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Click through the gallery below to decide who your Terence Gregory Melbourne Cup Day Fashions on the Field favourite is. To vote for that person, find their name below and click ‘submit’.
The people’s choice winner will win a lawn marquee luncheon voucher for 10 people at Kembla Grange Racecourse.
The competition will remain open for voting until 5 pm on November 7 and the winner announced on Tuesday, November 8.
Please note: you must be viewing the gallery on the original Illawarra Mercury website (not the beta site) to vote in this competition. Click on the link at the top of the page to do this.
Kembla Grange Fashions on the Field winners
Style doesn’t have to cost the earth as demonstrated by the winners of the Kembla Grange “Fashions on the Field” competition on Tuesday.
Navy, white and lace were all dominant trends throughout the female contestants, while navy was the hot pick for the men.
Wearing a white top and skirt with custom gold fascinator Kody-Leigh Hirst, 21, from Canberra was the judges choice out of 27 women.
Ms Hirst’s peplum skirt was a bargain from Trade Secret, her lace-mesh top a borrow from her mother-in-law’s wardrobe and the head-piece created by her mother-in-law.
Part of her racing party was brother-in-law Sam McGlone who was equally judged on trend to take out the men’s major prize, his yellow rose (the official flower of the Melbourne Cup) pushing him over the line.
The 21-year-old from Braidwood was dressed in a white and navy checked ensemble from Politix with tan leather shoes from Oxford.
“I wanted two different colours, not just the one coloured suit, to change it up a bit and stand out,” Mr McGlone said.
Runner up in the men’s division was James Morris, 25, from Dapto with a sleek navy suit from YD, while a special mention to two chaps under 10 who also strutted their stuff on the catwalk.
This years contestant numbers were down on last year, despite brimming sunshine, though the judges agreed it was tough to select the winners.
They said it came down to who adhered to the specific criteria and who was keeping with “traditional” race-day attire.
Men should be wearing a tie, hat, handkerchief and appropriate flower according to judges Kelly Rodgers and Jacqueline Peperkamp.
The ladies skirts should be at knee length while mini-skirts, maxi-dresses and off the shoulder items were a big no.
“I think it’s elegance and classic,” Ms Peperkamp said.
Milliner Victoria Kennedy said Kembla Grange fashions were more relaxed than at Royal Randwick or Flemington and not like a beauty pageant.
“No-one’s going to going to go home and cry if they don’t win and there certainly won’t be pulling hairs or ripping fascinators off,” she said.
For the average punter white very dominant amongst the ladies plus navy and blues for the men, with an absence of crazy costumes this year except for the odd Hawaiian shirt.
The majority of men were in collared shirts but only about half had a tie and/or suit jacket. The women were in a mix of classic cuts and shorter cocktail-style dresses.
“Melbourne Cup’s about colour and it’s nice to see the girls wearing the bright reds and patterns and having a bit of fun with it,” Mrs Kennedy said.