What To Wear To Melbourne Cup This Year
The basics: get your suit right and you can’t go wrong
One thing everyone agrees on is that black suits have no place at the Cup. They’re too heavy and sombre in the harsh light of day. Anything you would wear to work on a Tuesday is probably not the right way to go. If dark tones are your thing, lean towards lightweight charcoal and navy.
Switching to lighter colours, we’re big fans of neutrals or pastel suits on race day. Wearing a taupe or beige suit allows you to go buck wild with a bright shirt or tie. Beige suiting is also a great foil for the retro-print shirts that are out in force this year.
Unexpected prints on your suit are another option worth exploring. We’ve seen very cool punters getting around in bold check jackets paired with block-coloured trousers. Subtle pinstripe prints are always a winner too.
Material-wise, keep cool in linen or lightweight wool blends that tend to be less stiff and formal than wool. As for the cut, you don’t want your suit to be too tight – but you do want it to be nicely tapered around the waist and legs.
Accessorising is encouraged
A few well-chosen accessories can elevate a look from passable to amazing. Some of the most stylish attendees we’ve seen on the field stand out because of their cool tie and pocket square combo.
Beat the ladies at their own game with a hat that gets people talking. The question is, who do you want to be? Old-school gangster hats, felt trilbies and paper-boy caps all have their place on the field.
Dress shoes aren’t the only option
On Cup Day, which is more fun and experimental than other calendar events, you can get away with sneakers or loafers if they’re high-quality and in a darker tone. These leather loafers from Santoni could be just the ticket.
