitement of that one ‘race that stops the nation’.

 

The Fashions on the Field competition was first established in July 1962 as part of Victoria Racing Club’s promotion to “woo more women to the races” (History of Fashions on the Field at Flemington. n.d.). The competition was to “finding the smartest dressed women at the Carnival within economic restraints” with the prize pool of goods and cash valued to almost £7000 (ibid).

The Melbourne Cup Carnival has provided some extravagance and breathtaking fashion, “from the iconic to the frivolous, to the fashion-forward and the classic” (50 years of Fashions on the Field. n.d.).

 

The four biggest days of the Melbourne Cup carnival are:

1)    Derby Day – The classic meet, when wearing the traditional black and white outfit is a must. This is also a sizzling start to the racing week;

2)    Melbourne Cup Day – The big one and the race happens at 3pm on the first Tuesday of November. Be bold and wear your best hat and frock;

3)    Oaks Day – The traditional ladies’ day, where it celebrates feminine elegance and the heritage of Ladies Day. Wear sweet pastels and or delicate detailing for a girlie look; and

4)    Stakes Day -   Also known as family day with abundance of activities for the kids as well as the grownups. This is the day to wear something bright and fashion forward.



Images from 2008. Shop Til You Drop, Nov p.124-5 

 

The racing carnival has traditional dress etiquettes and when British model Jean Shrimpton in 1965 stepped out without a hat, gloves or stockings it caused an upheaval (Markezic 2008). The gloves and stockings are not so much requirements these days, but a hat (or a fascinator or even a headband) is imperative. The headpiece is the key (ibid).

Think of the fashion at the Melbourne Cup carnival as an epidemic of ladies, where prim and proper is the norm and hairs are immaculately coiffed.

Coordinate your look and outfit by starting from the top and work your way down to your footwear (ibid).

 

According to Angela Mollard (2012), columnist and journalist, her top 5 tips for the Melbourne Cup Carnival are:

1. If you would wear it to a night club, it’s probably not appropriate for the races;
2. Don’t show too much cleavage;
3. Don’t think you must match everything;
4. If it’s strapless, or spaghetti strapped, don’t wear it; and
5. Keep spray tans to a minimum, orange skin is not pretty.

 

Reference List:

• Markezic, E. 2008. The form guide. Shop Til You Drop, November
• Melbourne Cup Carnival. 2012/13. Sunlover Holidays Melbourne and Victoria [brochure].
• Foster, Z. 2005. The Lady Epidemic: has it got you yet? Cosmopolitan, December.
• History of Fashions on the Field at Flemington. n.d. Victoria Racing Club Limited. http://melbournecup.com/fashion-style/the-history/ (accessed November 8th, 2012)
• 50 years of Fashions on the Field. n.d. Victoria Racing Club Limited. http://melbournecup.com/fashion-style/celebration/ (accessed November 8th, 2012)

First image a result from Google Images.   

Find Your Colours

"Colour can be magical. Seeing a flash of colour emerge from a largely monochromatic crowd is energising, like a breath of fresh air"

(Henderson and Henshaw 2010, 22).

 

Colours are beautiful. They have the effect of making one look either radiant or tired and stressed. There are many different shades of colours and according to colourist Amelia Butler, "One tone of red will make you look ashen, pale and shadowy around the eyes. But YOUR red will brighten the skin... [make] your eyes and hair more distinct. The impact is both visual and subliminal".



Image from Loreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional booklet.



To find your right tone of colours, hold the coloured garment under your chin preferably under natural light, ie daylight (Henderson and Henshaw 2010). According to Henderson and Henshaw 2010, the right colour would make your:

• skin appears smoother, fresher and younger;
• lines and blemishes minimised; and
• eye colour enhanced.

However, the colour would be wrong for you if:

• dark or coloured shadow around your chin and neck;
• complexion looks uneven in colour; and
• colour stands out more than you.

Image from http://www.truecolour.com.au/main/page_colour.html

Reference List:

• Henderson, V., and P. Henshaw. 2010. Colour Me Beautiful. Great Britain: Hamlyn.
• Website: http://www.truecolour.com.au/main/page_about.html 

Orig. images from http://www.hungamapoint.com/best-mothers-day-cards and
http://wallpaperswide.com/colorul_flower_vases-wallpapers.html

Orig. image from http://travel-wonders.com/2010/04/30/lest-we-forget-canberra-australia-part-three/

This will be the last two rules, of the 30, I will post up. Please email me if you would like a copy of the remaining seven. Once again these fashion rules are copied from the 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty (refer to post '30 of the Best Style Rules'). I am looking forward to September for the 30 days of fashion and beauty. It should be fun.

 

Rule 22: Don't shy away from colour.

"There's a feel good factor when you see people in colour - their individuality comes across," says Courtney Saxon, designer of Luxe Accessories.

 

 

Rule 23: Embrace contradictions.

"If you're dressed down, smoky eyes and big jewels ensure everyone knows it's intentional, but if you're going glam, sleek hair is enough," says Marie Claire O'Sullivan, accessories buying manager for Sportgirl.

Logie Awards 2013

The 55th Logie Awards, "Australian television's night of nights", was broadcasted on channel Nine on Sunday, 7/04/13. Before I put this post off any longer, and even though I did not watch the hour's long award show, I was/is very happy to hear that Asher Keddie has won the Gold Logie for the Most Popular Personality on Australian TV. I love Asher Keddie especially her portray of Nina Proudman in Offspring (looking forward for the fourth and fifth seasons).

 

 

Also congratulations to the talented Deborah Mailman for winning the Most Outstanding Actress (also starring in Offspring) and the team from Dance Academy for Favourite Children's Show (love the show! Eheh).

 

 

There were many elegantly dressed celebrities, but one of them that really stood out for me was/is Mandy McElhinney, aka Rhonda from AAMI. She looks stunning and  "hot.. like the sunrise"! Ahah :D.

 

 

Check out this website for the 2013 Logie's Red Carpet fashion:

http://fashionjournal.com.au/2013/04/08/logies-2013-red-carpet-fashion/

True Classics: Clothes that are Truly Timeless

 

1. The Denim Jean

"Jeans are sexy...jeans are still uncontrived, unself-conscious, telegraphing the fact that we aren't trying to look good - we just do" (Dubin and Berman 2000, 168).

2. The White Shirt

"...symbolise simplicity and effortless style" (ibid, 170).

 

 
3. The Khakis

"...versatile, neutral, well-fitting pants that go with everything...Khakis became the jeans of the late 20th Century" (ibid, 172).
 

4. The Trench Coat

"Today the trench coat remains eminently practical and versatile" (ibid, 174).

5. The Cashmere Sweater

 "...screamed luxury and money and, by association, good taste" (ibid, 176).

6. The Leather Jacket
"...tend to associate the leather jacket with positive virtues from both periods - individuality, courage, and hidden depths of sensitivity" (ibid, 178).

7. The Little Black Dress

"...always simple, elegant, slyly sexy, and unmistakably black...It's magic, and it's been going on for more than 80 years" (ibid, 180).

 

 

 

Reference List:

• Dubin, T., and A. E. Berman. 2000. Vintage Style. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. 
• Images through Google.com

Orig. image from http://scrumptiousreads.com/blog/natural-eggs/

Vintage: Something Everlasting

Fashion is cyclical and style from the past is most likely being new again. Be above the trend and one of a kind and invest in vintage clothing. Vintage clothing is individual, unique and "embodies nostalgic romance" (Bamford 2003, 6).

Before you go vintage shopping, let us establish how old the clothes have to be before it is classified as vintage. Clothes before the 1920s are deemed antique while from the 1920s to 1980s are considered vintage (Bamford 2003). Retro refers to "clothing that imitates the style of a previous era" (Markezic 2009, 127) and anything post 1980s is considered second hand (Bamford 2003).

Ease your way into vintage clothes by starting with a theme and then shop for pieces and accessories that fit into that period (Bamford 2003).

 

The dresses of different eras:

 

Orig. images from http://glamourdaze.com/

1920s - Dresses from this era have a straight-up-and-down shape and as was described by winifredandbance.com "mannish, skimpy and flamboyant (bobbed hair, long pearl necklace, cloche hats, knee length and thin dresses etc.)" really do sum up the fashion of the 1920s for me.

 

1930s - The style of this period is softer, more feminine and a slim silhouette through bias cut with some flare at the hem (Bamford 2003).

 

1950s - The shape of dresses in this era is similar to a disproportion hourglass, with one end more flared out. A large bust, trim waist and full skirt (ibid). 

 

1960s - Mod dresses are your typical dresses from this period. A-line with "skirt flares out straight and stiff from the waist or bust" (ibid, 18).

 

Vintage accessories:

Orig. image from Shop til you drop April 2009, p127

 

 Eight instant age giveaways:

 



Orig. Images from http://www.polyvore.com/ 

1. Peter Pan collars - Popular in the early 1960s (and was named after the collar of Peter Pan's costume in 1905 [Wiki]).

2. One-shoulder dresses - The heights of the 1970s disco period (and can be first seen in ancient Greece).

3. Bracelet-length sleeves on jackets and coats - Popular in the late 1950s.
4. Handkerchief hemlines - The characteristics of the 1920s fashion and reappeared in the late 1970s.

5. Empire line - The height of the early 1960s (and popular during the Regency period and fashion of Jane Austen's novels).

6. Halter-neck dresses - Popular in the 1950s.

7. Sweetheart necklines - Shape of the 1940s especially with built-up shoulders.

8. Waistline around the hips - Dated back from1920s.   

 

Taking care of vintage clothes:

 

Orig.Image from Shop til you drop April 2009, p131

   

Reference List:

• Bamford, T. 2003. Viva Vintage. United Kingdom: Carroll & Brown Limited.
• Markezic, E. 2009. Buyer's Guide to Vintage. Shop Til You Drop, April.
• Website: http://www.winifredandbance.com/, accessed on May 2009.

Images from Shop Til You Drop April 2009; glamourdaze.com (definately worthwhile checking the site for all things vintage. Refer to the link above); and polyvore.com.

 

Additional website  

For 100 topsites for vintage clothing: http://vintagecityclothing.com/topsites/

Rule 19: Get the key looks covered.

"Every woman should have outfits that are suitable for the six key occasions," says designer Rachel Gilbert.

- dinner date

- day date

- job interview

- work dinner

- cocktail party

- black-tie event

 

Rule 20: Clear out your closet.

Cleanse the clutter and you might rediscover a few long-lost pieces ready for a rerun.

 

Rule 21: Your size is the one that fits.

Don't get hung up on a number. Buy what fits your figure now.

Accessories: The Little Details

According to many accessory designers, accessories add a personal touch and individuality to an outfit. “They define one’s style and mood,” says Amanda Briskin (from Mimco).

 

Page from Marie Claire Australia April 2005

 

Rule 17: Understand the power of accessories.

It's the quickest (and cheapest) way to update an outfit. "Pick one key accessory to add to your wardrobe. Your look will be individual and recession-proof," says jewellery designer Sophie Kyron.

 

 

 

Rule 18: Don't be afraid to ask.

If you're admiring the skirt on the girl in front of you, ask her where she got it. She'll be flattered, and if she doesn't want to share, she'll just say it's vintage.

Same Outfit, Different Shoes

As it was mentioned previously a different pair of shoes, but the same outfit, can change your whole look. Here are more examples of the same dress with different shoes:



Orig.Image from Cosmopolitan February 2007

Rule 15: Choose the right shoes.

"A great pair can change your whole look," says Jacqui Demkiw from White Suede.

 

 

 

 

Rule 16: Make friends with heels.

 

Flats are comfortable, but sometimes heels are essential - think weddings, birthdays and movie premieres.

Vintage: Something Everlasting

Under construction...

Op-shops: "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle"

I love op-shops! The wonderful things about shopping in these stores, and as were stated in Restyle 2009, are op-shops:

• provide income for charitable initiatives;
• provide community with affordable clothing;
• mobilise and engage thousands of volunteers; and
• help the environment through recycling.

And every so often you find something truly unique and beautiful.

There are many op-shops in Western Australia including Save the Children, Anglicare WA, Australia Red Cross. Here are three lists from Good Samaritan, The Salvation Army and Saint Vincent DePaul respectively:

 

Rule 12: Look outside the box. Want something unique?

Scour local markets and venture into small boutiques, vintage stores and op-shops or online.

 

Rule 13: Take a history lesson.

In the words of JT, "what goes around...comes around". Learn about what your mother and grandmother wore in their wonder years and you'll better understand the trends in stores today.

 

Rule 14: Remember that cheap can be chic.

If the local chains don't press your buttons, go global.



 

Hope this year will be a great, prosperous and satisfying one! There was a lot that I wanted to add before the end of 2012, but I was busy...procrastinating. Anyways I am best to get into my posts and hopefully upload as many as possible for this year. I will start off with what I have left off.