In Australia, spring is not only synonymous with blossoms and warm breezes—it’s also well known for our popular racing carnivals, where ladies and gents of all walks of life converge to celebrate, usually with a glass of something sparkling. An important part of the tradition is to dress up, usually in a special dress and sometimes, with a hat or fascinator.
So, whether you’re attending a popular racing event in one of our cities or towns, celebrating in your local pub or your lounge room, or even choosing not to celebrate by attending one of the many ‘Nup to the Cup’ events, there’s no excuse for not getting a frock on! Femme Connection is here to serve your fashion needs, with an array of race day dresses and outfits that are fit for any party.
Spring racing outfits at Femme Connection
Not sure what to wear on race day? We have a range of elegant race day dresses and skirts that combine femininity with style. Add to that, they’re comfortable and easy to wear, which is important, given the length of typical race day festivities.
Here's a rundown of some of the most versatile and fashionable spring dress styles to help you stand out at the races:
Lacy Dresses
Dresses with lace elements, such as straight out lace or broderie anglaise, offer a classic and elegant springtime look. It might be a delicate lace overlay on the sleeves of your dress, intricate cutouts in the bodice, or broderie anglaise around the hem, but the lace vibe offers a flirty and feminine look. Lace also looks great with race day accessories like veiled fascinators, gloves, hats, and lace parasols.
Floral Dresses
If you’re looking for the most fitting dress for springtime races, you can’t go past a floral dress. Whether it’s a delicate flower print, or a large, bold bloom, floral dresses are definitely on trend for the racing carnivals across Australia.
Floral dresses come in a range of lengths, including short floral dresses, midi floral dresses, and maxi dresses with floral prints. Take your pick of lengths, but remember to dress for the weather and for comfort.
For a floral dress, consider a structured fascinator or a floral crown to echo motifs in your dress. A subtle nude or pastel handbag works wonders for this look, allowing the floral print to shine while keeping your outfit cohesive.
Puff Sleeve Dresses
Puff sleeve dresses are set to be a popular choice for race day events this year. Puff sleeves are instantly elegant, and create a feminine vibe. You can opt for very large puffs, understated puff sleeves, and even puff sleeve dresses where you can pull the sleeves down for an off-the-shoulder look. Whichever you choose, puff sleeves will look super cute with a fascinator or veiled headpiece. A small, structured handbag in a complementary colour will help balance the look while keeping it practical.
Tulle Skirts
Tulle skirts and dresses are a great option for race day, or post race day evening events. The tulle usually overlays a more structured dress or skirt, so there’s no chance of your skirt being see through. Tulle makes for a very feminine, even fairy-tale look, and it looks perfect in race day photos. Pair your tulle dress or skirt with a veiled fascinator, and a beaded clutch to continue the romantic vibe.
Midi Dresses with Floral and Abstract Prints
Midi dresses offer a perfect balance between style and practicality, with floral or abstract prints making them ideal for the season. A midi-length dress is comfortable to wear all day and allows for plenty of movement while still maintaining an elegant and polished look. Choose bold accessories, such as statement fascinators or veiled headpieces, and opt for a sleek, minimalist clutch to keep the focus on your dress. Bright and playful makeup, like fuchsia or red lipstick, will add a fun, vibrant touch.
Maxi Dresses
For those wanting a modest and elegant option for race day, a maxi dress is perfect. Maxi dresses cover the legs down to the ankles, so you can keep those legs a little warmer, whilst looking stylish and feminine. You’ll find maxi dresses for race day available in a range of prints, including botanical, floral and abstract prints, as well as neutral-toned lace maxi dresses. Either subdued or dramatic makeup can work well with a maxi dress, depending on your preference. A detailed headband, fascinator or wide-brimmed race hat can all work with a maxi dress.
How to style your race day outfit
When it comes to the spring racing carnival, it’s not just the dress that matters. Accessories matter too, especially if you want a cohesive and stylish overall look. A backpack and sneakers won’t cut the mustard (unless you just have them for the journey to and from the track). No, it’s all chic elegance on race day!
Race day styling tips:
What handbag to choose?
You don’t want to be weighed down at a races event, so opt for a small handbag (the smaller the better). Remember to be practical though—it must fit your essentials, like keys, phone, lipstick etc. A beaded purse, sleek clutch or small crossbody handbag can all look elegant. Pastels, neutral shades, and even metallic finishes all work. Also, consider handbags that complement any of the bold colours in your dress. Colours like ice blue, fuchsia, vibrant red and lemon yellow are all trending this spring.
What to wear on your head?
For a start, you don’t actually have to wear anything on your head at race day, however though it’s not compulsory, it might be the only time of year when being experimental with headwear is the done thing. So why not have fun and get a fascinator, hat or other type of headpiece to match with your outfit?
There is a lot to choose from, including veiled headpieces, headbands, fascinators, wide-brimmed hats, berets and more.
Think about your style of dress, and which piece of headwear will go best with it. For example, a wide-brimmed hat will pair well with a maxi dress or lace dress. With a puff sleeve dress, consider a veiled fascinator for extra dramatic effect, or something more simple like a satin headband. For a tulle skirt, a headpiece with feathers, flowers or embedded with gemstones will look gorgeous.
How to do race day makeup?
It’s spring, so you want your makeup to make you look fresh and radiant. Glowing, dewy skin with a natural blush and well-defined eyes, or a bold winged liner, can really lift your look. For the lips and nails, consider bright fuchsia or red, otherwise something that matches a hue in your outfit, but also works well with your colouring.
Race day dressing tips to remember
Be prepared for the weather
You don’t want to be turning blue on race day if it happens to be cold, nor do you want to be sweating it out in a beautiful dress if it’s hot. So, how do you get around this issue? Aside from buying multiple dresses so that you have options, you can do a lot with accessories and outer layers. So make sure you take some sort of wrap or jacket that goes well with your dress in both shape and colour for a hot day, and be sure to have a wide brimmed hat and light shawl or parasol for hot weather.
Dress for comfort
Race days can be long! By the time you travel to the racecourse, set up your picnic or gain entry to a marquee, the day is already half done, and then there are the actual races to watch! By the time you head home, you may have been on your feet, or on a picnic blanket, for hours! So choose an outfit that has a bit of room to move.
Have fun!
Race day is all about having fun with dressing, and even making some bold moves when it comes to dress and colour choice. Feel free to experiment and wear what you wouldn’t normally wear, as it’s a once a year event.
