The race that stops two nations and the fashion that turns our heads

We recently caught up with Laura Williams – one of our very own big fashion winners who is currently across the ditch, ready to compete in the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s Fashions on the Field competition, and got her advice for pulling together the perfect raceday outfit.

Laura Williams in the suit that stole the judges’ eyes in the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s ‘Best Suited’ online competition this year.

Laura Williams is no stranger to the fashions on the field runway. The Gisborne local has spent the past eight years competing in various racing fashion competitions, and relishes the chance to switch out her gumboots for a pair of heels.

“I actually haven’t won a huge amount of competitions, but I’ve been really lucky to win some really big ones.”

“I’ve won New Zealand’s fashions in the field final, The Ned Prix de Fashion [at Ellerslie], twice and on my first time I qualified on the day and it was such a surreal experience. I just kept getting called and that was super, and then I won it!”

Williams is the only person to win that competition twice, and it’s not her first time competing at the Melbourne Cup Carnival either.

“I went through to Melbourne in 2022, and was lucky enough to be one of the winners on the day. I made it through to the grand final for Australia, which I didn’t place in, but it was just amazing to be in the final 12.”

She’s now gearing up to do it all again this year after qualifying in the Best Suited category online.

“Women have been competing in best suited for three years, and this will be the third year. They’ve had a first runner-up female, but they’re yet to have a female winner.”

“So that is the ultimate goal. To do that and try and make our own little bit of Flemington history.”

With a custom green suit and Claire Hahn millinery, Williams says she’s channelling 2024 brat energy.

“I love the trend of being confidently rebellious, unapologetically bold and playfully defiant. This suit embodies that to me.”

The green is also a nod to her winning look from her win in 2021’s The Ned Prix de Fashion.

“That is still one of my favourite outfits of all time, so it was a little internal homage I’m paying to myself.”

Laura in the outfit that saw her win The Ned Prix de Fashion 2021.

One accessory she’ll be hoping to hide, is a bandaged foot after she cut her heel a few days ago.

“I’m switching all of my heels for mules or slingbacks, but I can’t change my winning outfit at all, so that one will just have to be painkillers and champagne.”

“The best outfits have a disaster happen I swear!”.

So with all of that experience under her perfectly curated belt, what are some of her top tips and learnings?

I think what I’ve learned along the way is that there’s always an element of luck. This is a style based competition, and everyone has different styles, including the judges. You can put the same girls and the same outfits up on different days, and there’ll be different winners.

So it’s really important just to be proud of your own look and to dress true to yourself.

Laura’s hat that she says was inspired by that which she wore in winning The Ned Prix de Fashion 2021.

How do you feel when you’re competing?

I really love it. We spend hours planning these outfits, sourcing bags, shoes and jewellery. Every single detail is so well thought out and takes so much research, so I really enjoy having the moment to actually have eyes on you and display it.

I feel really proud to walk down the runway and because I live on a farm now and I’m in gumboots and casual clothes a lot of the time, it’s just something different as well. I love the whole atmosphere of being glam and having so many beautiful people around me who are all beautifully dressed too.

What have you learned from the New Zealand racing circuit that you’re taking with you to Melbourne?

The fact that it’s actually a really welcoming community, and is about lifting each other up. I really like the attitude where we’re all there to have fun and support each other, and that’s something I’ll definitely take over.

I’ve fixed other girls’ dresses, or used eyelash glue to repair rips and tears backstage –  and that’s really important.

A closer look at the detailing that has gone into Laura’s Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field suit.

What’s your best advice for those keen to compete?

I’d say just give it a go. It’s a really welcoming community where people do provide advice and answer questions. There’s also lots of categories which are great for people entering for the first time, and no one is expecting you to walk in and be a seasoned pro on day one. Racedays like Melbourne Cup Day and Ellerslie’s SkyCity Boxing Day Races are a great way to dip a toe in before the bigger competition in New Zealand on Champions Day in March – being The Ned Prix de Fashion.

Can you do it on a budget?

Absolutely. My Oaks Day dress that was one of the daily winners two years ago was a vintage second hand dress that I bought and never altered. I also bought a second hand pageant gown from a 16-year-old in Alabama and altered it. I think you can be creative and you don’t have to go expensive. Try Trade Me, second hand stores and even theatre costume shops for jewellery and handbags that’ll catch the judges’ eyes.

All eyes will be on Laura and our other kiwi hopefuls as they take to Melbourne’s Fashions on the Field runway this week. Join us in crossing our fingers for their success!