The Champagne was flowing and the Birdcage was brimming as Australia’s fashion elite descended on Flemington for the race that truly stops the nation – at least, for a moment between outfit changes.
This year, the real competition wasn’t on the turf but on the carpet, where celebrities, influencers, and racing royalty turned the enclosure into a runway of fearless colour, couture drama, and unmistakably Australian flair.
While tradition still loomed large – think statement millinery, tailored silhouettes and immaculate blow-dries – 2025’s Melbourne Cup fashion leaned into risk, texture and individuality.
Designers and stylists are embracing what fashion forecasters have dubbed the ‘dopamine dressing revival’ – a push toward vibrant hues that lift the mood and photograph beautifully under Australia’s harsh daylight.
From electric blues to cherry reds, the colour palette this year reflected a collective craving for optimism, self-expression and a touch of theatrical glamour.
2025 has also seen a clear shift away from the traditional fit-and-flare racing silhouettes of decades past. Instead, we’re seeing elongated lines, architectural structure and fluid tailoring that nod to couture influences.
Melbourne Cup fashion has evolved beyond the conservative ‘ladies-who-lunch’ aesthetic – plunging necklines, sculptural corsetry and exaggerated draping are all part of a broader movement toward modern femininity.
The message? It’s no longer about following the rules; it’s about rewriting them.
While tradition still loomed large – think statement millinery, tailored silhouettes and immaculate blow-dries – 2025’s Melbourne Cup fashion leaned into risk, texture and individuality [pictured Stella Klim and Moraya Wilson]
Headwear remains the hallmark of race-day fashion, but this year’s take on millinery is less about feathers and more about form.
Sculptural shapes, architectural folds and even metallic accents replaced the classic fascinator, mirroring global runway trends.
Sleek hatinators and wide brims dominated the Birdcage, often colour-blocked to contrast sharply with the outfit beneath – proof that even the most traditional accessory can evolve with the times.
Hues of Blue
The colour of the day was undoubtedly blue – in every imaginable shade, from icy periwinkle to deep navy.
Once reserved for winter suiting and navy millinery, blue has taken on new life in 2025.
Style experts say it’s the ideal shade for Australia’s spring racing season, flattering under the sun and pairing seamlessly with gold, silver or neutral accessories.
It’s also a subtle nod to quiet luxury – the understated polish that still photographs like a dream.
Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse turned heads in a midnight blue Alin Le’ Kal gown that featured a plunging neckline and a sculptural column skirt
Moraya Wilson’s dress featured a deep scooped back
Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse dazzled in a midnight Alin Le’ Kal gown with a plunging neckline and sculptural column skirt, paired with a matching hatinator, gold Pandora jewellery, and nude Jimmy Choos.
Moraya Wilson, Miss Universe Australia 2023, channelled old-Hollywood elegance in a sheer hooded gown by Jason Grech, the fabric draped softly across her frame.
Elsewhere, Amy Tossoun opted for structure in a custom Atoir dress, complete with long sleeves, a semi-open back and striking front panels, offset by an Embellish Atelier headpiece in white and blue.
Allison Langdon brought a modern edge, embracing western influences in a figure-hugging blue number with fringe detail and a black cowboy hat – proof that racing fashion can have a sense of humour.
Allison Langdon brought a modern edge, embracing western influences in a figure-hugging blue number with fringe detail and a black cowboy hat while Sylvia Jeffreys got the memo in a powder blue A-line gown with matching headband
Seeing Red
Crimson continues its reign as the colour of confidence at Flemington.
The fiery shade has long been associated with passion and power and it has continued its comeback as a symbol of confidence.
Samantha Armytage turned heads in Carla Zampatti’s red feather crepe dress – a bold yet romantic statement that embodied the late designer’s enduring legacy.
The scarlet palette carried through the Birdcage.
Samantha Armytage dressed to impress in a glamorous red feathered dress as she arrived to the annual racing event
Netballer Rudi Ellis rocked an orange gown with a pop of red on her head, delicate strapped sandals on the feet, and crescent moon bag. AFL WAG Jessie Murphy completely set the entrance on fire with a backless, layered red dress paired with simple gold statement earrings
From Rudi Ellis in a striking orange-red gown with delicate straps and a cascading headpiece, to Stella Klim, daughter of Lindy and Michael Klim, who stunned in a custom Atoir gown with silver embellishments and a high mandarin collar – the colour was all the rage.
Even retired jockey Michelle Payne brought heat to the field, donning a plunging red dress with floral accents and a matching fascinator – a nod to timeless glamour with a modern twist.
Michelle Payne (left) also went for a similar approach, flaunting her figure in a red dress which featured a plunging neckline. Perri Lee (right) arrived in a glamorous red gown with a dramatic peplum skirt and model Bella Henry with fitted spaghetti strap red dress
Plunging Cuts
Traditional racewear has always balanced elegance with decorum – but the new generation of Cup attendees is challenging that balance.
This year’s silhouettes blurred boundaries between couture and streetwear, with plunging necklines, visible corsetry, cut-outs and sheer fabrics all taking a confident stride into Flemington.
Where once the rules dictated ‘no midriffs, no minis’, today’s fashion crowd is proving that sophistication is about craftsmanship not dress codes.
Rozalia Russian led the charge in a nude tulle Steven Khalil corset gown, with a sculptural keyhole cutout and layers of sheer fabric adding movement and intrigue.
Kate Waterhouse’s daring neckline echoed the shift toward sensual sophistication, while Allison Langdon’s fringe-trimmed dress proved that even the most structured silhouettes can make a statement.
Influencer Rozalia Russian put on an avant-garde display in a beige tulle Steven Khalil corset dress with a jaunty hatintator and statement pearl earrings
This year’s silhouettes blurred boundaries between couture and streetwear, with plunging necklines, visible corsetry, cut-outs and sheer fabrics all taking a confident stride into Flemington
While racewear will always have its own etiquette, this year’s Melbourne Cup looks owed as much to Paris and Milan as they did to Flemington.
Designers referenced haute couture, red-carpet glamour, and even quiet luxury minimalism – creating a fascinating blend of high fashion and distinctly Australian ease.
With social media turning the Birdcage into an international fashion stage, attendees are no longer dressing just for the crowd, but for the cameras.
Statuesque DJ, artist and milliner Ellen Patterson was certainly an interesting vision in the Birdcage sporting a plunging crop top, jacket and pants by designer Alex Dowsing of the Suitsuu brand
The shift mirrors the evolution of Australian fashion more broadly – polished but relaxed, confident but playful.
Local designers are finding new ways to merge craftsmanship with personality, while attendees are treating the Birdcage like their own runway of self-expression.
The best looks weren’t necessarily the safest, but the ones that told a story – of creativity, confidence, and a new kind of glamour that feels unmistakably Australian.
