A Day At The Races

Hats, feathers, Fascinators, Dresses, Suits, Ties, Shoes & Champagne, what’s not to get excited about!

For me the night before the races is like the night before Christmas when you were little and couldn’t sleep waiting for Santa to arrive.

My outfit was planned many weeks ago and although the fashion prediction for this years Spring Carnival was feminine & classic, with fascinators out and hats in, I chose to ignore it all and go for an 80’s Black & Red Cocktail dress that I picked up at my local second hand store for a mere $8! (Just proves you can do the races on a budget!)

I wore my super big Samantha Wills earrings making up for the fact that I didn’t wear anything in my hair or on my head.  Yes, I understand it’s tradition but I ditched my fascinator at the last minute because it made me feel like a clown, and I don’t think clowns were mentioned in the fashion forecast!

I also had to wear footless tights (thank god they are in fashion) due to a spray tan blunder on my legs, next year I might go as my pale little self instead of risking looking like an oompa-loompah!

I wore a new pair of shoes that I picked up on sale at Mollini which completed my Spanish-esque outfit.

It was extremely overcast as we entered the race ground, fashionably late of course! Entering the ground was like entering an open range zoo, but with people! Lots of exotic ones wandering about, others just plain animals, champagne being spilt left right and centre (there were record crowds of an estimated 126,000 punters explaining why it was so cramped.)

We perched ourselves in a lovely possie (in front of the gents toilets) to check out the fashions on the field.  It was then we realized not many people took notice of the fashion forecast regarding class. I saw more exposed breasts than people and remember there were record crowds! Not that our male friends were complaining.

Also spotted a few classy lasses in lovely dresses with - deep breath - rubber thongs!  Yes I am a fan of my haviana’s - but on a Race day, before 3o’clock – never! At least go shoeless and show that you put in the hard yards before slipping into thongs, or even better, wear nice flat shoes or sandals to begin with!

All the gents around surprised me and most were all class… at lunchtime anyway, especially the young lads we were with.  Light suits were a winner among the male crowd with brighter shirts and ties underneath looking very crisp and stylish.

I actually feel that most of the boys put a lot more effort in than the girls, although that doesn’t mean there were no-classy women.  A lot of the striking outfits featured two-tone floaty dresses that didn’t expose every bit of skin imaginable.  Just because I felt like a clown in my fascinator, doesn’t mean they didn’t look good on others - check out my gorgeous friends looking elegant as ever.

My Hot AskBronny Races Tips
1. Less is More Girls: Skin that is, you can flash a bit of cleavage, if you’ve got it flaunt it, but sometimes its sexier to leave something’s to the imagination…aka….Nipples!!(Yes boys I saw a few-white Lycra dress with no bra!! What’s with that!?

2. Below The Knee Dresses: when you wear a longer dress you can afford to show off some cleavage, nice pair of ankle strap stilettos, cute cardie and style is achieved, I saw some hot chicks sporting this look. Very sexy!

3. Spray On tans: not always a good look, I learnt from experience, make sure you have tried before so you know what your getting into!

4. Bright Colours For Boys: looks great, for shirts and ties - that doesn’t mean you should don a bright green suit. Or a bright orange one, unless you’re just after a laugh. (Yes I saw plenty of bright suits!)

5. Have breakfast: preferably a big one for obvious reasons. Champagne anyone!?

6. Get there early: or on time to get a better possie than out the front of the gents toilets! Or you can even buy tickets to special area’s such as the Nursery, Banks, Carpark etc. Go to www.vrc.net.au to find out more about these more spacious areas.

7. Organize a lift: public transport is sooo overrated!! Why wait for trains and be squashed up like sardines when you can all chip in and hire a bus, taxi, or limo, I even spotted people arriving in Helicopters!!

8. Choose Horses Wisely:  ones that that actually have a chance of winning are good! Not ones that have good names as you wont win a lot of money, or any, I won a whole $11 bucks, that might be just me as our very own AskBronny swears buy this method!

9. BUDGET FASHIONISTA: tou don’t need a lot of money to look great, second hand stores have plenty of treasures ready to be found!

10. Sunnies & Sunscreen: take sunglasses if you don’t’ want to squint all day long! Plus they can add style to your outfit. Also don’t forget sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy!

11. Sensible Shoes: every year I go every year I wear high, high shoes…. every year I swear I’m going to wear flats the next year, but I just don’t feel as dressy in flats, what do we at AskBronny suggest? Wedges, that is what I’m wearing next year, they give you height, make you feel dressed up but don’t put as much strain on you footsies!! I did wear flat sandals to the “family” race day; I was so comfortable and had a heap of pain free fun!

I do have a confession to make, my heels did come off, but not until the day was over and I was outside the ground and about to catch a cab (excuses, excuses)

I was complaining so much about looking like a feral (aka-trailer trash, ned, westie) my mate took his shoes and socks off to, to make me feel a bit better (that’s what friends are for right).

It was definitely a big day, but worth it with the amount of fun that was had, wether you love fashion, men or horses or all of the above, you won’t regret your time spent, maybe just the money!

Giddyup!