26 Dec
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100 Ascot Avenue, Remuera, Auckland
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We get all of the tips from one of this year’s Maman Fashions in the Field judges, Lou Heller, who is making her Ellerslie judging debut in this year’s competition.
Popular stylist and Maman Fashions in the Field judge Lou Heller fell in love with racing fashion from a young age.
“I moved to Christchurch at 19, and started going to the races in my twenties for staff functions. Back then I was a florist, but I just loved getting dressed up.”
“The more racedays I attended, the more I realised I wasn’t going for just the horses, but I was also going for the fashion. I started noticing everyone’s outfits around me, and I’d go and watch the fashion events on my own.”
About five years ago she toyed with the idea of entering the fashion competition herself, but even after becoming a stylist she never made the leap.
“I had this dream to do it, but I didn’t have the balls. But one day I got asked to judge the competition. Being a stylist it felt like a natural progression.”
She says she was drawn to the next level of fashion that raceday outfits bring.
“It’s the pomp, it’s the show, it’s the alter ego. It’s the fact that you’ve got 30 seconds to show off your best self and all of the details. It’s actually become a total side passion of mine.”
Heller has judged four fashion competitions in Christchurch including at this year’s NZ Cup Week and one in Wellington. But this year’s SkyCity Boxing Day Races here at Ellerslie will be her first time judging in Auckland.
She says she saw a lot of great outfits on the runway down south, and expects there to be more of the same in Auckland.
“I saw a lot of florals and a lot of very feminine silhouettes. But also a lot of what I loved was a woman in a suit or wearing lots of colour.”
But when it comes to specific trends, Heller says every raceday is so different.
“What you would see at Addington [Christchurch] on the Tuesday could be vastly different to what you’d see at Riccarton on Saturday, and it’s only four days later.”
Her hopes for Maman Fashions in the Field on Boxing Day?
“Feminine power. That could be a slight off the shoulder style with some sort of fun, amazing dynamic detail, or it could be a cinched waist with a big bow on it. It’s a full power moment.”
“It’s a balance between the feminine and masculine.”
WHERE CAN YOU GET INSPIRED?
Heller says it’s important to place less onus on trends and to try to find inspiration from all sorts of places.
“There’s actually no rules or trends when it comes to racewear. You can get ideas from the 50s, 60s or even the 70s. There’s nothing that defines a trend for racewear which I really really love.”
She says the only things you should consider are the little extras that the judges usually look for, which includes things like on-stage presence.
“It’s that energy both off and on stage, and making sure that presence is identical. I want to see our winners bringing it and delivering that fire energy.”
“There’s also the finer details and how much entrants think about the overall curation.”
Heller believes there’s a bit of psychology that comes into it too.
“Sometimes you look around at all the entrants off stage and they have that presence, but when it comes to being on stage, their walk is different and their smiles aren’t quite there.”
“Then on stage you get a much closer look too, and that’s when you can tell if a detail isn’t quite right and someone isn’t 100 percent feeling their outfit. It’s amazing sometimes to see how something that lands well off stage doesn’t quite have the same effect on stage.”
WHAT ARE THE DETAILS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON?
With every element under the microscope on stage, Heller says it’s important to consider the small things.
“The hair, the makeup and the nails all have to be on point. It’s things like how far did they go with the bag, or do they have a beautiful glove that goes with everything and syncs and flows.”
“Does a strappy heel work, or would it have been better to go with a pump?”
Heller says even the proportions of the outfit are something the judges will consider.
CAN I ENTER ON A BUDGET?
Heller says you don’t have to spend a fortune to pull together a winning outfit.
“I’ve created a great outfit made up of a tie from my cupboard, an old top in my wardrobe, some gifted shorts, a borrowed blazer and a $50 hat.”
“Sometimes the best outfits can come out of nothing if you just let go, and enjoy the fun of looking and creating it, rather than just focusing on winning.”
She believes that while most people will spend money to wear something once, often the best items are sitting right under our noses and in our own wardrobes.
“Use your wardrobe as a base, but if you need a dash of creativity turn to a platform like Pinterest to inspire you.”
ONE FINAL PIECE OF ADVICE?
Heller says if you’re planning on entering Maman Fashions in the Field it’s important to give it your all.
“Own it, relax and if you can, make sure that you smile from your heart, because it always shows.”
“Remember to focus on yourself too because everyone else is walking around worrying about their own outfit. If you’re not thinking about them you’re taking a big stressor out of your day.”
Heller says even if you head along to the races without the intention to enter, she says you might still find yourself up on the runway because she’ll be keeping her eyes peeled for the best dressed outside of the fashion tent.
“We really want to go out there and get people involved who haven’t even considered entering but are just out there enjoying the day.”
“One year I did that down in Addington, and then we went and found someone who ended up being in the finals.”
So whether it’s intentional or not, the advice is to go all out.
For more information on the SkyCity Boxing Day Races. or learn more about Maman Fashions in the Field here.
Get inspired and follow Lou Heller on Instagram here or find your dream raceday outfit from Maman.
