Cup Day is all about colour and this year the gents with their floral shirts, blue suits and bold socks were louder than the ladies. However the fairer sex followed in Derby Day's footsteps and kept it chic with abstract hair pieces, simple hair and fun frocks.
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Best dressed:
Ashley Hart
The Just Jeans model kept the weekend's Day of the Dead festivities alive in a colour-clashing, print-smashing Stella Jean blouse and midi skirt ensemble. Hart, who could repurpose her Cup day look for a starring role in an Old El Paso commercial, complimented the outfit with oversized pom-pom earrings and matching red felt boater hat.
Millie Mackintosh
The former Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh recruited Melbourne stylist Lana Wilkinson and it paid off. Mackintosh, whose ancestors founded Quality Street confectionary, looked sweet yet sexy in a blue Dion Lee negligee with laser cut detail. Her demure looked was jazzed up with novelty sized, Roger Rabbit-esque bunny ears by Viktoria Novak.
Nadia Bartel
While her bronze bow headpiece by Danica Erard was a visual feat, so too was the blogger's 37-week baby bump encased in a lilac neoprene Dion Lee dress with cheeky side splits.
Elyse Knowles
Despite wearing Coneheads-inspired head gear by Danica Erard, the model and Spring Racing ambassador, showcased the hottest summer accessory – bare shoulders in her Licorice Allsorts By Johnny body con dress.
Honourable mentions:
Michelle Payne
Who needs best dressed honours when you're the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup? Not Michelle Payne. It was just a happy coincidence her lilac, white and emerald silks boasted the most popular colours in The Birdcage. Her pre-race navy shift dress with lace collar was also a winner teamed with a white floral fascinator.
Julie BishopThe Foreign Minister upped the ante this year with her choice of hat. While in previous years she has worn whatever straw fascinator found rolling around in the boot of her ComCar, her choice of oversized fedora - a la Amal Clooney on her wedding day - was more on brand for her new #fashiondiplomacy schtick. However racing traditionalists may take umbrage with the fabric. Felt is usually reserved for autumn race meets, while Spring Racing Carnival is for crowns, dainty headbands and abstract hair pieces.
Missing in action:
Jesinta CampbellThe model and Getaway presenter was noticeably absent from the race that stops the nation. She is a popular, well heeled personality during Spring Racing Carnival, especially at her favourite race days including Derby Day and Oaks Day. Like Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek did on Tuesday, Campbell and her fiance Lance 'Buddy' Franklin made their first social debut as a couple during race week in 2013.
Send us a selfie of your race day outfit, whether beautiful or bizarre, for a chance to win $200 worth of Good Food restaurant gift cards, a bottle of Pol Roger champagne and a Good Food Guide. The runner-up will receive a double pass to Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema in St Kilda. Readers will vote for their favourite and the entrant with the most votes by 9pm on November 9 will win.
To enter upload your selfie straight from your mobile phone with your name, contact number and the relevant race day. Your photo will be posted to our selfie gallery, which will be added to throughout the Melbourne Cup carnival. You must be a Victorian resident over 18 years of age.
