How to judge racing’s best looks

I know what it feels like to be jockey Jamie Melham. Melbourne Cup winner trained for life to pass the challenge first half is yoursand ever since I laid my eyes on my classmates’ off-white First Communion dresses at St Damian’s in Bundoora in the seventies, I’ve been preparing to pick the winners of the Fashions on the Field finals on Oaks Day.

It takes more than being able to evaluate the fashionability and fit of an outfit before fully entering a room for one to feel confident about handing over sashes and awards from a $300,000 pool for the Best Dressed and Most Suitable categories.

Years of judging racing suit competitions at Flemington, Randwick, Wagga Wagga and Nyngan’s surprisingly strict Duck Creek Races helped establish a formula that sent the man dressed as Colonel Sanders from the KFC commercials to the back of the pack and left her unable to walk through the heats in a sweeping ballgown holding back tears.

My philosophy? Smile, score goals and take no prisoners.

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Racing suit rules

1. Take advantage of trends
It may be the only fashion category that has a direct relationship to a specific sport, but most people have difficulty explaining what racing apparel actually is.

For me, it’s more than dressing in black and white for Derby Day, bright colors for the Melbourne Cup and chasing the feminine flamboyance of Oaks Day. Racewear is flamboyant casual wear that adapts to current trends while occasionally paying homage to tradition.

Pay attention to the daily wear part. This is for the front lawn, not the red carpet.