2015 MYER Fashions on the Field at Flemington

Doing your research for the 2016 Myer Fashions on the Field events? Well, we've got all you need to know about 2015's competitions right here... STATE FINAL 1: QueenslandEvent date: Saturday, January 10.State finalist: Previous state winner and Brisbane local Lauren Walker once again stole the sash in a hotly contested competition at the Magic Millions Carnival on the Gold Coast.Outfit details: Lauren wore a multicoloured kaleidoscope print neoprene dress by Clover Canyon, a vibrant feathered and veiled headpiece made by her mum, Desley Walker, cropped black leather gloves, fuchsia strappy sandals and a matching clutch by Lulu and Lipstick.Prizes: The incredibly long list of prizes includes a 10-night trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival and automatic entry into the women's national FOTF final on Oaks Day (of course), $2,500 to spend at Myer, a 2-night luxury getaway at the Marriott, a Calleija diamond necklace valued at over $17k, an Antler luggage pack and a methuselah (that's 6L!) of Moët & Chandon.Runners-up: Emily Dibden in a modern floral print sheath with apricot sandals, perspex clutch and pastel flower headpiece, and Jessica Thei in a raspberry and nude Three Floor dress, black pumps and clutch, and a sweeping raspberry straw disc hat.National final placing: QLD remains unplaced since the shift to the Magic Millions carnival, proving once again it's hard to plan a relevant Spring Carnival outfit that far in advance.STATE FINAL 2: TasmaniaEvent date: Monday, February 9.State finalist: In a first for the state, an actual Tasmanian took the title with Bernadette House prevailing at the Hobart Cup meeting. Bernadette is no stranger to Fashions on the Field competitions, having virtually cleaned up at every major event around the state (Launceston Cup, Devonport Cup - twice - and now Hobart Cup).Outfit details: In what might be the biggest bargain and rarest find in FOTF history (big call, but...), Bernadette's neutral-hued polkadot dress comes from Noni B (gasp!) and was previously worn to victory at the Launceston Cup, where she scored a trip for two to Paris. Her sculptural millinery was created by local Tasmanian milliner Susan McArthur, and she completed her look with metallic-toed tan pumps, a tan clutch and cream gloves.Prizes: The total prize pool was worth over $13k, including that all-important trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival to represent Tasmania in the national final.Runners-up: In stark contrast to the winner, both runners-up wore brightly-coloured looks. First runner-up Maddelyn Veronese sported a bold blue and white flower print dress with matching royal blue shoes and headpiece, while second runner-up Brooke Walter wore a fuchsia, black and white ensemble comprising a fluted sleeve blouse, abstract floral print skirt and a headpiece which encompassed her full colour palette.National final placing: Despite Bernadette's vintage-style outfit setting her apart from the other more modernly-dressed finalists, she was unplaced in the final.NZ SEMI-FINAL: EllerslieEvent date: Saturday, February 28.Semi-finalist: As New Zealand is still yet to be inducted into the (inter)national Myer Fashions on the Field final (something we'd like to see rectified), the supreme winner of the Viva Prix de Fashion event at Auckland Derby Day receives a direct entry into the Melbourne Cup Day preliminary final. We thought it was worth mentioning this winner in our list, as the victor is no stranger to the Flemington competition - Charlotte Moor, who was the Oaks Day daily finalist last year and placed first runner-up in the Victorian state final, behind overall winner Brodie Worrell.You may also remember Olivia, Charlotte's younger sister, winning the same Ellerslie event last year and securing a place in the top 40 on Victoria Derby Day. She also lost out on being the daily finalist to Brodie Worrell - by one single vote - that day, but this year there's no Brodie to stop the sisters progressing through the competition. Watch out.Outfit details: Dressed in traditional Derby Day black-and-white, Charlotte shone in a 50s-style pleated skirt by Myer designer Arthur Galan, a fitted black and white top and sculptural headpiece made by her mother, black and clear PVC stilettoes, vintage gloves and a fan-shaped clutch by Kate Spade.Prizes: Valued at over $30k, the hefty prize pool includes a three-month lease on a BMW convertible, two bespoke millinery pieces, and a four-night trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival with automatic entry into the top 40 on Melbourne Cup Day Myer Fashions on the Field.Runners-up: There were no runners-up in this competition, but Charlotte was chosen from a shortlist of five finalists, with Julie Barbour, Eleanor Campbell, Emma Stroud and Alisha Maxwell rounding out the list. All wore classic monochrome, except Emma Stroud, who opted for a bright, geometric painted dress and matching colourful headpiece.Daily final placing: In a remarkable turn of events, Charlotte placed second in the daily finals on both Melbourne Cup and Derby Days (in different outfits to the one shown here). Surely it's only a matter of time before one of the Moor sisters breaks through for a win in the Victorian final?STATE FINAL 3: South AustraliaEvent date: Monday, March 9.State finalist: Gabriellea De Ieso had a major case of beginner's luck, taking the coveted Fashions on the Field crown as a first-time entrant in a particularly strong field at the Adelaide Cup meeting. The Adelaide local wasn't event sure she was going to enter, having only put her outfit together the night before, and being convinced to enter on the day by her friend.Outfit details: There was no bypassing Gabriella's stunning, sheer panelled, navy lace dress by British-based Self Portrait (which Lisa's had her eye on for, like, months). She teamed it with a simple navy sinamay disc headpiece with a bountiful bronze bow (made by her clever mum the night before!), thin nude strappy sandals and a completely complementary white, navy and bronze clutch. Gabriella's make-up is also worthy of a mention - the soft, smoky eye with the bold plum lip is a big winner in our book and a nice way to acknowledge the shift into autumn.Prizes: Gabriella took home the majority of a $13k prize pool, including a $1000 to spend at Myer, $700 worth of Antler luggage and the all-important 10-night trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival.Runners-up: In what looked to be a tight contest, Melissa Barnes and Jen Marsh came second and third respectively. Milliner Melissa wore a structured, 50s-style bright floral frock and gets extra props for her beautiful teardrop-shaped headpiece in matching hues which, just from looking at, we know took many, many hours to create. Meanwhile, Jen, who was the South Australian representative in 2013, proved green is not an unlucky colour to wear to the racecourse by wearing a vivid, retro-style print dress with a delicate white lace headpiece and gorgeous matching stilettoes.National final placing: Congratulations to newcomer Gabriella on her third placing in the national final. It's exactly how Angela started her Myer FOTF "career" and we all know how that ended... It was also fortunate for Gabriella that Myer happened to pick up Self Portrait just in time for spring, where it became the "it" brand of the Carnival.NORTHERN TERRITORY SEMI-FINAL: DarwinEvent date: Monday, August 3.Semi-finalist: This is the first year the Northern Territory has been included in the nation-wide hunt for the best-dressed lady in racing, and given there have been past winners (national in 2013, and daily in 2014) in the Flemington competition hailing from Darwin, the local showing was expected to be strong. Alas, it wasn't to be for a hometown hero, with Gold Coaster Lisa March taking home honours after securing the Over 40s category earlier on Darwin Cup day. Like the New Zealand representative, Lisa will make her Flemington entrance in the top 40 on Cup Day.Outfit details: Lisa wore a hot pink and white 50s-style floral dress with a nude kimono sleeve wrap jacket, nude clutch and pumps, hot pink leather gloves and a Dior-inspired hot pink feather coolie hat by Meredith McMaster. It is not known whether Lisa will be required to wear the same winning outfit at Flemington in November.Prizes: a $500 Casuarina Square voucher, $200 hospitality voucher for the Precinct and automatic entry into the preliminary finals of the Myer Fashions on the Field competition on Emirates Melbourne Cup Day including flights, accommodation and a Victoria Racing Club hospitality package.Runners-up: The inaugural Casuarina Square Carnival Fashions on the Field competition played out across the month-long Darwin Cup Carnival showcasing fashion on all eight Carnival race days for the first time. The finalists from the other competition days were Alana Brown (Day 1), Danielle Brown (Day 2), Brooke Prince (Day 3), Vivienne Blandy (Day 4), Jenny Mitchell (Day 5), Sally-Anne Ryan (Day 6), Natasha Kidd (Day 7), Jalaine Beard and Jordan Beard (other Day 8 finalists, winners of the Under 25s and Over 25s categories).Daily final placing: Unlike her NZ counterpart, Lisa wore the same outfit but unfortunately did not progress through to the daily final.STATE FINAL 4: New South WalesEvent date: Saturday, October 10. State finalist: In what must be the fashion story of the Carnival, Whitney Berry triumphed over her best friend, Chantelle Buckley, in a dress borrowed from Chantelle. A first-time entrant in the competition (but not to the races), no one can begrudge Whitney of her beginner's luck: she lost her champion jockey husband Nathan unexpectedly to a rare form of epilepsy after only two months of marriage in 2014.Outfit details: Self Portrait reigned supreme at this state final, with all three winners wearing dresses from the brand, which is sold by Myer. Whitney wore a burgundy lace dress with black detailing, a black and tan leather headpiece by Meka Millinery, nude pumps and a clutch she picked up in Mykonos.Prizes: Whitney took home an enormous prize pool, including shopping vouchers to spend at Myer, Antler luggage, Moët & Chandon and the all-important 10-night trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival.Runners-up: Whitney's best friend, Chantelle Buckley was named runner-up, while Regina Thei placed second runner-up. All three winners wore distinctive Self Portrait dresses.National final placing: Cementing Self Portrait's status as the go-to label for racewear, Whitney placed second in the national final.STATE FINAL 5: Western AustraliaEvent date: Saturday, October 17. State finalist: Long-time FOTF entrant Mildred Elwood took honours in Perth, in a final won completely by interstate residents. Mildred spends most of her days on mine sites and can usually be found in steel-cap boots and high-vis vests rather than dainty stilettoes and elegant hats.Outfit details: Mildred shone in a digital print Peter Pilotto dress (also a brand stocked by Myer), Christian Louboutin pumps and a wide-brimmed sunshine yellow hat trimmed with a quirky skull motif.Prizes: Mildred took home a prize pool including shopping vouchers to spend at Myer, Antler luggage and the all-important 10-night trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival.Runners-up: Last year's Melbourne Cup Day winner, Christine Spielmann, came runner-up in a self-made outfit, while NSW runner-up dropped a place to third in yet another Self Portrait dress.National final placing: Sadly Mildred's bold and punchy outfit didn't impress the judges enough to place.

WA State Final of Myer Fashions on the Field

I was kindly invited by Myer and the VRC to once again judge WA state final of Myer Fashions on the Field on my usual "friends and family" visit enroute to Melbourne for the Spring Carnival. Praying for better weather than last year, the rain held off until the close of the competition then proceeded to hammer down, with gusts of wind foiling those with insecure headpieces. But the Melbourne-like weather was probably just a warm welcome for the new WA state finalist, who will no doubt encounter similar conditions at some state during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.I would like to stress just how hard a task it was to judge this year. Ladies of WA, you've certainly stepped up your game. Behind the smiles and giggles with my fellow heat judges, this year's Myer Fashions on the Field ambassador, Rebeccah Panozza, and last year's WA state finalist, Kate Watts, were fluttery nerves and the feeling of sickness at having to dismiss so many beautifully turned-out entrants in the space of a minute or two (we would loved to have deliberated for longer, but as the event was held right beside the mounting yard we were on strict time limits).I've been asked quite a few times what I look for when I judge. The answer is simple: someone who has an outfit not only worthy of winning the WA state final, but worthy of winning the whole competition. In my opinion, there were several women worthy of winning the WA state final but only a few that, once put up against the rest of the state finalists, would stand a genuine chance of securing the national title. When I judged the SA state final with Angela back in March, this was the criteria we used, and this is what enables us to be ruthless when we judge in the early stages. Harsh, I know, but don't we all want a competitive national final?I also look for an outfit that has a degree of "effortlessness" to it; an outfit that doesn't look contrived. I never really understood this notion when I used to compete, because I wanted to win or do well so bad, I put too much effort into my outfits. It's only been in the last few years of non-competition I've stopped putting major effort into my outfits, and have received a lot more compliments than when I tried harder. I'm not saying "don't try", just "don't try as hard" - that degree of desperation really does come through, and at the end of the day, it's just a competition.Back to the event, where Rebeccah, Kate and I miraculously whittled down the 100+ entrants to three preliminary finals before the rest of the esteemed judging panel joined us. Sitting alongside us were Kerry Davenport from Myer, The Amazing Race Australia contestant Sally Yamamoto, Morrison founder Kylie Radford, celebrated designer Aurelio Costarella, The West Australian fashion writer Pip Christmass, and Sunday Times fashion editor Claire Davies. Together we chose 10 fabulous ladies to compete in the WA state final, all of whom sported ensembles of a very high standard.The field seemed to be divided into full, feminine skirts (think Betty from Mad Men) and slim-cut, midi pencil skirts (more like Joan). Exposed knees were definitely out, placing the attention on ankles and calves - so beautiful shoes were a must. Structural headpieces ruled the day, with hats from Perth millinery favourite Reny Kestel adorning several of the finalists.One of those clients, Janey McGregor, was named as the second runner-up, wearing a pretty pastel pink skirt with a moody charcoal grey floral top, and a coordinating pastel pink headpiece.First runner-up was a familiar face: Jaydee Paino, the 2010 national winner of Myer Fashions on the Field. Proving she still has what it takes to out-do, out-dress and out-glam the majority of the field, the Queenslander almost stole the WA winner's sash in an A-line, panelled frock in square lace and spot mesh by in-the-know London label, Self-Portrait, paired with a stunning petal-brimmed boater by Amanda Macor.But the West Australian crowd was pleased to see the WA winner's sash bestowed upon a local entrant, Northam-based real estate agent Nikki Gogan. Nikki, who is no stranger to Fashions on the Field or to Flemington's Melbourne Cup Carnival, even made the Derby Day final last year but went one better this year in her home state, wearing voluminous Maticevski and a bespoke Reny Kestel hat.She cleverly requested the Maticevski team to alter her dress, as it originally featured a large, midriff cut-out (big racing no-no), which they filled in with the same fabric as the shoulder panels. Reny produced a two-tone wicker straw boater with a Jekyll and Hyde-like personality to complement the Maticevski dress (florals on the front, geometry on the back for both designs), and the outfit was completed with an Olga Berg clutch and Louboutin poppy-red pumps.Forsaking her fiance, Nikki will now travel to Melbourne for a "trip of a lifetime" to the Melbourne Cup Carnival with her race-loving sister, Dani, where she will compete in the national final on Oaks Day.Although all of the interstate finals have now been completed, there is still time to enter Myer Fashions on the Field during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington on Derby, Cup and Oaks days. Ensure you register online first, and by October 30 at 5pm EDST to enter as on-the-day registrations are very limited.By Lisa Tan

Tasmanian Myer Fashions on the Field State Final - EVENT

It may be the most southern part of the country, but racewear enthusiasts will aim to put Tasmania on the fashion map next week when the next round of  Myer Fashions on the Field state finals takes place at the 2014 Hobart Cup.As with the Queensland final's early start, judges will be looking for racewear that is appropriate for the day, but also for trends that are appropriate for next spring. (We suggest partaking in some fashion form study on style.com to see the winning trends for next season.)If you think you have what it takes to follow in 2013 winner Alex Hecker's glamorous footsteps, here's the all-important entry information.Where: Tasmanian Racing Club, 6 Goodwood Rd, Glenorchy, 7010.When: Sunday, February 9. Registrations are open from 11am-1pm, with heats taking place at 1:10pm, followed by preliminary finals at 1:30pm and the final at 2pm.Prizes: A 10-day trip of a lifetime to the Melbourne Cup Carnival and automatic entry to the national final of Myer Fashions on the Field at Flemington to represent Tasmania, plus a Myer shopping spree and an Antler Luggage pack.For further info: Visit the Tasmanian Racing Club site and the VRC site.Good luck!Photo credit: VRC fashion & style.By Lisa Tan