There's no need to be shy when dressing for raceday. Ellerslie has five fashion competitions with a total season prize pool in excess of $80,000 - so you could be in to reap rewards if you are a standout in the style stakes.
Google is a great resource if you're looking for the latest in racewear trends from which to draw inspiration for your outfit. Combine your research with the Dress Code, and you'll be looking your raceday best at Ellerslie this season.
Dress code
Ascot (Members) Stand and all hospitality areas
Smart Casual - no jeans, shorts or trainers and a collared shirt is required. Most people will be in raceday attire, ie suits and dresses, and a high standard of dress is encouraged in these areas.
Ellerslie (Public) Stand and public lawn areas
Tidy casual dress is expected
Whips n Spurs
Guests are encouraged to dress for Ladies' Day. Think summer frocks, Harris tweed, panama hats and English garden party attire. No shorts, jeans, singlets, Jandals or collarless shirts will be accepted.
Win fashion competitions
Sofitel Luxury Hotels' Melbourne Cup Style Award
Sofitel Luxury Hotels Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday, November 4.
How to enter
Racegoers just need to be spotted and impress the judges with their raceday style.
How it works
Judges will roam the course on the lookout for the best dressed men and women. The top three from each gender will be chosen and taken out to the presentation dais in the Birdcage where the Best Dressed Man and Woman will be announced.
Prize Package
• The Best Dressed Woman and Man will each win a $2000 prize package, thanks to Sofitel Luxury Hotels New Zealand
Fashions in the Field
The New Zealand Herald Boxing Day Races, Friday, December 26.
Nicolas Feuillate Fashions in the Field is as much a part of the Boxing Day Races as the racing is. This event attracts around 100 contestants and this year it will take in a marquee on the beautiful fashion lawn. The competition's total prize package is in excess of $30,000.
Competition categories are:
• Under 25
• Natalie Chan Millinery
• Canvas Ladies Racewear
• Specsavers Ascot Lady (over 45 years)
• Sharp Menswear
How to enter
• Anyone can enter their appropriate category and entry into the competition is free.
• All entrants are automatically entered into the Natalie Chan Millinery Award.
• Pre-registration will be available online at ellerslie.co.nz from November 11. Entries can also be made on the day from the fashion registration marquee located close to the competition area.
• All entrants must be 18 years or over.
How it works
• Entrants from each category take to the catwalk in a bid to be chosen by the judging panel as their category winner. Category winners win prizes and become eligible for the overall prize - the Supreme Award.
Prize Package
• The winner of each category will receive a $3000 prize package from their category sponsor.
• In addition to winning their category prize, the Supreme Award winner will also take home all the category prizes and receive automatic entry into the National Final of Viva Prix de Fashion.
Viva Prix De Fashion
TV3 Derby Day, Saturday, February 28
This competition is the most prestigious of the nationwide fashion competitions and is New Zealand's fashions in the field final. Featuring winners from competitions held across the country during the season, it is a showcase of the creme de la creme of racewear aficionados.
Prix de Fashion is New Zealand's premiere racing fashion event. The culmination of Fashion in the Field competitions held at thoroughbred racing clubs across the country, Prix de Fashion brings together the best of the best to find the person to represent New Zealand at the 2015 Myer Fashions on the Field as part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Competitors who have entered on the day take to the runway where one will be named the Viva Prix de Fashion Daily winner and receive a prize package from Viva valued at $15,000. They will automatically go through to the national final.
The final will feature the winners of fashion competitions held at approximately 13 clubs nationwide, from Whangarei to Christchurch. The final will showcase the regional winners and five semifinalists will be selected. The Viva Prix de Fashion National Winner will be chosen from the semifinalists. The Viva Prix de Fashion National Winner will receive a prize package valued at $30,000 from Natalie Chan, Victoria Racing Club and others. The prize includes automatic entry into Myer Fashions on the Field, Australia's top racing fashion competition, held during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
How to enter
• Anyone can enter and entry is free.
• Pre-registration will be available online at ellerslie.co.nz in February.
• Entries can also be made on the day from a small marquee located close to the competition area.
• All entrants must be 18 years or over.
How it works
• There are no categories in this competition and men compete against women.
Cup Couture presented by shopviva.co.nz
Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day, Wednesday, March 4
Cup Couture celebrates raceday fashion and is all about style, glamour and sophistication as we celebrate the best-dressed man and woman on course.
How to enter
Racegoers just need to be spotted and impress the judges with their raceday style.
How it works
Judges will roam the course on the lookout for the best dressed men and women. The top three from each gender will be chosen and taken out to the presentation dais in the Birdcage where the Best Dressed Man and Woman will be announced.
Prize Package
The best dressed man and woman will each receive a prize package valued at more than $4000 each.
Diamond Darling
Diamond Day, Saturday, March 7
The perfect blend of racing and fashion - being well-dressed is only half the fun. The winner of this competition is the woman who draws the winner of the day's Group I Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes race.
How to enter
• This competition is open to all women on course and entry is free.
• All entrants must be 18 years or over.
• Racegoers just need to be spotted and impress the judges with their raceday style.
How it works
• Judges will select up to 14 of the best-dressed women on course as finalists.
• Each finalist will randomly draw a horse in the Group I Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes.
• They will then be invited to the exclusive Owners' Hospitality Enclosure, where they will meet the trainer and jockey of their selected horse. They will then watch the race from the best spot on course which is normally reserved for race sponsors - the presentation dais in the Birdcage.
• The finalist whose horse wins the race wins the prize package
Prize Package
The winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $5000.
