Your Guide to Spring Racing Carnival Flowers: Perfect Blooms for Every Race Day
Spring Racing Carnival is not just about the horses – it’s also a celebration of style, elegance, and tradition. Flowers play a key role in the Spring Racing Carnival, adding a touch of natural beauty to outfits, hats, and buttonholes. Each race day has its own signature flower, and wearing the right bloom is a longstanding tradition. Whether you're attending Derby Day, the Melbourne Cup, Oaks Day, or Stakes Day, this guide will help you choose the perfect flower to wear.
1. Derby Day (Saturday before the Melbourne Cup)Flower: Cornflower
Colour Palette: Black and White
Derby Day kicks off the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and it’s known for its strict black-and-white dress code. To complement this monochrome look, the official flower of Derby Day is the delicate cornflower, a vibrant blue bloom that stands out against the sophisticated black-and-white attire. Whether worn as a buttonhole for men or incorporated into a fascinator for women, the cornflower is a striking yet classic choice for Derby Day.
Looking for the perfect cornflower to complete your Derby Day look? Check out the cornflower options available at The Foxy Shop.
Styling Tip: Pair the cornflower with an all-black or all-white outfit for a pop of colour, or blend it into a black-and-white floral headpiece for added elegance.
2. Melbourne Cup Day (First Tuesday in November)
Flower: Yellow Rose
Colour Palette: Bold and Bright
Melbourne Cup Day is the crown jewel of the Spring Racing Carnival, also known as “the race that stops a nation.” It’s a day where fashion takes center stage, with attendees encouraged to embrace bold, bright colours. The flower of choice for this iconic day is the yellow rose, symbolizing joy, friendship, and happiness.
The yellow rose can be worn as a buttonhole, added to headpieces, or used in corsages, making it a versatile bloom that pairs well with a variety of colours.
You can find your stunning yellow rose buttonhole at Foxy Evergreen to add a burst of sunshine to your race day outfit.
Styling Tip: Yellow roses complement bold, colourful outfits and are a fantastic choice for making a fashion statement. Try pairing the yellow rose with an outfit in jewel tones, such as emerald green or sapphire blue, to make the colour pop.
3. Oaks Day (Thursday after the Melbourne Cup)
Flower: Pink Rose
Colour Palette: Feminine and Floral
Oaks Day, often called “Ladies Day,” is all about femininity, style, and elegance. It’s a day for embracing softer colours and graceful outfits. The official flower of Oaks Day is the pink rose, a symbol of love, grace, and appreciation. Pink roses are perfect for complementing the softer pastel tones and romantic, floral styles that dominate this race day.
Make sure to add a fresh pink rose buttonhole from The Foxy Shop to your Oaks Day ensemble.
Styling Tip: Pink roses can be paired with light coloured outfits, including pastels, blush tones, and neutrals. For a chic and feminine look, opt for a headpiece that incorporates fresh or silk pink roses to add a touch of romance to your outfit.
4. Stakes Day (Saturday after the Melbourne Cup)
Flower: Red Rose
Colour Palette: Relaxed and Casual
Stakes Day is the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and has a more relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere compared to the other race days. The official flower is the red rose, which symbolizes love and passion. While Stakes Day is less formal, it’s still an opportunity to showcase stylish yet understated fashion.
Buy your classic red rose buttonhole here to finish your Stakes Day look with elegance.
Styling Tip: The red rose pairs well with more casual and comfortable race day outfits. Try using it as a buttonhole or incorporating it into a simpler fascinator for a laid-back but polished look.
How to Wear Flowers on Race Day
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Buttonholes: Traditionally worn by men, buttonholes are a simple yet elegant way to incorporate the race day flower into your outfit. Make sure the bloom is fresh and securely fastened to the lapel for the best effect.
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Flower Crowns and Fascinators: For women, flowers can be integrated into fascinators, hats or flower crowns for a beautiful, race-ready look.
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Corsages: If you're not keen on wearing flowers as part of your headpiece or buttonhole, consider a small corsage. These can be tied to handbags or worn on the wrist for a feminine touch.
Choosing the Right Spring Racing Flowers
While each race day has its own official flower, there’s no harm in adding your personal twist. Here are some alternative flower options that also pair beautifully with race day outfits:
- Orchids: A symbol of luxury and strength, orchids are perfect for adding a touch of exotic elegance.
- Peonies: Soft, romantic, and abundant, peonies are ideal for those who prefer lush, voluminous flowers.
- Dahlias: With their intricate, layered petals, dahlias add a bold and striking element to any race day look. Available in a variety of colours, they can be paired with both vibrant and neutral outfits for maximum impact
Final Thoughts
The Spring Racing Carnival is a chance to embrace bold fashion choices, and flowers are an essential part of the experience. Whether you choose to wear the official race day flower or opt for your favorite bloom, incorporating fresh flowers into your outfit is a surefire way to stand out and add a touch of natural elegance to your race day look.
Now that you know which flower to wear on each race day, you're ready to turn heads at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. So, go ahead, choose your blooms, and let your style blossom! For all your floral needs, visit The Foxy Shop to get race-day ready!