Four days of extreme weather, a fainting spell, a little flu and and the sorest feet I have ever experienced are done. Melbourne Cup Week 2011 is over.
It started with excitement and anticipation, champagne filled days and canape filled nights, yet ended in a haze of sunscreen and bottled water. I have never been so grateful for a cool shower and my couch in my life.
Last Saturday kicked off in divine style at the Derby, a pleasant low 20s start to Cup Week where the traditional black and white came out to play and I had a glorious day in the sun after my first shift at Fashions on the Field.
Derby Day – Dress by Camilla and Marc, shoes by Wittner, facinator by Morgan & Taylor, watch by ASOS, bracelets, earrings and ring by Diva
The feet didn’t fare so badly on the first day but the back of my neck showed the effects of six months of Winter and my iPhone didn’t take well to being bounced off the temporary floor.
A two day break and we were back at it for the race that stops a nation – Melbourne Cup Day. A breezy 19 degrees but we toughed it out, braving the elements in just a shawl and enjoying the atmosphere that Melbourne provides, unlike anywhere else in the world.
Melbourne Cup Day – Dress by Basque at Myer, shoes by Lipstik at StyleTread, facinator by Kasmo Design, ring by Lovisa, earrings by Diva
My shoes were the casualty of the day, slightly tarnished after a little trip on the stairs, however no one noticed a little scuff in the Lexus marquee where my collegue and I partied until the music stopped.
Oaks Day is traditionally ladies day and I’d had the frock planned for this one a long time coming. With the arrival of Sarah Jessica Parker in the birdcage, I was planning on looking my most Carrie Bradshaw-esque just in case the most fashionable one of them all pop by our enclosure.
Oaks Day – Dress by Cue at Myer, belt by Peter Lang for Cue, shoes by Wittner, facinator by Morgan & Taylor, earrings by Chanel
But it wasn’t meant to be. Not long after starting my shift I was taken ill after a fainting spell and spent the rest of the day rugged up in my coat and scarf perched on a chair at my post, shivering my way through the 18 degree chill and an oncoming fever.
It was straight home to bed where my temperature topped 39 degrees and I feared not being able to make the final of the four days. 24 hours in bed (on the laptop of course) rendered me well enough to head back to the track for Stakes Day but for me there would be no final day parties.
Day four of the Cup Carnival greeted us with soaring temperatures – the first day over 30 degrees since March. It was all I could do to stay in the shade, let alone stay upright in my heels, but a fashionista must go on and that’s what I did.
Emirates Stakes Day – Dress by Target (Vintage from Op Shop), shoes by Tony Bianco, bag by Glomesh (Vintage from Op Shop), facinator by Kasmo Design, watch by ASOS
I served my time, said my farewells and headed home to rest my tired feet and aching body, wash off the sunscreen and get ready to go back to the real world. Another fashionable event is over and we now look forward to the (hopefully!) quieter Christmas period before LMFF early next year.
I hope you had a win – either on the horses or in the fashion stakes – this Cup Carnival!
Images thanks to Olivia; my thanks to Kasmo Design for all my headpieces this week.
