Two Hamilton sisters are testing their skills of sourcing and altering race days outfits on the international stage.
Julie Barbour, the winner of Ellerslie's Fashion in the Field at last year's Boxing Day Races, will compete against hundreds of other hopefuls at the 2012 Myer Fashions on the Field at the Melbourne Cup tomorrow.
This year marks the 50th year of the fashion event at Flemington which attracts contestants from around Australia including celebrities. Miss Barbour, 26, and her sister Claire Preston, 29, who own Hamilton boutique Sisters on London, have spent hours on the perfect outfit by restyling a one-off blue and cream silk dress to add a dash of bright orange around the waist and make it the required knee-length. The dress will be matched with navy PagoGil shoes and a Natalie Chan head dress.
For the pair it has become an expensive hobby, which combines their love of fashion with their horse racing background.
Aucklander Marion Farrell is flying to Melbourne as part of her prize for winning the national fashions in the field final Prix de Fashion at Ellerslie in March. The 31-year-old administrator has also fashioned a summery dress using turquoise and lime silk.
