Spring Racing Carnivals 2024

Spring racing has arrived, here is a list of key days and fashion themes to help you with your outfit planning.

Sydney’s Everest Carnival 2024

The official details of the Fashion Stakes competition held by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) this year have not yet been released. Keep an eye on the ATC website for details. In the meantime, the theme and colours for each day are listed below:

Sydney Surf to Turf Day – 21 September 2024	A touch of red
Golden Rose Day – 28 September 2024	Canary yellow
TAB Epsom Day – 5 October 2024	Bold & Bright
Hill Stakes Day – 12 October 2024	Spring florals
TAB Everest Day – 19 October 2024	A touch of blue
Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes Day – 26 October 2024	A touch of pink
Golden Eagle Day – 2 November 2024	A touch of gold
The Big Dance on Cup Day – 5 November 2024	Spring florals
Five Diamond Ladies Day – 9 November 2024	A touch of pink

A natural raffia boater hat with black and ivory hatband with gold horse saddle bit trim Designed and handmade in Sydney, Australia by Abigail Fergusson Millinery.

Spring Summer Sisal straw bandeau with sculptural bow by Sydney Milliner Abigail Fergusson Millinery Australia

Autumn racing carnival Vintage feathered Dior brim hat with sculptural quills by Sydney milliner hat maker, Abigail Fergusson Millinery Australia

Spring racing hat millinery knotted sisal straw headband with gold tipped turkey feather and white and gold Swarovski pearls by sydney milliner Abigail Fergusson Millinery Australia

Melbourne Cup Carnival 2024

The Fashions on the Field competition is back with the same categories: Best Dressed and Best Suited Awards. The digital competition closes 5pm, 4 October 2024. Racegoers are able to enter in-person at Flemington throughout the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

For full details head to https://www.mccfashionsonthefield.com

Penfolds Victoria Derby Day – 2 November 2024	Black and white
Lexus Melbourne Cup Day – 5 November 2024	Bright and bold
VRC Oaks Day – 7 November 2024 2024	Feminine (florals, pastels, lace)
TAB Champions Stakes Day – 9 November 2024	Relaxed, easy and breezy

Derby Day style Black sinamay beret button cocktail hat with silk roses and vintage inspired veiling by Sydney milliner / Sydney hatmaker / Australian Milliner Abigail Fergusson Millinery

large red saucer saucer with black Biot feathers, diamond crinoline and silk abaca loops by Sydney milliner / Australian milliner hat maker, Abigail Fergusson Millinery Australia

Racewear, occasion wear, wedding guest millinery. Hot pink a cocktail button hat made of sinamay, with black curled feather trim, veiling and arrowhead feather by Australian Milliner, Abigail Fergusson. Designed in Sydney Australia.

Derby Day large black sinamay saucer with ivory Biot feathers and silk abaca loops by Sydney milliner hat maker, Abigail Fergusson Millinery Australia

Outfits must also showcase millinery and complementary accessories (ties, pocket squares, jewellery, shoes, bag, gloves – as preferred) – borrowing from current fashion trends to reflect the entrants own individual style and appropriateness for a day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

For more fashion inspiration see the Vogue Australia & VRC Melbourne Cup Style Guide here in which three of my hats feature. Also see my blog post here for more details.

Check out my spring racing millinery collection here to compliment and complete your outfit or email me for your own bespoke headpiece hats@abigailfergusson.com.