Australians turned out in their droves for the Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival over the past week, where catwalk queens and influencers set a string of unexpected and zany fashion trends for the summer season.
Pink was the standout colour of the carnival, with television host Rachael Finch donning a bubblegum-hued pantsuit and former Bachelorette Georgia Love gleaming in a lamé midi-dress, which proved to be the surprising fabric choice for a huge number of high profile guests.
Theatrical accessories were used by runway megastars and beauty queens, with former Miss Tourism Australia Sarah Czarnuch toting a white embroidered parasol and model Rebecca Harding donning a full length pair of black opera gloves.
Over-sized, wide brim hats were seen on catwalk icons and WAGs alike, with model Elyse Knowles topping her look with black headwear and Nadia Bartel shining bright in a canary yellow number.
Statement sleeves were worn by big names like Lady Kitty Spencer, the niece of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who epitomised elegance in a knitted boat-neck dress by Roland Mouret with flared cuffs.
Supermodel Nicole Trunfio (pictured) proved that the trend for pantsuits is going nowhere, wowing onlookers by dressing her pregnant stomach in a white suit which she paired with a black cane and hat
POWER SUITS
Supermodel Nicole Trunfio proved female power dressing is here to stay by dressing her burgeoning baby bump in a crisp white pant suit with a pussy bow ribbon around her neck.
The catwalk queen accessorised with a chic black hat, pointed-toe stilettos and a quirky cane.
A number of well-known faces donned power suits in various shades of pink, with Myer ambassador Rachael Finch opting for a bubblegum blazer and cigarette pants and contrasting red accessories on Crown Oaks Day.
Reality star Georgia Love followed suit in a pastel pink sleeveless jacket and matching flared pants, paired with perpsex heels which proved to be another standout trend.
Pink suits were a major trend, with both Myer ambassador Rachael Finch (left) and Georgia Love (right) opting for sleeved and sleeveless variations on Crown Oaks Day
LAME FABRIC
The biggest sartorial surprise of the carnival was the dizzying amount of sweat-inducing lamé ensembles, which started with Georgia Love’s electric pink midi-dress on Melbourne Cup Day.
Neighbours actress Sharon Johal appeared to have borrowed fabric from Georgia to create her 1980s-inspired power suit.
Lamé reappeared with vigour on Crown Oaks Day on celebrity stylist Lana Wilkinson, who arrived in a draped Grecian-style silver dress and matching metallic headband.
Fashion designer Effie Kats rocked lime green lamé that day, in a skirt and blazer cinched with an over-sized belt and matching mermaid skin stilettos.
Former Bachelorette Georgia Love (left) stepped out in sweat-inducing lamé fabric for the Melbourne Cup, while Neighbours star Sharon Johal (right) appeared to have borrowed material from Georgia to create her 1980s-style power suit
Celebrity stylist Lana Wilkinson (pictured) wore a Grecian-inspired gown and headband made from reflective metallic fabric on Crown Oaks Day
Fashion designer Effie Kats (pictured) jumped on this season’s divisive trend for lame fabric with this neon green belted blazer and skirt set
THEATRICAL ACCESSORIES
Accessories straight from movie sets were the order of the carnival for many big names, like model Rebecca Harding who channelled Audrey Hepburn’s most iconic look from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ with full length opera gloves and point-toe stilettos.
Former Miss Tourism Australia Sarah Czarnuch added character to her strapless tiered gown and perspex mules with a white embroidered parasol and statement gold earrings, while catwalk queen Nicole Trunfio showed everyone who’s boss by toting a black cane with her white power suit.
Plastic heels reminiscent of Cinderella’s glass slippers were seen on the feet of celebrity stylist Lana Wilkinson, former Homer and Away actress Isabella Giovinazzo and reality star Lorinska Merrington.
Model Rebecca Harding donned a pair of full length opera gloves (left) while Sarah Czarnuch toted a white parasol (right) on Crown Oaks Day
Reality star Lorinska Merrington (pictured) was one of the high profile guests who arrived in plastic heels reminiscent of Cinderella’s slippers
WIDE BRIM HATS
Over-sized hats and elaborate fascinators were front and centre on Melbourne Cup and Crown Oaks Day, with stars like Nadia Bartel finishing their looks with exaggerated headwear.
Model Elyse Knowles added a touch of class to her sleek leopard print midi-dress with a slanted black sun hat, while her friend television host Rachael Finch braved monochrome red from head to toe in a one-shouldered gown and statement hat.
WAG and influencer Jessie Murphy won plaudits for wearing the same studded stilettos and white wide brim hat on Melbourne Cup and Derby Day.
Arriving by helicopter with pal Rachael Finch, Elyse Knowles and Rachael (pictured left) posed up a storm in their over-sized hats and co-ordinating styles, while former WAG Nadia Bartel (right) also sported a wide-brim hat in canary yellow
Jessie Murphy (left on Melbourne Cup Day and right on Derby Day) won plaudits for wearing the same hat and shoes for both occasions
STATEMENT SLEEVES
From flared cuffs to billowing balloons, statement sleeves were seen on stars and punters alike throughout the carnival.
Lady Kitty Spencer, niece of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, epitomised elegance in a knitted boat-neck dress by Roland Mouret with dainty flared cuffs.
Rolex ambassador Kirsten Stanley was a vision in an ethereal strapless gown from Acler, which featured romantic balloon sleeves with embroidered hems.
Lady Kitty Spencer stunned in a Roland Mouret midi-dress with flared cuffs (left) while Kirsten Stanley looked stunning in a romantic floral dress with balloon sleeves (right)
Winner of Love Island Australia Tayla Damir (left) rocked a pretty pastel pink mini-dress with silver buttons and puff sleeves, while WAG Brit Davis chose a floor length pink-and-white brocade gown with billowing cuffed sleeves (left)
WAG Brit Davis chose a floor length pink-and-white brocade gown, which featured an asymmetric hemline – short at the front and long at the back – and billowing cuffed sleeves.
Reality star and Love Island Australia winner Tayla Damir opted for a more demure pastel pink mini-dress, embellished with silver buttons and pretty puff sleeves.