Spring Racing Dresses for Mature Ladies

Whether you’re watching a race onscreen at a venue, or attending an event at the racecourse, you need to choose women’s dresses that will make you feel special, look gorgeous, and feel comfortable. 

Thankfully, Femme Connection offers a range of flattering floral dresses, classic cocktail dresses, and various other special occasion dresses in a variety of colours and fabrics so that you can find that perfect dress, no matter the occasion.

Spring Racing Dresses for Mature Ladies: Finding Your Ideal Race Day Dress

There are so many ladies dresses out there that it can be hard to know what to opt for for race day events. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips that will hopefully help you make your choice.

Opt for classic styles

There’s a reason why we see certain dress styles over and over again—it’s that these classic dress styles work well to flatter a wide range of figures. In addition, they have a quality look to them, so no matter their price tag, you’ll appear elegant and polished. 

One example of a classic dress for women is the timeless black dress, which can be anything from short to maxi length. Add a hat or fascinator, heels and jewellery, and you have a dressed-up look for a spring racing event. It’s so simple!

Another classic frock design that’s extremely flattering on mature ladies is the wrap dress, which accentuates your waist and shape, and can often be adjusted for comfort. Again, it’s easy to style with standard race day accessories and footwear.

Other classic additions to a classic dress are a well-fitted blazer and/or a structured coat, like a trench coat, which gives your outfit a chic look. And you just might need that trench, as spring weather can be unpredictable!

Welcome in the florals

Whilst florals can be considered ‘girly’, there’s no age restriction on wearing them. In fact floral dresses will see you through from infancy through to very old age. But let’s not focus on age! Florals are quite simply a classic spring pattern, and hence, are always a popular choice when it comes to spring racing fashion. In particular, for Oaks Day dressing, floral dresses are pretty much expected.

Flower print dresses come in an array of vibrant colours, so they can really brighten up an occasion. They’re also available in many fabrics, including very soft and floaty fabrics, which look delicate and graceful, and more unyielding fabrics, which can look structured and stylish, provided the dress is tailored correctly.

When choosing a floral dress, think about what colours work best with your skin tone, and also what accessories and outerwear you have that will pair well with your floral dress. Don’t forget, you can go with a monochromatic colour scheme if you prefer, such as white flowers on a black background, or vice versa.

You also want to consider the vibe of the dress. For a light and feminine vibe, opt for petite flowers in your floral print, e.g. daisies. For a bolder look, opt for fabrics with bigger flowers (large roses, hibiscus) or with botanical prints (palm leaves and ferns etc.).

Embrace textures and Embellishment

If you don’t want your dress to appear bland, remember that texture and embellishment can make things more interesting. Dresses with lace or broderie anglaise sections immediately catch the eye. And then there’s frills, pleats and ruffles, unique scallop hems, balloon or flute sleeves, waist ties, sequin fabrics, sheer layers and more! So if you want your outfit to look a little ‘extra’, then seek out these special features.

Consider best colours

Neutral colours and shades work really well for spring race day dresses, especially for mature ladies, as they have a tendency to flatter a variety of skin tones. They also soften features and offer a refined look that doesn’t overwhelm the wearer. Examples are black, white, navy, beige, taupe, and grey.

Add to that, accessorising neutral-coloured dresses is quite easy, as you can choose similarly neutral bags, hats and shoes, or opt for a pop of vibrant colour with your accessories. (The same goes for pairing a neutral-coloured dress with outerwear.)

Don’t forget, Derby Day has a strict black and white theme, so if that’s the event you’re attending, the decision is made for you! Despite your outfit being just black and/or white, you can still play around with patterns (polka dots are classic), and with the fabric texture (lace, velvet, satin).

Special note on colour: Whilst neutrals look good on many skin tones, you can certainly choose to rock a vibrant-coloured dress! After all, it’s race day, so it’s the perfect opportunity to have fun and be experimental. This is particularly the case on Melbourne Cup Day, where colour reigns supreme.

Choose your dress length wisely

There are no rules when it comes to an appropriate length of dress for a ‘certain age’. If you want to wear a short dress on race day, do it! Similarly, if midi dresses or long dresses are more your thing, then do that too. 

The key thing to consider is what you’ll likely be doing on the day. If you’re attending a sit down picnic on the grass, that short dress might ride up and it won’t look its best. If it’s a wet, muddy day, that maxi dress might get dirty at the hem. So think about what you’ll be doing (and the weather) and then decide how you can look and feel the most comfortable on the day.

Know what works for you

When looking for that perfect spring racing dress, make sure you know what works for your body. A classic shift dress, for example, will look amazing on some women, but you might be aiming for a more shapely silhouette. 

Also consider the length of the dress’s hem (do you like to show off your legs, or prefer more coverage?). And sleeves — do short sleeves work for you or would you rather your sleeves long? A scoop neck or V-neck? And then, there’s decisions around the weather. You don’t want to overheat, so consider dress length and fabric.

Over time, we tend to have an idea of the dress shapes that will do wonders for us, and those that don’t make us look our best. Go with tried and tested styles if you’re not sure, but also don’t be afraid to experiment with other styles.

Remember fit and tailoring

A women’s dress will always look best if it’s correctly-sized for the wearer. This means it’s important to be realistic when choosing dress size, and consider getting adjustments made if the dress doesn’t fit you perfectly. In particular, your spring racing dress should fit you well around the hips, bust and waist. Additionally, the sleeves shouldn’t be too tight, and the length should be appropriate for your personal style.

Remember, you don’t want to be swimming in an oversized dress at an event, yet similarly, you don’t want your dress to be too tight, as it may feel restricting and ride up. So, if something looks or feels a bit off when you try your dress on, consider having alterations made.

Pay heed to comfort

One thing about getting older is that you have less patience for being uncomfortable in what you wear. This is especially the case if you’ve attended a few spring racing events in too-tight dresses and too-high heels!

So, give yourself a break and focus on comfort first and foremost! That means finding spring racing ladies’ dresses that fit you well. Even opt for dresses with a little stretch! Essentially, you want to be able to breathe easily when you’re standing up at that cocktail party, or sitting down on that picnic blanket.

Shapewear? It’s a popular option and can be helpful, but if it makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t worry about it! What’s a little lump or bump here or there?

Also factor in accessories. If you normally wear a lot of jewellery, then you do you. If you don’t normally wear much, then either keep it minimal or avoid jewellery altogether. Same goes with hairdos and fascinators. By all means, get the best hairdo ever, but just make sure pins aren’t pulling at your scalp all day. Who has the patience for that? You need to feel comfy!

Don’t forget separates!

There’s no rule that says you have to wear a dress at a spring racing event. Separates, like a gorgeous women’s top and floral skirt or special occasion skirt, or even an all-in-one jumpsuit, are also viable options, provided they look smart and polished.

Race Day dress codes

Confused about what to wear for which event? There are some dress codes that apply to certain race day events, though they aren’t policed! Each event has a different tone, but in general, sleek, semi-formal to formal racewear with a headpiece or fascinator is expected. Dresses, suits, or tailored separates with appropriate footwear are standard.

Derby Day:
Derby Day has the strictest of all racing carnival dress codes. Black and/or white (or a combination of these shades) is expected. For this day, dresses tend to be especially elegant, and in classic styles. Monochrome accessories complete the look (leave out the colour).

Melbourne Cup Day:
Cup Day is especially fun when it comes to fashion. Bold and bright colours are in, as well as statement fashion. Head-turning hats and fascinators are on show, and outfits can be especially creative.

Oaks Day (Ladies Day):

On ladies day, there’s a flourish of floral and feminine dresses. You’ll see a whole lot of soft silhouettes, lace, frills and flowers.

Stakes Day (Family Day):
The foot is off the fashion pedal on Stakes Day. This day encourages stylish yet comfortable fashion. So opt for something polished, yet relaxed.

Final Tip!

There’s no single perfect dress for an event, and the weather on the day can really change things. Therefore, on an ending note, it’s a wise idea to have a few options up your sleeve when it comes to dresses for the spring racing season, so that you can pick and choose on the day.

Spring racing dresses at Femme Connection

Femme Connection is here to serve up some beautiful spring racing dresses for our valued customers. Check out our collections of Party dresses,  Floral Dresses, Cocktail Dresses, and Modest Dresses. Also don’t forget to explore our jumpsuits and our separates, like women’s tops, floral skirts and special occasion skirts. Enjoy shopping, with convenient shipping to Australia and New Zealand, and free Australia-wide shipping when you spend over $75 AUD! 

With wide-ranging styles, sizes and fabrics available, Femme Connection is the perfect place to find spring racing dresses for mature ladies in Australia!