Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
SHOTS of bright yellow through a light, tweed skirt inspired budding milliner Lisa Xu to construct a fascinator with a blue quill and neon yellow flower.
This quickly captured the judges' attention in the Myer Fashions on the Field stakes.
Ms Xu was awarded the Ballarat Cup Lady of the Day and Millinery sashes.
And Ms Xu had initial hesitations as to whether she should enter the Lady of the Day final after capturing her millinery prize then was thrilled she had changed her mind.
Myer Ambassador Kris Smith said it was the perfect outfit for the Ballarat Cup.
"Our winner had neon, which is in, but a well put together outfit," Mr Smith said.
"And she made her own outfit, which is impressive."
Ms Xu, from Carlton, was drawn to her Giambattisa Valli skirt in Myer and based her outfit on the item, first trying her skirt with a black top and settling on a loose, navy sleeveless top for Ballarat Cup Day.
A nuclear medicine technologist by day, Ms Xu crafts hats and fascinators as a hobby for her label Lady of Leisure.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet," Ms Xu said after the event.
"I entered because it's good publicity for my hats.
"It's nice to be recognised."
Close friend Lauren Ellery, from Seaford, finished a close runner-up in Lady of the Day.
The pair got ready and car-pooled together for the event.
Ms Xu, an experienced fashion competitor in Ballarat, had never won a sash before yesterday despite being a constant finalist.
Former apprentice jockey Joanne Price is proving a top regional fashionista, claiming Ballarat Local Lady of the Day a week after winning top style prize in Dunkeld last week.
The Hamilton-based Ms Price switched to fashion sport after a career-ending race fall and is still actively involved in the racing industry as an assistant trainer to Allan Clark.
Her bold orange and navy hat, designed by Warrnambool milliner Suz Maxwell, formed the basis for her outfit.
Ms Price found an orange dress in the perfect shade to match in Port Fairy it was almost destiny as the last orange dress in stock at Pash Collection.
She worked with her mum to construct dainty navy gloves, with orange bows, and dyed a caramel pair of heels in navy to cap off the outfit.
"It's amazing to win I'm shocked," Ms Price said.
Equally shocked to take home a sash was Clunes farmer Malcolm Hull, who entered Man of the Day on a whim.
His well-fitted dark suit, offset by a fuchsia tie and kerchief, were purchased from Messer & Opie last week for his first outing at Ballarat Cup in 30 years.
"Fashions was a last minute thing to jump in and have a go," Mr Hull said.
"It was great fun. We're not chasing any sheep stations or anything and a few guys might have a laugh at me on Monday, but I have the sash."
