Who is the fairest of them all?

Style and fillies go hand-in-hand at raceday fashion competitions globally with the concept first introduced in 1962 at Flemington as a way to attract more women to the races.

Back then, eager entrants could showcase their style in one of two categories; ‘Outfits Under £30’ or ‘Outfits Over £50’, with the prize being an impressive return trip for two to the UK… by boat. Ellerslie’s inaugural Fashions in the Field was organised by Peggie Wilson, proprietor of a local modelling school, who, after taking some of her girls to Melbourne to compete, suggested that the Auckland Racing Club (ARC) needed their own event. She was promptly nominated for the job and Ellerslie’s very own Fashions in the Field competitions were born.

New Zealand’s national fashions in the field final, The Ned Prix de Fashion (March 2), is the competition every racewear aficionado wants to win, with women even flying over from Australia in a bid to take out the coveted sash and title of being New Zealand’s best dressed racegoer.

This year, the competition’s biggest-ever judging panel will gather to help determine who indeed will take that.

Included in the line-up is Australian-based, Kiwi milliner-to-the-stars, Jill Humphries, of Jill & Jack Millinery and Carle Rutledge who currently holds Australia’s national title after winning Victoria Racing Club’s Myer Fashions on the Field in November 2018. Other judges include ARC ambassadors, Hannah Marinkovich and Carena West; Sarah Stuart (Head of Styling at Newshub); Tracey Dalton (stylist); and Murray Bevan (Showroom 22).