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!

Turnbull Stakes Day

It’s finally here. Spring Racing has started for 2013 with a spectacular day out for Turnbull Stakes last Saturday, and many more (hopefully!) to come!

Flemington Turnbull Stakes

A few spots of rain on the way to the tram were not to dampen the spirits of those who headed to the track for the Melbourne Cup preview day, especially the girl whose shoe had broken at Flinders Street Station! Kudos to her girlfriends who, in MacGyver-esque fashion, saved her shoe with a safety pin and bandaids.

Sarah Kempson Sol Hermana

On arrival, we headed to the Flemington Fling Bar, presented by Schweppes, where DJ Andy Murphy was in residence to make music, while behind the bar, mixologists created the original races cocktail, the Flemington Fling. Nail technicians were on hand to pamper the hands of racegoers with nailart designed by Helen Thurley.

Flemington Fling

Samantha Wills and Flemington FlingA gorgeous Samantha Wills ring, and a Flemington Fling mani!

The cocktails went down easily whilst we got our groove on early, before crossing the track to the Yellowglen marquee to enjoy some time in the sun with a glass of bubbles. Jewellery designer Samantha Wills had her fanciest cocktail rings on display and I thoroughly enjoyed sipping sparkling and trading racing tips with Phoebe of Lady Melbourne, Kyra of Pybus PR and Jan Breen Burns of Voxfrock. Note: we didn’t win!

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Yellowglen

Sarah Kempson Turnbull Stakes

A massive thanks to Sol Hermana for my Turnbull Stakes Day dress – a gorgeous polka dot number (which also has a matching blazer!) My headpiece is from Target (only $40!) and shoes are eBay (presumably fake) Manolo Blahnik.

Style GallvinatorL-R Me, Miranda (Style Gallivanter), Phoebe (Lady Melbourne), Erica (Melbgirl) and Charisma at the Flemington Fling Bar. Image thanks to StyleGallivanter.com

Visit the Schweppes Flemington Fling Bar at all four racedays at Flemington, on Level 1 of the Hill Stand. Expected to host over 2,000 racegoers throughout the Carnival, you can make your own at home by visiting www.cocktailrevolution.com.au. 

Gok Wan for Target

I’m a Tar-jay girl from way back. I can still recall a pair of khaki coloured shorts I picked up at Target for my Year 9 school camp – I wore those things to death for the next two years. Similarly, now I own three navy blue target cap sleeve tee shirts (yep, they are all the same!) just because I never want to be without a clean one.

The ads for Target featuring Gok Wan hit our screens a few weeks ago, and I got into the spirit of things, making suggestions by yelling at the TV, and making ‘in’ jokes about bangers (and as a girl with girls, I can do that. I hear what Gok is saying!)

So I headed along to the Gok Wan meet and greet last week, just a little bit star struck, and a lot excited about the realm of possibility for the Target of the future.

The Target Australia PR team gave us buyers and designers to chat to about the latest in store collections, but we were all truly loving Mr Wan,             whose charisma and enthusiasm for working with Target was evident – and then he spilled all their secrets.

We talked about the Aussie love of basics, about how Target wants to give teens ownership of their outfits and that in time, Target hopes to put together collections that compete with the likes of Zara, TopShop and H&M.

Image thanks to Meagan Harding Photography

Gok made us laugh, shared his fashion wisdom and his ‘must haves’ for this season: a stiff white collared shirt; a pair of straight indigo jeans; a pair of good flats!; something slightly unusual, with disconnected tailoring and a masculine pair of trousers, 7/8 length.

Anything in yellow and black is big this year, so check out the Hot Options, Free Fusion and Maax collections at Target to get a fashion forward look for Spring Summer.