And We’re Racing

AFL is done and dusted and so is winter! Cricket and tennis will occupy summer, but spring has it owns sport of choice and we have arrived at the season that carries seriousness for the fashion elite and for those who strive to stand out in a crowd. Time for the spring racing carnival!

There is a certain anticipation that comes with dressing for racing events. Excitement and joy fill the atmosphere: this season is going to be fun, fashionable, and frivolous. Taken seriously, outfits can be months in the making. Apparel is researched, sourced, made, or collected and paired together for the perfect combination.

Fashionistas aspire to it as their most revered pastime of the year. I can remember countless times laying it all out the night before as if it were a wedding! Panic has set in among boutique owners to get the hottest designs from fashion houses onto the racks in readiness for all the spring events on the social calendar, so get ready for the pretty shop window displays.

I have dressed hundreds of women for spring events and no matter what stylists forecast as trends, at the end of the day, with all the fashion available, it is all about how the outfit is styled. Uniqueness is what stands out. Something different, risqué, avant-garde, there are no real rules. It is the one genre of dressing that screams ‘have fun with it’.

There is, however, a to-do list when it comes to event dressing and most of it is done well before the morning of the event. Good grooming is imperative for a flawless look. A well primed complexion is a perfect canvas, and a good skincare regime pays off when we need to shine on the day. Local business, Aromatherapy Dispensary founded by Jill Tait has a sophisticated collection of beautifully combined organic ingredients to enhance the skin and the mind with invigorating essences and soothing oils handcrafted right here on the peninsula. Translucent Elixir is the one to try and it is gaining its own fan club. Carnival time demands a good ‘go to’ beauty routine as skin maintenance through these busy weeks ahead can take a huge toll and hydration is the key to surviving in more ways than one!

Now that the base has been primed, where do you start with the rest? Do you work your outfit around a favorite handbag or a fabulous pair of shoes? We all need a starting point. I had the pleasure of visiting The Style Squad in Mornington recently and discovered it has it all on offer! Behind their glossy pink front door, you will find a myriad of desirable dresses and accessories that is a feast for the senses. With a comprehensive hire collection of all the latest labels in all sizes you will want an event to dress for every weekend. Get the chance to wear your dream dress for a day without trekking all over the city to find it. Be prepared for some girly fun as you will be spoilt for choice when you book a try on session. You can even polish your look and have your makeup professionally applied in their quaint and glamorous surrounds.

Once you have your dress there is still more to consider before you walk out the door. After you have neatened your brows, endured the spray tan, and remembered to get the pedicure we have to factor in the all-important hair style! Is it an up-do, ponytail, kinky curls or a neat chignon? The decision usually works itself out based on the one must have accessory you can’t be without to fit the racewear brief…the hat.

Also known as millinery this can make or break the impact of all your styling hard work. Apart from a formal wedding, racing events allow us to playfully exhibit art on our heads. Colourful, feathered or floral creations become the real focal point to our silhouette and as a milliner myself I get to see firsthand just how excited the wearer becomes when it is finally put in place. Whether it is bought, hired or bespoke there is a style to suit everyone, and this season is set to show off over the top toppers with a touch of maximalism. Big brims, statement pieces with kitschy embellishments, sculptured shapes with feminine trims and florals will be seen on the track.

Event dressing is a movement. Over the years changing trends have seen the absence of jewelry, swamping hemlines and even acute minimalism with headbands replacing hats. Menswear has seen shoes going sockless, shirts becoming tieless and suit pant hems shrinking. Thankfully, we are experiencing a renaissance with event wear and appreciating old-school styling once again.

I am loving the effort that men are going to today with their dressing, often outshining the girls! Beautiful prints, lots of colorful accessories and suit fabrics oozing quality are inspiring extra personal flair and enabling guys to have a bit of fun as well. I love to see a well-dressed man wearing his finery and you can’t get finer than Mickey Blue in Mornington which are celebrating twenty years of business this month! With an impressive array of shirts, shoes, suits and more, you must see, touch, and feel these exquisite fabrics. The service is first class and is complemented with personal styling and attention to detail for the perfect fit.

With hopefully more sunny days ahead I look forward to enjoying the lovely ambience of peninsula street shopping and discovering the delights being introduced to our stunning stores every day. Keep popping your heads in as stock is arriving daily and walking out the door just as quickly. Our country racing calendar has some upcoming dates for fantastic fashion shows and charity spring luncheons where you can view the latest trends on the catwalk, but make sure you have a good glare-proof pair of shades on as fashion is going to shine bright this spring!

Fashionably yours,
Annette

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Peninsula Essence – October 2024