Cup Day chic Fostering fashion flair

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 17

Cup Day chic Fostering fashion flair

In vogue

Paula Ryan

- Stock market crashes inay dampen the spirits for many people, but they aren’t affecting the colour and glamour of fashions at race meetings throughout the country. Cup fever's hype, horses, and hemlines are back in full force as the summer season's racing programme gets under way.

- Last month the New Zealand Metropolitan trotting club in Christchurch provided the opportunity for some stylish dressing from both men and women.

Quinns Fashions sponsored a best dressed ladies contest, and yours truly flew in to find the Kiwi Lager best dressed man on the course on Cup Day. Dominion Breweries were more than encouraged by the enthusiasm of the men chosen

for line-up. No chauvinistic lads there. They’ appeared to have more fun than the ladies. Promoting fashion on the field is obviously contagious. “It’s like a theatre for dressing up,” said one race goer.

For the fashion industry, Cup days are like a general stimulant. Women prepare months ahead, and visitors shop up, not only for the event itself but for the whole summer season. For many, the suit or dress bought now is the major purchase of the year, and becomes the formal wear for weddings and luncheons throughout the season.

Race day fashion enthusiasm seems to be growing • nation-wide. Major and small racing clubs are having oncourse fashion parades and “Best-Dressed Events.” But when it comes to a major oncourse fashion event Foster’s Wellington Cup must take all three layers of the cake.

Visitors to Wellington will see an even more

glamorous 1988 fashion carnival than last year. The best dressed prize, a $28,000 Gemini Automatic, will be awarded to the winner on Cup Day, January 30. Sorry chaps, no best-dressed-fella in Wellington.

Every woman on the course on each of the three Cup Carnival days is eligible. Entry forms are available at Kircaldies, the “Evening Post,” or at the course on the contest lawn.

The judges will be looking for well co-ordinated, personal style suitable for race day. 1987 is drawing to a close. It has been an exciting and revolutionary fashion year. I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy and fun-loving festive season.