The 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field digital and on-course competition attracted more than 1100 well-dressed entrants. With the international expansion of the digital competition, fashion and racing enthusiasts from all over the world eagerly entered Australia’s most prestigious racewear competition with over 500 digital entries received and just over 100 from overseas.
VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said the internationalisation of the time-honoured competition drove reach, relevance and prestige as the Melbourne Cup Carnival provided the platform for showcasing the very best in global racing fashion.
“Racing is the only sport with its own fashion category and the internationalisation of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field competition has broadened the appeal of Australia’s largest outdoor fashion event,” Mr Wilson said.
“Fashion is a universally appreciated expression of people’s individual style and more than 1100 participants from across the globe took part in this iconic celebration of style online and on course during Cup Week an provided an important dimension to Cup Week.
“The international expansion not only further increased the competitions standard and prestige but also enabled us to engage with a broader global audience.
“The growth in the competition’s relevance was supported by a generous suite of prizes that reflected the importance of the competition. The compelling prize pool was valued at over $350,000 and included an incredible suite of prizes from our valued sponsor partners.”
The Park, Flemington’s must-visit destination for fashionistas, music lovers and foodies, was home to the Fashions on the Field competition across the first three days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Racegoers embraced the on-course competition in the new-look Fashion Garden with over 550 on-course registrations and over 50 from international locations.
Both the digital and on-course competitions were judging by some of the most internationally recognised and influential fashion identities including Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassadors, the late Princess Diana’s nieces Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer, member of the Danish Royal Family Count Nikolai of Monpezat, international model and body diversity advocate Georgina Burke and passionate equine enthusiast and young socialite Gemma Owen, world renowned milliner Stephen Jones OBE and leading Australian designers Toni Maticevski and Rebecca Vallance.
The time-honoured Millinery Award, re-named in 2022 to honour the late Melbourne icon, philanthropist and friend of Flemington, Lillian Frank AM MBE was judged on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day and won by Canberra based milliner and third time winner Cynthia Jones Bryson. The Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award first prize package was valued at over $37,000, including $5,000 in cash and an invitation to attend the National Gallery of Victoria Gala Cocktail Party.