Best outfits from Spring Racing Carnival’s penultimate day

Suit: Tanner Fletcher
Boots: Dior

At the risk of outshining his famous mother, Elizabeth Hurley, wearing a white lace Monique Lhuillier dress after her outing in sunflower Rebecca Vallance to Tuesday’s Cup, Damian Hurley added best-dressed male to his list of accolades, many of which revolve around his incredible bone structure.

After a brief visit to the Birdcage, the pair, guests of the Victoria Racing Club, spent Oaks Day in the Committee Room, before judging the best-dressed and best-suited finals of Fashions on the Field.

While the Hurleys were notoriously mum where interviews have been concerned this week, Damian was happy to share details of his suit, by American designer Tanner Fletcher, which added a playful spin to the gender norms of Oaks Day. – Melissa Singer

Gemma Ward, model/actor

Outfit: Zimmermann
Jewellery: Paspaley
Millinery: Ezara/J
Shoes/bag: Jimmy Choo

Looking like she stepped off the set of an adaptation of The Great Gatsby, model and actor Gemma Ward was ready for a good time at the Crown Marquee in a current-season Zimmermann column dress, and a lot of pearls by Paspaley, from Ward’s native Western Australia.

Asked when she feels her most feminine – because, Oaks Day – the model-actress says when she’s doing self-care, enjoying nature with her three children or dressing up. “I do a lot of self-massage with oils, and I do love an ice bath,” she confessed.

Before arriving in the Birdcage, Ward stopped past the mounting yard. Does she ride? A little, says Ward, who has walked for Prada and Alexander McQueen. “I’m trying to convince a friend of mine to buy a horse.” – Melissa Singer

Renee Brown, Jardan, creative director

Outfit: La Double J
Sunglasses: Loewe
Handbag: Charles & Keith

It’s a short leap from making desirable furniture to crafting a look that you’re perfectly at home wearing. Former model and Jardan creative director Renee Brown applied her domestic design skills to the racewear brief.

“It’s a day for creatives in the Lexus marquee, so I was determined to be creative with colour,” Brown says. “I’m obsessed with colour and patterns and wanted to be bright today.”

The brocade, chartreuse-yellow outfit with a blue ostrich feather trim was in the spirit of Prada. “But it’s La Double J,” Brown says. “A few people have said it’s Prada, but that’s not a bad thing, is it?” – Damien Woolnough

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