How to win Fashions on the Field, by Lisa (part 3)

Myth #3: If I wear the sponsors' products, the judges will like me moreWith confirmations retail giant and excellent supporter of Fashions on the Field Myer has signed new deals with both the Victoria Racing Club and Australian Turf Club to sponsor their future Fashions on the Field competitions, I decided to investigate the truth behind wearing sponsors' products and receiving an advantage from certain judges on the panel.Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on where you've sourced your outfit from), the answer to the title myth seems to be "no". Yes, there are sure to be some judges on the panel who represent the major sponsors of the competition, but what about the rest of the judges? How would they know who's wearing an outfit from X store, and who's wearing an outfit from that store's competitor? Let's look at some hard evidence, starting with 2008 Myer Fashions on the Field national winner Kirsty MacGillivray.Case Study 1: Kirsty MacGillivrayKirsty was an employee of main sponsor Myer's department store rival, David Jones. Dressed head-to-toe in products she had bought from the store using her employee discount, she won the judges' votes in the Melbourne Cup Day final, Victorian final and national final, even though there were judges on each panel from Myer. The details of her outfit were broadcast during each final (as happens with all finalists), so it would have been clear to the Myer reps that her outfit was DJs-centric. They didn't care, and voted her best dressed.Case Study 2: the amateur designersWe've all heard of the design students who have somehow found time during their studies to whip up an outfit and walk away with the major prize. Sarah Schofield is perhaps the best known of the bunch, with the RMIT graduate proving her 2006 national win was no fluke by also winning on Derby Day 2008 and Melbourne Cup Day 2011. While it's true that she'd gained experience from mentor, master milliner and regular Fashions on the Field judge Richard Nylon, no one could deny her true and unique talent for racewear design, which later took her to Paris to work for some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, such as Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton.Our very own Angela Menz is of course another member of the winning amateur designer brigade. Although she's very adept at styling, I think Angela's super unique sense of personal style is best channelled by her own designs, and I'm not sure her outfits would have the same impact if they were sourced from other designers or clothing stores.For most of these designers, they create their own outfits because they simply can't find what they want in-store and, luckily for them, the judges have sought to reward their innovation, rather than to discourage it.Case Study 3: the international raidersMuch like the Melbourne Cup itself, in recent years there has been the occasional international entry which has caught the judges' eyes, and slipped through to pass the finishing post first ahead of the local pack.New Zealander Lorraine Cookson was the first (and, so far, only) international contestant to win the national Myer Fashions on the Field competition at Flemington. The 45-year-old horse breeder won the Melbourne Cup Day final (and, in doing so, squeezed me down into second place), then went on to claim the Victorian final, and finally the national prize. Her outfit was perhaps more international than herself, with the tweed jacket and silk-satin skirt being designed by Lorraine but tailored in Hong Kong, and the velvet trilby coming from Auckland milliner Dollie Vardin. Lorraine had previously won the prestigious Mercedes Prix de Fashion award at Ellerslie Racecourse in New Zealand in the same outfit, taking home a brand new Mercedes that day, and a swanky new Lexus at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.Irish milliner Martha Lynn claimed the Derby Day main prize in 2010, which shouldn't really be a surprise if you've ever seen the standard of contestants in Irish best dressed competitions (they would given Australian ladies a definite run for their money, any day!). An accomplished best dressed competition entrant back in Ireland, Martha adhered to Derby Day colour rules in a 60s-style white shift with embellished shoulders and one of her own millinery creations to shine on stage while the torrential rain poured down.While I am in no way trying to discourage anyone from buying their raceday looks from a competition sponsor or judge (I've made many a late dash into Myer over the years, looking for last minute finishing touches or, if completely desperate, entire outfits), just be aware that purchasing your looks from a sponsor or judge will not provide you with any advantage in the competitions. And, really, it shouldn't. While the main sponsors of course hope that you will choose to wear pieces from their store, what we all really want is a fairly-judged competition, and one where anyone can win - provided they truly look the best on the day.Photo credits: Victoria Racing Club, fashionfile.com.au, stylemelbourne.com and The Age.By Lisa Tan

How to win Fashions on the Field, by Lisa (part 2)

Myth #2: I'll get noticed if I spend more money on my outfitTrue and false. True, because if you dress top-to-toe in the outfit from the latest Miu Miu campaign, the judges will be sure to notice and recognise the look. However, it's also very likely they may not look at your outfit favourably. Now I am a huge label lover, but I would never dress in a designer outfit that's currently in the pages of every leading fashion magazine for two reasons: 1) a dress or outfit that looks that good requires very little of your own styling, thus the skill level involved in putting together your outfit is minimal, and 2) some judges (not myself) may believe that if you have that much money to spend on an outfit, you're not really going to want a prize of shopping vouchers from a department store.I remember a particular occasion when one entrant (who shall not be named) wore three absolutely stunning designer outfits during a Melbourne Cup Carnival, and by the third day the host had cottoned onto the fact she was constantly wearing expensive pieces. Rather unfairly, I thought, he singled her out and spoke about what her outfit must have cost her. Needless to say, she did not make it past the second round despite looking polished and gorgeous.Be crafty and get creative...Spending more money on an outfit also doesn't mean it will be better - you've still got to have a good eye to pick what will be and won't be race appropriate. My most successful FOTF outfits have always been the cheapest, as this collage shows...

• On Melbourne Cup day in 2007, I was beaten into second place in the daily final by the eventual national winner. The fabric was all from Spotlight and cost around AU$50, my hat was a straw beret I bought at Myer and covered with spare fabric the night before, while my shoes were purchased at 60% off. My Mimco clutch purse was the only part of the outfit I had paid full price for.
• I won the 2009 competition at Epsom Downs purely because I wore a cost-effective outfit. The recession had hit the UK, and the judges were instantly impressed when I told them I made my dress for about AU$50 and my hat was from Zara. There were other entrants who looked faultless in beautiful designer dresses with natural Carribbean tans, but choosing them would look ignorant in that socio-economic climate.
• At Sandown Park in 2011, I recycled another Spring Carnival outfit in which I also made the Melbourne Cup Day final. The hat I had made while interning, using scrap pieces of sinamay I found in the workroom. The dress fabric cost decidedly more than the previous outfits, but nevertheless it would have cost a lot less than buying a dress in-store.
• My second winning Epsom outfit was my most expensive successful outfit to date, and the only part I made of it was the hat, which was part of my SS12 collection. However, each garment was from the high street (that's "chain stores" for the Aussies) - the blazer from Jaeger, the blouse from French Connection, and the skirt from Alannah Hill. (Ok, the shoes were Chanel, but if I gave you their price in a cost-per-wear ratio, you'd be impressed!)

So the lesson is: if you can sew, definitely make your outfit yourself. It will be much more original than any designer dress you could buy and will ensure you don't bump into your double on raceday (it's happened to me before, and in a designer dress). It will also allow you to give your interpretation on current trends and make them appropriate for the track.If you can't sew but you have some great ideas on what to wear, don't be afraid to visit a dressmaker. They will be able to help you choose the right fabrics and get the right fit for your body (something which we'll be discussing in the next guide). Sure, it may cost more than buying off-the-rack, but if you design something that you will wear again - perhaps to a party, or even to work - it will be worth it.If you can't sew and designing is just not in your genes, my suggestion is to mix and match pieces from the high street. This is the best way to show your creative flair in the most cost-effective way. Don't head straight for the dresses, either - it's easy to pick a really nice dress and match it with a hat, but it definitely takes more skill to put together a top/skirt/jacket ensemble, and the likelihood of you wearing the pieces again with other clothes in your wardrobe is going to be pretty high. If you're worried about others turning up in the same garments, make sure you choose them all from different stores - don't just head to Zara and grab a look off a mannequin, that's asking for it!But if you're really set on wearing designer labels, choose something that's not an easily recognisable design. I've noticed Peter Pilotto is getting a good run in the fashion stakes of late, and I'm assuming one of the reasons is because Myer is a PP stockist and a sponsor of Fashions on the Field (something else which we'll touch upon in a later guide). But the issue with wearing a PP dress is that it's so obvious it's his design, and his prints have so much going on that it takes very little styling to make it look good. I'm not saying don't wear PP (I really am a big fan of his work), but opt for his separates and combine them with pieces from other designers or the high street to show your styling skills and make your outfit different.Of course, the other way you can wear labels is to incorporate designer accessories into your look instead. Bags and shoes are the obvious and most cost-effective way to go, especially if you choose classic styles that you can wear over and over again.Be smart when buying designer goods, and don't get caught in the trap of spending whatever it takes in order to win the competition. Spending more does not guarantee you a win, it just guarantees you an empty wallet.Photo credits: heraldsun.com.au, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Sandown Park Racecourse and zimbio.com.By Lisa Tan