Oaks Day best dressed: Flirty, fresh and fun the winning formula

‘Ladies Day’ used to be the poor cousin to Derby and Cup days when it came to the fashions – not any more.

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Oaks Day can present fashion lovers with a dilemma: do you lean into the tried-and-true formula of pastels and florals, or do you go for something left of centre in an attempt to shake things up? Or, perhaps, a little from column A and a little from column B? As Cup Week draws to a close, it’s a welcome sign that the penultimate day of the carnival continues to gain fashion cred. Here were some of the best on ground. Michelle Payne, trainer, Melbourne Cup winning jockey 2015 Winning feeling .

.. Michelle Payne.



Credit: Penny Stephens Dress: Vivienna Lorikeet Millinery: Wendy Scully Having accessorised her jockey silks with the Melbourne Cup trophy in 2015, it’s safe to suggest that Michelle Payne has good instincts. “The best outfit is one that you feel comfortable in immediately,” Payne says. “I knew this dress was a winner straight away.

” Weaving her way through the Crown marquee like an embellished ice skater, Payne sported a Russian-style headband that added some formality and centimetres to the cheerful ensemble. “I take the extra height where I can,” she says. – Damien Woolnough Damian Hurley, director.