Stakes Day

Finally! The last day of the carnival. My knees hurt. My back hurts. I’m tired. But the show must go on and the last hurrah of the Spring Racing Carnival for 2013 would bring rain, wind and a whole lot of fun.

Sarah Kempson

The weather was proving difficult to dress for and so I committed the fashion crime of the century – I wore pants to Emirates Stakes Day. At seventeen degrees with predicted showers and with two rather bruised and battered knees from my fainting spell on Oaks Day, I felt there was no better time than now to break the fashion rules. Thursday afternoon saw me scouring the wardrobe for alternate options and after a quick trip to the tailors, my pants were ready to go.

Sarah Kempson, Emma Heaslip, Olivia Nunn

Keeping my colours light for Spring, the pink ASOS pants, white ZARA top and nude Sachi heels made for a fresh outfit on a blustery day. Amusingly, my oversized Morgan & Taylor summer hat went very well with my Wayne Cooper coat, H&M gloves and Kmart clutch – all in black!! I love the contradiction of Melbourne weather. The poor kids entering Fashions on the Field stood in line with bare arms and legs shivering through the cold, with smiles on their faces the whole time.

Olivia Nunn and Sarah Kempson

After the merriment of the competition was completed, our team headed to the Birdcage for a well earned champers at Bar Schweppes by Broadsheet, downing bubbles and boutique cocktails like water and munching on the gourmet delights like we hadn’t eaten in a week. Much dancing was done, until the music stopped and the carnival was over.

Sarah Kempson Bar Schweppes

A final hurrah in the carpark rounded out another amazing week at Flemington and the Spring Racing Carnival for 2013. My many thanks to Emma and Olivia for being such great teammates, and MiNC Events for being such wonderful facilitators of the Fashions on the Field competition. To Sachi Shoes for my super comfy heels for the week, Morgan and Taylor for my headpieces and Sol Hermana for dresses – I am a very spoilt girl and it was my pleasure to wear your beautiful things!

Bar Schweppes by Broadsheet

And to all my concerned friends – I will go to the doctor this week!!!

xxx

  • 12 years ago
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Oaks Day

One for the ladies, Oaks Day was humid and overcast as I made my way to Flemington for the third day of the Cup Carnival. Wearing the girliest of all outfits (my cousin has dubbed me a ‘forest fairy;), I was hopeful the rain would hold off until our work was done, and that we’d have plenty of time post shift to enjoy the hospitality of the Birdcage.

Sarah Kempson SchweppesLeft: At home before heading to the races, wearing Morgan and Taylor floral headband, Target dress (Psst! It’s on sale!!) and Sachi shoes.
Right: In the Schweppes Bar, looking rather windswept and tired at the end of the day! 

Oaks Day is all about the fashions, with the National winner for Womens Racewear at Myer Fashions on the Field being crowned. Representing Victoria, 19 year old Chloe took out the sash, with oodles of prizes including a $95k Lexus, a holiday, a Myer shopping spree, multiple TVs, luggage and whole stack more. Chloe has a serious dedication to the clothes – hailing from the Northern Territory, Chloe flew to Melbourne on Tuesday, won the Cup Day fashion competition, headed home for an exam before jetting back to Flemington for Thursdays final. Just wow!!

Chloe Moo LexusNational Fashions on the Field 2013 Winner, Chloe, is awarded the Lexus!

Speaking of exhausted, I didn’t think I was but an embarrassing little fainting spell says otherwise. In the manner of shoeless drunk girls on the lawn at the end of the day, I collapsed before lunch, smack into a lineup of fashion contestants waiting to go onstage. A bruised knee and a bruised ego, the team at MSS security and St Johns ambulance, as well as my MiNC colleagues, were all wonderful in making sure I was all ok before I resumed my position on the VIP door. Time for an iron levels check up I think (I promise I’d eaten breakfast and all that jazz!!).

Jeff Banks and Sarah KempsonWith Fashions on the Field host and man about town, London suit designer Jeff Banks.

Following the end of a freezing shift on the door, Olivia and I headed to the Birdcage for a somewhat more subdued experience than I had planned! We arrived at Bar Schweppes – presented by Broadsheet – looking for a seat, a heater, and some food. Schweppes had all three, and the food was amazing. Morsels cooked up by Melbourne’s best eateries (and cocktails from our most talented bartenders!!) were served and consumed immediately and I was thrilled to note the table menus also listed which of the items were gluten free! HUGE thumbs up to these guys and a massive thanks for the corn chip encrusted chicken and chips, really hitting the spot at the end of the day.

Sarah Kempson, Olivia Nunn, Emma BoggiL-R: Sarah, Emma and Olivia. Emma wears Manning Cartell; Olivia wears Rodeo Show with Adorn Collection Millinery.

Three days down and one to go – sadly the weather for Stakes Day is looking less than pleasant so an outfit change is in order!

  • 12 years ago
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Derby Day at the Spring Carnival

It felt like I blinked and it was November. All of a sudden, it was the start of the Cup Carnival; Derby Day was upon us and with it, the most divine weather for a race day we’ve had in quite some time.

Sarah Kempson Derby DayOn the Myer Fashions on the Field Catwalk

Having been TERRIBLY disorganised this year, I was still deciding on an outfit the night before the event. Testing frocks twelve hours before you are due at the track is never a good idea, but the wonder that is my wardrobe spilt forth several options, with the final decision being the tried and tested Dion Lee for Cue number. With millinery provided by Morgan and Taylor and shoes by Sachi, I procured a clutch from Kmart and earrings for a pop of colour from Design Studio at Myer. I was ready to roll.

Sarah Kempson and Olivia NunnWith Olivia in the Myer Fashions on the Field VIP enclosure
(Olivia wears HarryWho with millinery by Adorn and shoes by Mollini)

It was great to be back on track with my Fashions on the Field VIP team – clearly something Olivia said here was hilarious (and I don’t think we’d had any champagne at this point either!) The weather didn’t disappoint, and neither did the calibre of the Fashions on the Field for 2013.

Myer Fashions on the Field winner Derby Day

The gorgeous winner, Ashley Albanese, made her dress from leather and only finished it at 5am! She will be on Oaks Day to vie for the title of Victorian champion and be in the running for a stack of amazing prizes, including a Luxus!

Sarah Kempson Olivia Nunn Emma Heaslip Derby DayWith Olivia and Emma – we make a great looking team!

Another fantastic race day is done – one down, three to go!

  • 12 years ago
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