Style Guide: The Melbourne Cup

Mmm. The air is getting warmer, and the days are longer and more luscious. You know what that means: Spring is upon us again! I know that as a born and bred Melbourne girl, the second the days start heating up, I head straight for the park with my friends on the weekend and spend long lazy afternoons sipping ciders, laughing and taking way too many selfies. Something that my girlfriends and I have been getting slowly more and more excited about lately is the Spring Racing carnival and, more importantly (one of the biggest events in my social calendar) the Melbourne Cup!

I get unreasonably excited about this awesome day, and for the last three years, I have been lucky enough to be invited into the Birdcage along with some friends of mine! As a result, I always have to make sure that I look my very best just in case I get papped by a photographer! It wouldn’t do to end up on a blog somewhere wearing something old and tired, or –heaven forbid– something from last year. I wanted to share my tips and tricks for the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and to give you something of a style guide so that you look on-trend. I’ll also give you some prepping tips to ensure that you’re glowing from head to toe:

What to Wear

White

The word on the street, following the David Jones Spring fashion parade is that there will be white. A lot of white. It’s not entirely groundbreaking that spring fashion incorporates a lot of white, but there you have it. I’m loving the strong vibe of the 70s styling that has been seen on everyone from models and designers to street-style bloggers. You can pick up some incredible pieces online and second hand, and you can always turn to the brick and mortar shops when you want to get something special too.  

• $15 via Necessary Clothing

Monochrome

The monochrome look is a show stopper, and there’s nothing that compares to a slick little number in black and white, or shades of grey. You can search online by color and style now, which is very helpful, and there are a number of looks that I am loving from my favourite online stores.

• Bralet: $34 via Missguided
• Trousers: $38 via Missguided

Colors

When the weather gets better, there’s nothing I love more than digging out a splash of color from my wardrobe and getting my floral on! A bright block color dress is always a great addition to any wardrobe and you can pair some classic jewelry with a strong dress without overwhelming the look.

• Floral Dress: $10 via Necessary Clothing

Suits

Some strong, double breasted suits have been seen on the runway and I for one am all for this incredible look. It can be very feminine and soft for the wearer, while still being empowering and beautiful (as well as very practical to wear). One thing is for sure, you won’t have to worry about the wind whipping in and flicking your skirt up in the suit.

• Sleeveless Blazer: $60 via Missguided 
• White Trousers: $43 via Missguided

How to Prepare

Make sure that a couple of days prior to the big event that you’re getting your spray tan done (do the waxing first!) and your nails manicured and painted. I’ve been seeing a lot of nail art and incredible work done on the Instagram feeds that I follow and I for one am all for this strong and fun look.

Why not match your nails to your dress or shoes for that added color pop? Book in to get your hair done the morning of the big day (as early as possible) so that you’re polished and slick in time for the big event. Most of all, remember to have fun and drink plenty of water!

Have you ever been to a horse race? Let us know in the comments below!

*This article was contributed.