Hot to trot: Auckland’s big weekend
It’s all about flair, finesse and fascinators as fashionistas saddle up for a chance to be crowned the country’s most glamorous racegoer.
Auckland Cup Week kicks off in style at Ellerslie Racecourse today for Vodafone Derby Day’s Viva Prix de Fashion — the national fashion-inthe-field final.
Cup Week’s fashion day is just one event among many across the city this weekend. The popular Lantern Festival for Chinese New Year celebrations continues at Auckland Domain, the star power of Grace Jones and Beck headline the Auckland City Limits music festival and the soulful Bruno Mars plays his final New Zealand show.
The weather looks okay but don’t forget to pack a brolly as the odd shower could cross the city during the day.
The Ellerslie event features winners from racing fashion competitions around the country. One lucky contestant will take home a $20,000 prize package including entry into the fashions-in-the-field
event at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November.
Viva Prix de Fashion 2017 winner Hannah Carson advised competitors to think outside the box.
“[Don’t] be predictable,” she said. “I think taking risks does pay off.
“And [wear] something that you are confident in because when you are confident, it makes the whole
outfit look better.”
The 30-year-old from Auckland expects to see lots of big hats, prints and colour in this year’s competition.
And for those opting to stick to traditional Derby Day black and white, Carson said it would be all about silhouettes, big sleeves and lots of frills.
She said key points to keep in mind included co-ordinating your outfit, wearing a headpiece, dressing in day wear — not evening wear — and making sure dresses or skirts finished below the knee.
Carson stood out last year in a floral dress bought from H&M, which she restyled by adding a ruffled trim and collar in striped fabric.
She said winning the competition was “a lovely surprise”.
The seven finalists who qualified for today’s event include Miss New Zealand 2015 Deborah Lambie and former model and brain injury advocate Elizabeth Charleston. They will be joined by four women selected from today’s runway heats.
The judging panel includes Australian racing fashion blogger Milano Imai and winner of last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival fashions-inthe-field event Crystal Kimber.
And for the first time there will be a menswear competition, which has Auckland Racing Club CEO Paul Wilcox very excited.
“I think it’s cool because . . . it gives guys a chance to show that they can dress up as well and look good.”