So far, we’ve covered the dress and the shoes; you’ve managed to borrow a hot little number off a friend and invested in some nude-coloured pumps – so far so good, but what about the accessories? Spring Racing Carnival just isn’t the same without some kind of headpiece and perhaps a little bling, so here are some tips on how to get this part right without blowing your budget.
THE ACCESSORIES
When it comes to the races, I would say I have a love/hate relationship with hats and fascinators – in particular with the latter. On the one hand, they can look absolutely stunning, and they’re nice to bring out for special occasions...but on the other hand, when else would you really need to wear something like a fascinator? Appropriate events are few and far between, and unless you’re a regular Autumn and Spring race-goer, it’s understandable if you’re a bit hesitant in spending a lot on something you may only ever wear once in your life, or at least once a year. Whilst the universe won’t explode if you don’t wear a hat or fascinator to a race day, you might feel very naked without one amongst the abundance of other frilled and feathered headwear around you.
Hats are a good option because they are practical; they provide shade and you’re therefore more likely to wear them to other occasions – lunches, picnics, the beach – and so on. Fascinators however, are usually more dainty, show your face more, and won’t reveal embarrassing hat-hair if they blow off into the wind. The downside is they can also be quite expensive! Try a DIY approach by buying pieces for your fascinator from a craft store like Lincraft or Spotlight and putting your customised headpiece together yourself. This way you can make sure the colour and style matches your outfit perfectly. If opting for a hat – you can add on embellishments and features in the same manner. Discount department stores like Target, Kmart and Big W also sell an abundance of hats and fascinators in basic colours for a decent price – have a look and see if you can spruce these up to match your outfit more, or for the biggest bargain visit a few op shops and see what you can find. Chain stores like Diva, Equip and Lovisa also sell headpieces suitable for the races, and if you don’t want to wear a hat or fascinator, a cute detailed headband will also do the trick, and are usually much cheaper.As for jewellery, sometimes more items might not even be needed – a hat or fascinator often stands out enough, and you don’t want to clutter your outfit by over-accessorising. Stick to simple rather than statement pieces – smaller earrings and a simple wrist cuff can be enough. Check out the op shops for one-off pieces or borrow from a friend for a budget way to accessorise.
So that brings our budget spring racing planning advice to a close. Have you got any special tips that you are planning on using in preparation for race days?
