Red-carpet looks set the pace for spring racing fashions

From pillbox hats to pale-blue suits, this year's trackside style draws from celebrity events

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

The spring racing season is drawing style cues from recent red-carpet events, with trends from the Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and Paris Fashion Week shaping what racegoers will wear at Flemington and other tracks this year, according to fashion editor Damien Woolnough.

Key trends include a return to the pillbox hat, seen at Copenhagen Fashion Week and available from milliner Felicity Northeast for $495. Nicole Scherzinger wore a polka-dot midi dress by Australian designer Rebecca Vallance at the Kentucky Derby, pairing it with a black bow and sleeveless cut. Sharp blue tailoring, exemplified by Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford at Paris Fashion Week, is recommended for women seeking structured daywear. Victoria & Woods "Skylark" pants at $395 offer a starting point.

At the Cartier Queen's Cup, actor Hayley Atwell wore a backless Zimmermann halterneck in dark denim with a ruched bodice and side ties, priced at $1575. At Royal Ascot, Catherine, Princess of Wales wore diamond chandelier earrings paired with a sunshine-yellow Roksanda dress; a more affordable version by Chelsea de Luca costs $290.

For men, the classic tie tucked between shirt buttons, as worn by actor Rami Malek at Wimbledon, is a standout move. Christian Kimber's navy floral silk tie is $275. Waistcoats add regal colour, as King Charles demonstrated at Ascot; MJ Bale offers a Benozzo waistcoat in darker tones for $349. Colman Domingo showed off separate suiting in light taupe and grey at a London press conference, with Calibre's linen double-breasted jacket at $899.

White loafers are a risk-taking alternative, worn by Jacob Elordi at the Sydney premiere of "Wuthering Heights"; Naked Wolfe's Roma White loafers cost $305. Pale blue shirts, as worn by actor Theo James at Wimbledon, are a softer alternative to white; P Johnson's "Light Denim" shirt is $355.

Each trend is positioned as wearable for the Australian spring carnival, with price points ranging from modest to premium.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The spring racing carnival is a major social and fashion event in Australia, drawing large crowds and media attention.
These trends offer accessible style guidance for racegoers, balancing tradition with contemporary red-carpet influences.
The mixing of high-end designer pieces with affordable alternatives makes the looks achievable for a wider audience.

Background

The spring racing season, including Derby Day and the Melbourne Cup, is known for its fashion traditions. Each year, trends emerge from celebrity events and fashion weeks, which are then adapted for trackside wear. This year's looks draw heavily from recent red-carpet appearances at Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, the Kentucky Derby, and fashion weeks.

Key Perspectives

Fashion observers: The trends provide sophisticated daywear options that honour racing traditions while embracing modern style cues, such as pillbox hats and blue tailoring. Racegoers: The styles offer fresh takes on classic racewear, with emphasis on versatility and rewearability, from Nicole Scherzinger's polka-dot dress to Rami Malek's tie tuck.

What to Watch

Whether pillbox hats become the dominant headwear at Flemington over fascinators.
How men's fashion continues to evolve at racetracks, with bolder colour choices and accessories like waistcoats.
The availability of featured designer items as the season progresses.

Sources

Red-carpet looks influencing this year’s spring racing fashions · WA Today - Latest News
Red-carpet looks influencing this year’s spring racing fashions · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Red-carpet looks influencing this year’s spring racing fashions · Brisbane Times - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedRed-carpet looks set the pace for spring racing fashions.WA Today - Latest News: “Red-carpet looks influencing this year’s spring racing fashions.”
SupportedThis year’s trackside style draws on celebrity events, from pillbox hats to pale-blue suits.WA Today - Latest News: “Celebrities have been showcasing some of the key trends which you can expect to see trackside, from pillbox hats to draping and statement jewellery.”
Partly supportedTrends from the Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and Paris Fashion Week will shape what racegoers wear at Flemington and other tracks this year.WA Today - Latest News: “Celebrities have been showcasing some of the key trends which you can expect to see trackside”
Partly supportedThe trend forecast is according to fashion editor Damien Woolnough.WA Today - Latest News: “Damien Woolnough is a former fashion editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.”
SupportedFelicity Northeast’s $495 pillbox hat is a trend seen at Copenhagen Fashion Week.WA Today - Latest News: “The classic pillbox is the season’s hot, new favourite, even making its mark away from the racetrack at Copenhagen Fashion Week. [...] Felicity Northeast “Pillbox” hat , $495.”
Partly supportedNicole Scherzinger wore a Rebecca Vallance polka-dot midi dress with a black bow and sleeveless design at the Kentucky Derby.WA Today - Latest News: “Black and white nod to Derby Day tradition, of course, while the bows of her dress, by Australian designer Rebecca Vallance, hint at My Fair Lady . The day-appropriate hemline and sleeveless design”
SupportedHayley Atwell wore a backless, dark-denim Zimmermann halterneck with a ruched bodice and side ties at the Cartier Queen’s Cup; it cost $1,575.WA Today - Latest News: “actor Hayley Atwell, in a backless, dark-denim Zimmermann halterneck with ruched bodice and side ties [...] Zimmermann “Valiant” draped denim dress , $1575.”
SupportedAt Royal Ascot, Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore diamond chandelier earrings with a sunshine-yellow Roksanda dress.WA Today - Latest News: “At Royal Ascot this year, Catherine, Princess of Wales, showed that a streamlined silhouette and dramatic hat benefit from a playful approach to jewellery. Her diamond chandelier earrings [...] were a swinging contrast to the structure of her sunshine-yellow Roksanda dress.”
SupportedRami Malek wore a navy patterned tie tucked between his shirt buttons at Wimbledon.WA Today - Latest News: “The Bohemian Rhapsody star’s striped shirt with contrast collar was already a trend-setter, but the patterned, navy tie tucked between its buttons raised the Saint Laurent ensemble to the next level.”
Partly supportedKing Charles demonstrated the colour potential of waistcoats at Ascot.WA Today - Latest News: “A waistcoat, for example, can introduce a burst of celebratory colour. The King embraced soft yellow, pale blue and lilac this year”
SupportedColman Domingo wore light-taupe and grey separates at a London press conference.WA Today - Latest News: “At the London press conference for sci-fi flick Disclosure Day in June, actor Colman Domingo [...] managed to steal the show in this simple, light-taupe jacket with grey trousers from Valentino.”
SupportedJacob Elordi wore white shoes at the Sydney premiere of Wuthering Heights.WA Today - Latest News: “Risk-takers should pay attention to Jacob Elordi’s elevated indie-sleaze look at the Sydney premiere of Wuthering Heights . His gold tooth might have been a bit flashy, but the white shoes made a welcome change”

Correction

22 October 2026An earlier version of this story said Colman Domingo wore light-taupe and grey separates at a London premiere. The appearance was at a London press conference.