2020 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup at – home race day experience with celebrity stylist Jess Pecoraro.

True to the 2020 Carnival campaign “Let’s Bring It Home”, the Melbourne Racing Club is creating a digital experience for all racing lovers, so Melburnians can get involved in the action from the comfort of their homes. The Stella Artois Caulfield Cup will celebrate its 143rd year this coming Saturday, October 17th.

The at-home race day experience will give Victorian’s a wonderful excuse to dress up and enjoy some decadent food and wine while supporting our local hospitality industry. Many restaurants are offering pre-mixed cocktails, gourmet hampers, local beers and wine.

Digital activations include:

  • Incredible MRC Super Boxes – These can be ordered online and are delivered to your door the morning of the race day. Complete with some of Caulfield’s most loved dishes, bringing the marquee experience to the loungeroom!

Social Style Stakes – this year the competition goes digital. Encouraging Melburnians to bring out their best Spring outfit! Major prizes to be won across each category – Ladies, Lads, Squad, and My Home. Celebrity stylist, Jess Pecoraro will be one of the judges.

Jess Pecoraro – Celebrity Stylist discusses this year’s Social Style Stakes.

This year the 2020 Caulfield Cup will be celebrated from the comfort of our own homes. How should we dress for this at-home race day event?

What I love about this year’s Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Carnival is that anyone, no matter where they are across the country can celebrate by getting involved and dressing up from the comfort of their own homes. For you at home, race day style this year is to aim for the perfect mix of glam and comfort in your look, such a wearing a party dress paired with a nice chunky sandal.  

For the ladies, this year is all about bright colours, florals, adding a fun headband or hair clip, swapping out the stilettos for sandals or a cute wedge. For the lads try a tailored shirt, instead of slacks, opt for chinos, and forgo the jacket and tie.

As retail stores are currently closed in Victoria, online shopping is our only option to purchase something new. What would your advice be for getting our looks together and navigating online shopping?

A great tip for getting Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Day ready is to plan. While the shops are closed and while you are doing the right thing by staying at home, it’s best to use this time to get organised with your outfits to help you get in the race day spirit.

Online shopping doesn’t have to be complicated. For this year in particular my advice would be to delve back into the wardrobe, find an old favourite dress or outfit, and plan to invest in a new pair of shoes or a few new season accessories to revamp the look, keeping it casual and chic.

An overall race day look needs to include a touchpoint from head to toe, so a headscarf or headband, a spring dress or matching set, complimentary footwear, and your favourite jewellery to match too.

How can we restyle a particular piece of clothing we already have such as a day dress or suit?

This year gives us a reason to bring an old favourite back to life. My tip for restyling a dress or suit is to change up the accessories and experiment with it. Add a bold belt, consider layering a shirt over the dress, mix and match your suits blazers, and pants, try out different footwear, and don’t underestimate the value of changing your hairstyle. Introducing a new bold colour into your makeup on the day too can also offer an exciting new look.

Do you believe this is an opportunity for us to support local businesses? 

Absolutely. This year has shown us more than ever how important it is that we all know where our fashion is designed and comes from. I urge us all to make smarter decisions with our fashion pieces both sustainable and in supporting local and Australian designers, who are doing it tough. We are so lucky in Australia with the breadth of fashion designers and industry talent that we have access to. Now more than ever I would love to encourage everyone to support local, whether it be for the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Carnival or beyond.

What will you be looking for when judging this year’s best outfits?

The Social Style Stakes is an opportunity for everyone to get dressed up and get out of their activewear. As a judge I’ll be looking for anything bright, the use of prints, and keeping an eye on anyone who’s bold enough to experiment with their look, have some fun but keeping in line with the At Home Style Guide too.

By Melinda Sullivan

For more information visit the MRC Website https://mrc.racing.com/calendar/2020-10-17/stella-artois-caulfield-cup-day