FINISHED! A dress for race day

This was supposed to be a fun post about the dress I made and wore for Melbourne Cup day. Australians all know the Cup, but for those of you not in Australia, this horse race really does 'stop the nation'! Almost everyone watches the race.  Workplaces (that still work on this day -Victorians get the day off) usually have some form of lunch and then all crowd around a tv (or mobile phone!) to watch the race at 3pm.  I love the day. I always make a special effort for work, wear something fun, don a fascinator, have a glass of champagne and always buy too many entries in a sweep thinking that I'm going to win and never do. Unfortunately yesterday was marred after two of the horses died after this years race, so I have been torn as to whether or not to share this dress, but I have decided to share it. I'm sorry if it offends anyone.
I found this fabric for $5/m, clearly polyester, at Spotlight and immediately had in mind a Melbourne Cup dress. Seriously, it has every type of horse event on it so it was an obvious decision. I have had a bit of 'post make' regret that I didn't just make a skirt that I would be able to then don a stripey top with (my usual neutral), but that wouldn't be 'Melbourne Cup'. A dress it had to be and a pussy bow seemed appropriately costumey for the Cup.
I have been extremely busy lately and I knew the time leading up to Cup Day would be limited so I decided to go with a tried and true pattern: W from 'Les Coleurs Francaise' by Tsukiori Yoshiko.
I have used this pattern many times, hereherehere, here and here, Phew That's a lot of times! It is originally a top pattern, but this is the second time that I have lengthened it into a short dress.
I didn't quite have enough fabric to match the rows of horses up exactly so I matched up the stripes but just not the exact horse pattern. I don't mind it in fact - it provides a little bit of interest on the sides. And I love the orange collar!
The colour probably doesn't do my hair and complexion any favours but a dress for the races, should be a bit over the top and the colours I think are perfectly flashy for the races. I did wear a fascinator but it was a bit boring and rushed so I don't have any photos of me wearing it.  Next year I'll start earlier and raise the standard of my fascinator. On the day, this was a very fun dress to wear and I got a lot of comments about it .. and my orange shoes!

40 comments:

  1. I need to control my excitment about this amazing dress! It really suits you and I love the shoes. Orange just happens to be my favourite colour (although, sadly lacking in my wardrobe lately). No regrets, just enjoy! It is so tragic about the horses, but I don't think you are being disrespectful by showing your dress!

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  2. These colours look so good on you! And another amazing addition to your wardrobe!

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  3. It's quite possibly the most perfect races dress I've ever seen. Sad news about the horses, but this dress definitely needed a showing. Awesome matching shoes.

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  4. On the contrary, I think you look absolutely smashing in these colors! This looks like the perfect race day get up to me! Very sad to hear about the horses, but I am glad you decided to share the dress anyway. It's so fun!

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  5. such a fun dress! i think the colors looks great on you, it's so bright and cheerful. so sad to hear about the horses though!

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  6. Very appropriate! I love the colours and your shoes. Yes the aftermath was quite shocking but I am sure you enjoyed your day up until that point. I have been in Australia for Cup day and was quite surprised how everything justs stops. Here in New Zealand there are lots of office sweepstakes. Where I live it is the beginning of our own anniversary race week. Bring on Show Week next week!

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  7. The dress, the shoes... you're one heck of a stylish lady

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  8. It's fabulous. I wonder if you will ever wear it at other times of year (I would!)? And love your shoes too, of course!

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  9. This is such a great dress, and looks lovely on you! What a fabulous print find.

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  10. This dress is so fun!!!! and the shoes are simply fab! What a terrible thing about those horses - I adore horses and it breaks my heart ho hear such things but what happend has nothing to do with your dress so I’m glad you decided to share it!

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  11. Great thoughtful post Kirsty. Love the dress - perfect for cup festivities.

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  12. Thank you for sharing your dress, it's lovely :) and I have to agree that it was an awful day though. I don't think I can ever look at the Melbourne Cup in the same way ever again

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  13. Great dress. Thanks for sharing.
    It's interesting the talk that has been surrounding the races.
    Back to the dress, very fitting fabric and lovely colours.

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  14. So this is crazy awesome! Stripes, ponies and sassy design. It is totally cup worthy!

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  15. What a fun dress. It looks amazingly good with those shoes you're wearing!

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  16. The dress and shoes were perfect for the occasion.

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  17. A tragic end to the Cup no doubt, but your dress is a still fabulous in its own right. Great colours!

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  18. Such perfect fabric! Goodness I'm a bad melbournian - i didn't watch the race at all. So sad about the poor horses, but I am glad you shared with us.

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  19. Thanks Sarah! I hope you were doing something super fun on the day.

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  20. Thanks Maria. I've had those shoes for so long it's great to dig them out for a wear.

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  21. Thanks so much! I was so worried about what shoes to wear and then I remembered them shoved in the back of my wardrobe!

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  22. Yes, it felt so weird to then try and write this post.

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  23. Sometimes Spotlight comes out with the funniest prints! I have been trying to comment on your blog for the last 3 posts and am having such problems. Don't think I don't read it!!

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  24. mmm, good question. Probably not, but if I ever go to the races I will !

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  25. Ha - you and I were like horsey twins on Cup day.

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  26. I did have a great time! Hope Show week is fun!

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  27. I think that yellow might not be great, but thank you for your lovely comment x

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  28. Thanks Sallie! It was a very fun dress to wear.

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  29. Oh Debbie, if only I could have got the perfect fascinator I would have been sorted. Next year!

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  30. That is so strange about the comments - I've taken comment verification off now too. Which browser do you use?
    Suzy x

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  31. I use Chrome, but also tried firefox. Will try again.

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