There’s no better opportunity to don your glad rags than a day at the races.
And while we’re more than 10,000 kilometres from Melbourne, it doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the Australian city’s huge sporting event right here in the UAE.
In association with Emirates, the Australian Business Council Dubai held a breakfast event at the Park Hyatt Dubai, where guests were invited to put on their finest and watch the action streamed live from the Melbourne Cup track.
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Awards for Best Dressed Male and Female and Best Hat were up for grabs as part of Fashions on the Field, so the style stakes were truly high.
Here’s who caught our eye with their outfits on the day…
Marvellous in monotones
Chelsea Vanderspek and Karen Abbott made a perfectly paired contrast in ebony and ivory – we particularly love the stacked cuffs and the gold-tipped heels. A well-balanced mix of classic and contemporary from both ladies.
Crowning glory
Races are all about the hats, and these ladies hit the nail on the head (so to speak) with theirs. Elise and Olivia Butler both plumped for opulent swirls, keeping the rest of their colour schemes pared-back to let those architectural head-pieces take centre stage.
A deeper shade of blue
Kassem and Galina Younes elegantly co-ordinated in navy, proving you really can’t have too much of a good thing. Highlights include the subtle pairing of the magenta in his pocket square with her hairpiece, and those electric blue heels.
Solids and stripes
Hypnotising prints and timeless LBDs were the pick of the day for MC Desley Humphries and Sue Sindian, both in Elisabetta Franchi. We’re seriously lusting over that pop-art inspired hat (whose message, sorry, was too good for photographers to heed).
Suited and booted
Velvet is a huge trend this AW16, and while Dubai’s temperatures might not mean we feel especially wintry, Siobhan Grant proves we shouldn’t ignore the super-plush fabric thanks to this royal-blue gown. Meanwhile we’re getting major 007 vibes from James Lehmann’s ice-white jacket and suave bow tie.
All laced up
Karina Ataya and Mireya Cruells each opted for lashings of lace – we love the autumnal hues of the striped dress, while the colourful rim of the hat to the right manages to add a delicate splash of colour without overpowering the top-and-skirt combo.
Miss Scarlet
1. We adore the oversized floral print. 2. The pleated hemline falls beautifully – actually, we enjoy the tailoring in this number on the whole. And 3. Patricia Williams should sport that hat and red lip on a daily basis, they’re both stunning.
Jumping with joy
We need Sarah Harding’s culotte jumpsuit in our lives, stat.
Pretty in pink
Head to, well, knee, electric fuschia sounds like it’d be tricky to pull off, but Zahirah Variawa makes it look like a breeze in this romantic, pleated number. Bonus points for the clashing blue shoes.
Images: Farooq Salik
