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Choosing the right Fascinator this Spring Racing Carnival

Updated: 28 March 2024

Going to the races is an important and fun part of Australian culture. It’s full of excitement, thrills and of course fashion on the fields. Seeing the bright colours and the statement headpieces is so exciting. It’s the best part of the Spring carnival season.

Spring racing fashion demands that you wear a fascinator as part of your outfit. Big, small, lacy, structural, with lots of flowers to your choice – as long as you have a fascinator on your head.

We at Kat Flowers believe that the fascinator is the hero of the day and advise that you choose your fascinator FIRST and then mix and match everything else around it. This is the best method to ensure you get things right the first time.

The tradition of wearing fascinators to important occasions dates back to Marie Antoinette, the queen of France. These days, fascinators are worn on occasions where a hat would have been traditional such as weddings, funerals and of course the races.

However, attending the races isn’t as easy as you may think. There is the dress you must choose, the shoes you need to match, the hairstyle you need to finalise and organise and most importantly – the all-important fascinator that you need to make a statement in.

This can get crazy very quickly so we advise you to plan early. Call us well before the Spring Racing Season and get YOUR fascinator organised first – ASAP.

The following are some tips for picking the correct fascinator for YOU and your overall outfit.

FACE SHAPE

Depending on your face shape – fascinators best suit faces as described below -here are some tips to help pick out the right fascinator for you.

OVAL

Wear fascinators with more width.  You can also wear those that are smaller and have more details on them. For those with longer oval face shapes, a large-brim hat always complements the face shape.

ROUND

Wear fascinators that are wide and those with long line details. Fascinators that slope away from the forehead are also good. Brim hats are highly recommended.

SQUARE

Wear a fascinator that has layers and heights. Also, look for feathers, and larger flowers with flowing lines and details to soften the look.

HAIR

BUN

This is good for large statement fascinators that clip on the hair.
Use the bun to create extra space for the headpiece to be placed on your head. For a circular tidy bun, use a hair doughnut. For a messy bun, go freestyle.

PONYTAIL

Ponytails are great for crowns.
Plan how and where you will wear your fascinator. Add a fringe to frame your face. Use volumising hair spray to the pony to add bounce.

LOOSE AND WAVY

This is an excellent choice of hairstyle for fascinators that extend outwards.
The best way for natural waves is to wash your hair the night before and scrunch up your damp hair and let it dry naturally. Add some texturising hair spray for that extra wavy look. Touch up with a curling wand the next morning and set with hair spray for that final touch.

OUTFIT

Firstly pick your outfit AFTER you have purchased your fascinator with us. Dresses are easier to buy and there are many choices available that can be easily matched to your fascinator. However, fascinators are now – the main event! Pick your fascinator first – we cannot recommend this any stronger.

As advised, your dress should follow your fascinator. They should complement each other.  Alternatively, your dress can be subtly contrasting the fascinator for the fascinator to stand out.

Choose comfy heels. If not, bring fold-up flats to put in your purse. Do not leave the race track in bare feet at the end of the day – you want to look classy and do justice to that work of art on your head.

group of ladies wearing fascinators enjoying the spring racing carnival

OUR MOST IMPORTANT TIPS FOR SPRING CARNIVAL RACING SEASON ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  • The bigger the fascinator does not always mean it is better – we recommend a personal consultation with us at Kat Flowers and Events to go over all of the options as described above to ensure you choose the right fascinator – just for YOU.
  • The fascinator is going to be the hero of the overall look and outfit – choose your fascinator FIRST and work everything else around the fascinator – not the other way around.
  • Be yourself – remember you are wearing it so the fascinator should reflect YOU and your taste – we at Kat Flowers and Events will ensure we make the perfect fascinator that suits YOUR choices and your tastes.

2024 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Calendar

DATES RACEDAY TRACK
Saturday, 07 September 2024 MOIR STAKES DAY Moonee Valley
Saturday, 14 September 2024 SOFITEL GIRLS’ DAY OUT Flemington
Saturday, 21 September 2024 UNDERWOOD STAKES RACEDAY Caulfield
Sunday, 22 September 2024 DERBY AND OAKS TRIAL DAY Flemington
Friday, 27 September 2024 MANIKATO STAKES DAY Moonee Valley
Saturday 28 September 2024 ANSETT CLASSIC DAY Sandown
Saturday, 5 October 2024 TURNBULL STAKES DAY Caulfield
Saturday 12 October 2024 CAULFIELD GUINEAS DAY Caulfield
Saturday 16 October 2024 CAULFIELD SOCIAL DAY Caulfield
Saturday, 19 October 2024 CAULFIELD CUP DAY Caulfield
Wednesday, 23 October 2024 GEELONG CUP DAY Geelong
Friday, 25 October 2024 MOONEY VALLEY CUP NIGHT Moonee Valley
Saturday, 26 October 2024 COX PLATE DAY Moonee Valley
Wednesday, 30 October 2024 BENDIGO CUP DAY Bendigo
Saturday, 02 November 2024 VICTORIA DERBY DAY Flemington
Tuesday, 05 November 2024 MELBOURNE CUP DAY Flemington
Thursday, 07 November 2024 VRC OAKS DAY Flemington
Saturday, 09 November 2024 VRC CHAMPIONS STAKES DAY Flemington
Saturday, 16 November 2024 THOUSAND GUINEAS DAY Caulfield
Saturday, 23 November 2024 CRANBOURNE CUP DAY Cranbourne
Saturday, 30 November 2024 ZIPPING CLASSIC DAY Caulfield
Saturday, 04 December 2024 BALLARAT CUP DAY Ballarat

Contact us today for a personalised consultation to start designing your perfect fascinator for this years Spring Racing Carnival season. We will make the perfect fascinator to suit you that everyone will be envious of.

Kind Regards

Anna