A Season in Bloom – The 2024 Spring Carnival Style Guide
The Spring Racing Carnival is more than a calendar of race days — it’s the grand stage for Australian racing fashion. From monochrome mastery on Derby Day to the bold glamour of Melbourne Cup, each event offers its own style story, and this year’s RFW Spring Carnival Style Guide is your passport to dressing the part.
The Mood: Fresh, Confident, and Effortlessly Polished
Spring racing is about celebration — longer days, colour in full bloom, and the thrill of the season’s most prestigious races. Our 2024 edit captures that joy with looks that balance tradition and modernity.
This season, we leaned into:
- Pastel perfection in blush pinks, butter yellows, and sky blues
- Modern monochrome with sculptural details
- Statement millinery that turns heads without overpowering
- Luxe metallics as the new neutral
Event-by-Event Inspiration
Derby Day
A symphony of black and white, elevated with pearls, sleek tailoring, and architectural millinery. We’ve paired form-fitting silhouettes with statement accessories to keep the tradition timeless yet fresh.
Melbourne Cup Day
The race that stops the nation calls for vibrant confidence. Think bold reds, unexpected textures, and millinery as a conversation starter. From feathered brims to structured crowns, every headpiece in our edit is a showpiece.
Oaks Day
Feminine and romantic, Oaks Day is your moment for softer tones, floral details, and fluid fabrics. Our pastel edits — from blush midi dresses to soft lilac and powder blue — are accented with delicate jewellery and light-as-air headpieces.
Stakes Day
Relaxed yet refined, Stakes Day looks in our guide favour easy elegance: wide-leg tailoring, subtle metallic accessories, and hats that nod to race-day tradition without being overstated.
Millinery & Accessories
The Spring Carnival is incomplete without the perfect headpiece. In 2024, we’ve curated:
- Structured brims for a powerful silhouette
- Pillbox shapes for timeless chic
- Floral embellishments for a soft, romantic finish
- Pearl details as the ultimate neutral accessory
Bags are sleek and structured, heels balance style with wearability, and jewellery is chosen to complement — never compete.
The RFW 2024 Spring Carnival Edit
Our guide includes pieces from Self-Portrait, Paspaley, Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Ilkyaz Ozel, Mach & Mach, Awon Golding, Nicholas Haywood, and more — each selected for its ability to capture the unique mood of its race day.
We’ve taken the guesswork out of styling, pairing dresses with the right millinery, shoes, and accessories for an ensemble that feels complete from head to heel.
The Verdict
This year’s Spring Carnival Style Guide is about joy, expression and the confidence that comes from knowing you’re perfectly dressed for the moment. Whether you’re trackside or celebrating from afar, our curated looks will carry you through the season in style.