By LIAM DURKIN
“Put on your Sunday clothes, there’s lots of world out there”.
Hello, Dolly!
FIRST impressions count.
Especially at this year’s Moe Cup.
For you never know who might be watching.
This Sunday’s marquee race meeting will feature a modern twist on the time-honoured fashions on the field competition.
Rather than coerce people into getting up on stage, judges will be scouring the course to try and find Moe’s most dapper.
Moe Racing Club has invented this format, branding it ‘The Hunt’.
“There’s no entry form and no nervous walk in front of a crowd. If you’re at the cup, you’re in the running,” the club said.
So, if you see someone with binoculars not watching the horses, just know they might soon be placing a best dressed sash around your neck.
For the newbies, it is sure to generate excitement.
For fashion regulars, it will be thinking caps on to recalibrate their approach.
The revamp is somewhat in keeping with this year’s Melbourne Spring Carnival fashion trends.
Stylists are saying tradition and safety is out, in favour of bold colours and combos carrying a little more individuality.
Three-dimensional florals are also reportedly flavour of the month, while pink roses, representing sophistication and elegance, have been frequently spotted.
As for what’s out, the age of social media has dictated that too much of the same simply becomes repetitive.
So, embellished collars for the ladies, and ultra-skinny suits for the men might need to be packed away until they come back in vogue.
Fashions on the field is as hotly contested as the races themselves, and contestants come from across the state to take part.
The colour and creativity helps add to the general festive mood that comes with a day at the races.
Those with double side slits in their hair will surely hold some advantage in the best-dressed stakes as well.
Presentation counts for much in life, and it is usually hard to take someone wearing white socks with dress shoes in a formal setting seriously.
Expect to also see some outlandish attire. It is called the Spring Racing ‘Carnival’ after all.
Fashions categories are again set to cover a range of ages and types. Judges will be scrutinising the best millinery, and casting an eagle eye over presentation, balance, and how ‘that’ complements ‘this’ really well.
With mild conditions forecast, it will be fingers and toes crossed those who have put in the extra effort of dressing up (really, everyone should have gone to some effort for cup day) are not
forced to make any last-minute alterations.
Still, umbrellas can often form part of a look, not to mention provide a practical tool either side of the weather extremes.
Best to leave the casual clothes for Moe Racing Club’s Christmas meeting, where shorts, t-shirts and ugly sweaters will be far more socially accepted.
As well as fashions, Moe Racing Club also has a number of activations for the whole family at this Sunday’s (November 15) cup, demonstrating there is a lot more to a day at the races than just horses and gambling.
There will be the usual goings-on in the half hour interval between races, with music played in marquees, mingling on the lawn, and the hustle and bustle of horse shoes click-clacking as they trot around the mounting yard.
Moe Racing Club’s new Hillside Pavilion deck now extends further, and offers a great vantage point to watch the horses coming down the straight.
