Cairns Amateurs 2016 Wrap Day 1

What happens when you mix three action packed days in Cairns, a whole lotta fun and five functions?You get a lot of outfit panic at the Carlton Mid Cairns Amateurs Carnival!I was lucky enough to head up to Cairns to enjoy my fourth carnival and be a part of the judging panel for the QT Port Douglas Fashions on the Field. For those of you that aren't familiar with the Cairns Amateurs Carnival it is held over three days with two days of racing, a Ladies High Tea, Cocktail Party and a Ball.Flying in from Melbourne and landing late in Cairns on Wednesday night I was up early to attend the Cairns Central Ladies Fashion High Tea. As the name says, fashion was the focus of the event, with a long catwalk and non-stop parades throughout the morning featuring fashion from Cairns Central, Anthea Crawford, Kim Fletcher and incredible local Cairns designers and milliners. Being a racing event there was a best dressed competition too- each table nominated one person to go up on stage to be a part of the competition with the winner taking home $1000 gift voucher from Anthea Crawford.

After the fun of the morning was over it was time to go back to my hotel to relax and get ready for the Reef Hotel Casino President's Welcome Cocktail Party.This cocktail party is the official start to the Cairns Amateurs Carnival. Held for members and VIPs it was the perfect way to meet some of the people that make the Cairns Amateurs Carnival happen each year and celebrate the carnival in a relaxed and stylish way. Usually held outdoors on the roof top deck of the Reef Hotel and Casino, grey angry looking clouds forced the event to be moved indoors. With live music, canapes and flowing drinks the slight shift in surroundings didn't affect an enjoyable evening with great company.Stay tuned for the rest of my Cairns Amateurs wrap!By Angela Menz 

2016 Myer Fashions on the Field National Competition

Want to keep track of the Myer Fashions on the Field National Competition? This post will be updated as each finalist is revealed...STATE FINAL 1: QueenslandEvent date: Saturday, January 9. Gold Coast Turf Club at Magic Millions raceday.Judging panel: Viktoria Novak (Myer Milliner), Jackie Frank (Group Publisher at Pacific Magazines), Edwina Robinson, Adrian Norris (Directors/ Designers from Aje) Lizzie Stafford (Courier Mail Fashion Editor)State finalist: Inessa McIntyre from Benowa (yes she's a Queenslander!).Outfit details: Inessa wore a Versace signature patterned blouse with a black and gold striped skirt from a designer in the Ukraine. Her head was adorned with a bright and bold yellow flower headpiece with butterflies on it. Her shoes matched her headpiece perfectly with Inessa wearing yellow pumps with butterflies on the back. There must be a special mention of her hair- she had little curls of plaits all around the front of her face. Prizes: The main prize of course is a coveted place in the National Myer Fashions on the Field competition which includes  a 10-night trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival and automatic entry into the women’s national FOTF final on Oaks Day. $2,000 to spend at Myer, a 2-night luxury getaway at the Marriott, a Zara Phillips Collection by Calleija white gold and white diamond ‘Saddle’ Pendant and matching earring set valued at $11,600, a $200 gift card from Review, an Antler luggage pack and a Jero (that’s 3L) of Moët & Chandon.Runners-up: in 2nd place was Yvette Hardy in a full skirt dress by Maticevski and a swirl of millinery from Rebecca Share.3rd place went to Gracyn Masterson in a patterened Alice McCall top and matching skirt with striking millinery by SonliaSTATE FINAL 2: South AustraliaEvent date: Monday, March 14, Morphettville Racecourse SAJudging Panel: Kris Smith- Myer Ambassador, Kim Fletcher- Milliner, Anna Vlach- Fashion Editor or the Adelaide Advertiser, Cimon Vozzo- Fashion Editor The Sunday MailState Finalist: Courtney Moore 23 from Victoria.Outfit Details: Navy raised front, mid calf skirt from Ellery. Cut out top from Alice McCall and co-ordinating Moore Millinery percher style headpiece (Courtney's mum is one talented milliner!)Prizes: taking home prizes worth over $10,000 Courtney will of course enjoy a 10 day trip to the Melbourne Cup Carnival including flights, accomodation and ticketing. She will represent South Australia at the National Final of Myer Fashions on the Field on Oaks Day.Runners Up: 2nd place Kristie Edwards, 3rd place Crystal KimberBy Angela Menz

2016 Myer Fashions on the Field State Competition – Queensland Womens Racewear

A last minute decision saw me book a flight to the Gold Coast and head to Magic Millions raceday. I hadn't attended the raceday since I went for the whole carnival week back in 2008. The carnival has grown and this year celebrated it's 30th birthday. The fashions on the field competition has changed too, and for the past 3 years has been the QLD state competition for the National Myer Fashions on the Field competition.Since Queensland is a state that loves colour, I felt right at home in my Broccoli themed outfit-I had purchased the broccoli fabric from Ikea (it's a heavy cotton, most suitable for soft furnishings) and made a strapless dress during the week. To make it more raceday appropriate I added the green top from Country Road underneath. My millinery was self made and I was going for a turban/ head scarf styled look. I flew in and out from Melbourne on the day so my priority was being comfortable as I wore my outfit all day- on the flight there and back. I added Gorman earrings, ASOS sunnies and a Dinousar designs bracelet to finish off my look. I didn't enter the Myer FOTF competition, instead I watched, took photos and caught up with the FOTF and racing regulars.I live blogged during the day... See the QLD Myer Fashion on the Field State competition as it unfolded-Heats-

The Fashions on the Field competition was very high standard, and colour reigned supreme! Hemlines were very modest with the calf length skirt trend continuing. Silhouettes were quite evenly split between fitted and full skirts, with off the shoulder styles being quite popular. Hats and head pieces were quite big overall, especially compared to what I saw during the spring in Victoria.Personally I was a bit surprised by some of the judging decisions with some stunning outfits marching straight off the stage in the heats, but I will concede it would've been a difficult competition to judge. One of the judging criteria is showing "style and originality" and this seemed to be what the judging panel was focusing on. The top 10 line up showed off some very impressive personal style. There were a few women whom I felt could've taken out the grand prize, but there can only be one winner- Inessa McIntyre was the chosen one going home with the QLD state finalist sash and some fabulous prizes. If there was betting on Myer FOTF I think it would be fair to say she would have been at pretty long odds, but her effervescent personality and originality in her outfit pipped the short priced favourites at the post. I look forward to seeing more of Inessa's unique and fabulous fashion during the Melbourne Cup Carnival!Angela Menz