Finally,some drama:Oaks Day’s best dressed

Racing is about luck,and it was a case of three times the charm on Oaks Day,which finally found some Goldilocks weather,and,along with it,the best fashions of the carnival.

While the moniker “ladies’ day”is considered by some as old hat,racing royaltyKate Waterhouse says it’s better to think about it as a fashion directive,rather than something you’d see on a ’90s nightclub poster. “It’s more of a dress code for me,” says the media personality and daughter of champion trainer Gai Waterhouse.

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Waterhouse completed her Cup week trifecta in a new-season Zimmermann dress that some observed gave “the dancing lady emoji,but in white”. After a week of quite staid looks across the course,the drama was a welcome development.

One place never short on drama is the Fashions on the Field stage,where best-suited was won by first-time entrant Domingo Martinez of Sydney,while New Zealander Eleanor Campbell won the best-dressed final – including a $45,000 cash prize – with a reworked wedding dress by Solace London that her mother Anna,who was a finalist in best-suited but didn’t place,spotted in an online sale.

“I honestly was not expecting it at all,” says the 28-year-old,who qualified for the Oaks grand final by placing on Derby Day. “It was my first time entering Derby Day – everyone said it’s a bad omen,that no one wins in black and white. It proves everyone wrong.”

Campbell has been entering fashion competitions since she was 18 and says it’s a far cry from the clothing she wears to help run her family’s doggie daycare business. “It’s so different to our job,where we are in gumboots and puffer jackets every day.”

Celebrities in the Birdcage aside,the fashion precinct was the place to see some of the boldest looks of the day,including Molly Hisgrove,who was flying the flag for Barbiecore in a hot pink dress by Tulle Addict and hat by Annette Sanfilippo. Elsewhere,the creativity extended to dresses refashioned from Adairs bedspreads,and men in kilts – Bev Hendry proved a crowd favourite in his vintage ensemble,which earned him third place in the best-suited competition.

Kate Waterhouse:Flamenco femme

Dress: Zimmermann
Hair tie: Ezara J
Shoes: Gucci
Bag: Dior

White may be one of the codes of Derby Day,but it was also a popular colour on Oaks Day,with many celebrities shirking the traditional purple or pink for a cleaner palette. “I wanted to go with a feminine theme,but I went more for the fabrication being floral than the pastels,which is what I usually do,” she says.

Elle Baillieu:Euro glam

Dress: Dolce&Gabbana
Hat/necklace: Ermanno Scervino
Shoes: Gucci
Bag: Prada

Photographer and content creator Elle Baillieu,daughter of former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu,loves to raid her mother Robyn’s wardrobe for her race-day looks. But for Oaks Day,she leaned on Melbourne fashion institution Le Louvre for her colourful look. “They wanted to get me in some colour because,typically,I wear so much white and black,” she says.

Rozalia Russian:Blushing ballerina

Dress: Mariam Seddiq
Shoes: Paris Texas
Bag: Bulgari

Speaking of playing characters,fashion identityRozalia Russian says she loves picking a character to play each race day. Her Oaks Day persona? “Edgy ballerina,” she says. So,what was Tuesday,when she wore a structured mulberry suit and felt hat? “First lady,with a touch of Bond villain.”

David Hicks:Prince of zen

Suit: Dolce&Gabbana
Shirt/tie: Prada
Shoes: Christian Louboutin

“I was going for a Georgie Hamilton vibe,” says interior designer David Hicks. “It’s chic and casual at the same time.” Hicks,who was lunching at the Lexus marquee,says he loves “layering between relaxed and very dressed up. It’swabi-sabi[the Japanese design principle of “imperfect” beauty],isn’t it?”

Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer:Royal flush

Outfit: Maticevski (Eliza) and Cappellazzo Couture (Amelia)
Shoes: Balmain (Eliza) and Alexandre Vauthier (Amelia),both from Miss Louise
Headpiece: House of Emmanuele (Eliza) and Stephanie Browne (Amelia)
Bag: Olga Berg (Eliza) and Stephanie Browne (Amelia)

After a week of press engagements and outfits,the Spencer twins,nieces of the late Princess Diana,saved their best for last. Lady Amelia says she’s a fan of the ’80s,but the sisters say they looked to the theme of each race day to devise their looks with their Australian styling team,which included Kirsty McBeath and Richard Nylon.

Says Amelia:“We knew we wanted to work exclusively with Australian designers … it was difficult finalising each look because there were so many to choose from.”

Adds Eliza:“It’s amazing how well they got to know our personalities over the two months,over WhatsApp and Skype.”

Asked for theirthree fashion words,the sisters,who frequently finish each other’s sentences,say:“Strong,feminine and elegant. That definitely describes us best.”

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