Vintage fashion leads the field

'A dress five inches above the knee, no hat, no gloves and no stockings well’, huffed a former Lady Mayoress of Melbourne, ‘if she wants to do that in London that’s her business, but it’s not done here’. 

Of course this was the Melbourne Cup in 1965 when the world’s most famous and most beautiful model dared to wear a mini dress to the iconic race day.

Jean Shrimpton’s outfit welcomed the sixties into stuffy Melbourne and the following year mini dresses were all the rage at the races, accompanied by, we’re pleased to say, hats.

The Spring Carnival is the ideal season for vintage millinery. In fact many fashion experts say vintage hats are a strong favourite with the judges of Fashions on the Field. One reason for this is they’re so flattering and of course, completely original.

Vintage Hats from Bowerbird Vintage (hyperlink)

How you wear your hat is just as important as the piece itself. It’s very chic to wear your hat at a jaunty angle and classic glamour is always a safe choice. A favourite style is the pillbox, often trimmed with eye-covering netting and vintage adornments.

Buying vintage also makes it possible to own a couture hat for less and it’s an investment you’ll make a return on next racing season.

Jackie O made the pillbox hat famous, so classy.

Vintage racewear has made a huge comeback and Kim of Sydney’s own Bowerbird Vintage says this year it will be all about sixties glamour.

Echoes of Jean Shrimpton will be trackside this spring in A line shift dresses, waistless bag dresses and mini skirts.

Rebecca Twigley wears ‘The Shrimp’ at Derby Day.

Trouser suits and flowing caftans in big, bold, beautiful prints will also be popular. Kim reminded us that the perfect accessories are oversize sunglasses, fabulous Maryjane’s, glomesh clutches and of course the pillbox and also the wide brimmed hat.

Audrey and the oversizes sunglasses.

Bowerbird Vintage wide-brimmed hat

Sixties fashion fits in with spring racing so perfectly as that gorgeous super model showed us all those years ago. Search out your own outfit in psychedelic colors, geometric prints, space age shimmer or funky over sized floral and you’ll find what was once such controversial fashion will be a safe bet in 2013.

The A-line dress, monochromatic or with funky oversizes florals.