Three of the Biggest Fashion Trends This Spring – and How To Style Them for the Races

Along with warmer weather and longer days, spring signals a wardrobe shift – one that brings with it a refreshed sense of excitement when getting dressed. It also marks the return of racing season: a particularly fashionable time where you can pull out all the stops and be a little more experimental.

Trackside style is always best at the annual Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Carnival (from October 11 to 18), and this year you’ll find an entire precinct dedicated to the sartorially inclined: Fashion on Track. Inside, you can get a hair touch-up by stylists from celebrity-favourite South Yarra salon Joey Scandizzo, using Eleven Australia products; sip on a zesty lemon spritz from the Squealini pop-up bar; and capture your look at the Photo Finish Studio, where you can pick different backgrounds to best match your outfit and personal style.

Of course, dressing for the races can feel daunting. But this year, the motto is simple: back your own style. The Caulfield Cup Carnival’s Fashion on Track Style Guide is designed to help racegoers do just that – outlining five style archetypes and offering tips from experts, including celebrity stylist Lana Wilkinson and model Mary Vitinaros, to inspire your outfit choices. The style guide also includes a fashion shoot showcasing the five archetypes, with hair styling by Joey Scandizzo Salon and make-up by Chantelle Baker using Ellette.

While it’s good to keep trends in mind, it’s equally important to embrace your individuality and comfort. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up three spring trends that align beautifully with the style guide’s archetypes – giving you plenty of inspiration to lean into come race day.

Dots and stripes

Polka dots have been having a moment since Yayoi Kusama’s blockbuster show took over the NGV, and they’re not going anywhere. If it’s not spots, it’s stripes. Both classic prints are bringing back retro nostalgia through playful, edgy takes.

This season, they’re moving beyond monochromatic, black-and-white iterations – though this is always a timeless option to go for. Think drop-waist dresses and A-line silhouettes splashed with brightly coloured parallel lines, or silky skirts and tailored tops printed with polka dots in all different sizes. If you’re opting for separates, try doubling down on one print or balance out the pattern with a solid block colour. Go for something delicate or lean into a bolder look – it’s up to you.

’70s bohemia is back

The romanticism of boho dressing has made a soft comeback this spring. That means billowing cuts, embroidery, ruffled details, crochet, tassels, lace and tapestry florals that bring back memories of your grandma’s living room are taking centrestage. It’s a free-spirited look, best epitomised by French fashion house Chloe.

To stay on theme, you could even lean into a more equestrian-chic look, pairing floaty tunic-style silhouettes with riding boots and horseriding blazers. Or you could go slightly sheer and play with flowy, layered cuts.

As for accessories, bandanas are back. Swap out ornate millinery for a silky scarf tied around your hair, or knot one around your waist as a belt or on your bag as a draped charm. And when it comes to battling Melbourne’s unreliable weather, faux fur is still firmly in play. Throw on a shaggy boho fur jacket to add to your ensemble or go for something more cropped, with subtle trims.

Back to basics (with a subtle twist)

“Quiet luxury” is a term that’s cropped up a lot over the past couple of years, and while the fashion cycle seems to be swinging back towards maximalism – with chunky accessories and statement belts – there’s still something powerful about simple, everyday silhouettes that offer just a little extra.

That means tees and classic pencil skirts with exaggerated proportions; smart asymmetry in dresses; sculptural touches to classic jacket cuts and draped tops; and decorative hardware details intertwined into basic tanks. It’s an extra touch of sophistication to otherwise pared-back pieces.

On race day, that might look like beaded accents along a shoulder strap, a dramatic hemline on a streamlined dress or a crisp white shirt with an unexpected cut.

The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Carnival runs from October 11 to 18, with tickets starting from $50 via Ticketek.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Melbourne Racing Club.