FLAWLESS fashionistas flocked to Ballarat’s Cup for one of the final spring racing events of the year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Local competitors were up against fashionable folk from Bendigo, Geelong, Melbourne and beyond on what turned out to be a sunny, spring day.
Ballarat’s Pamela Harrington won Local Lady of the Day with her entirely locally made ensemble.
Ms Harrington wore a pastel dress by local designer Melissa E and a fascinator by Buninyong milliner Feathers by Faith.
“I opted for pastel colours because they seem to be the colours of the season – and they were popular at all the Melbourne races,” Ms Harrington said.
Melbourne’s Nicole De Iulio, Lady of the Day runner-up, wore an outfit accentuated with various hues of blue.
It was based around a cape that she had hiding in the back of her wardrobe.
“I had the cape – by Tiger Mist,” Ms De Iulio said.
“I got the hat to match – it’s by Anne Stevens and is made out of a soft spongy material.
“I loved all the floral designs.”
Flowers were also the theme for the Lady of Day winner Dannielle Downs.
The Bendigo beauty designed her pale pink dress to emulate a 1920’s vintage design.
I opted for pastel colours because they seem to be the colours of the season – and they were popular at all the Melbourne races.
- Pamela Harrington
She wore an off the shoulder dress with small tulips and pearls decorating the bodice.
"I designed the outfit to suit my body," she said.
"I think that's really important."
Her matching headpiece was designed by South Australian milliner Melissa Barnes.
The men were well represented – with young males experimenting with a variety of different colours – including aqua, red and pale pink.
Winner Will Davies entered Fashion on the Fields for a bit of a joke. All his mates were doing and it he wanted to be in on it.
He scrolled the internet to see what "was trending" during the Melbourne Cup - but he never expected to named Man of the Day.
When asked what inspired his outfit - Mr Davies laughed - "I hate this question because it was just thrown together," he said.
Then he pointed down to his tan leather shoes - striking because they were threaded with hot pink laces.
"I based my outfit off those," he said.
True to his word, Mr Davies outfit was accented with a pink pocket square and tie, paired with a light blue shirt and navy, pinstripe suit jacket and waist coat. He looked dashing - and the votes were in. He was man of the day.
All in all – as judge Jules Zass said – the fashion stakes were of the highest quality in Ballarat.