Best Dressed: Submission Guide
The Best Dressed competition at Fashions on the Field is your chance to showcase bold, unforgettable race day fashion. Use this guide to perfect your entry and give yourself the best shot at winning!
It's time to prepare your Best Dressed Entry!
Please ensure you read the entry eligibility and judging criteria for the 2026 Best Dressed Competition. You can find all this information below and any critical details to ensure you are eligible!
What's the definition of Best Dressed?
Best Dressed is defined as a well-considered special occasion race day outfit, but not a suit, styled by you to be worn to the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival. To be complete the look, the outfit must also showcase millinery and complementary accessories like jewellery, shoes, bag and gloves. Borrowing from current fashion trends to reflect your own individual style and appropriateness for a day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
To be eligible to enter the 2026 Best Dressed Competition, you must fulfil and agree to abide by the criteria specified in the Competition Terms and Conditions, which includes (but is not limited to) the following:
Must be at least 18 years of age on the relevant registration day
No items in the outfit are permitted to promote commercially a brand, store or designer
Entrants must not be dressed by or styled by a designer or milliner
Must not receive any compensation from a third party for participating in this competition
Must not be 2025 winner of the Best Dressed or Best Suited Competition
Must not enter the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field Millinery Award and/or Emerging Designer Award competitions as a milliner or a designer
Must not be a current or previous employee or representative of the promoter
Entrants are not permitted to alter or add to their design in any way from the beginning until the end of the competition
Physical attendance will be required for the successful Finalists at the Best Dressed Grand Final on Crown Oaks Day Thursday 5 November 2026
Unless otherwise stated, all prizes awarded to the entrant must remain the property of the entrant and are not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash
Our judges consider the following criteria when selecting finalists:
The originality of the outfit. Make the outfit your own and show us how your ensemble expresses your personality!
The appropriateness of the outfit for the Fashions on the Field Competition Best Dressed, at the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Suitability of the outfit for a daytime, race day event. Remember you are styling an outfit for a day at the races!
The understanding and display of style, fashion trends and individuality. Use inspiration from current trends to accentuate your own individuality!
Use of millinery including hats, fascinators, head bands, tiaras, flower laurels, hair scarves.
Attention to detail, including accessories; ties, pocket squares, jewellery, bag and shoes.
Grooming and deportment, hair, make-up and grooming can tie your entry together.
How the entire outfit is complementary and fits together - make sure all elements of your outfit work together.
National Dress will be accepted if the above selection criteria is met.
FAQs
No, you do not need to be a resident of Australia to enter the competition.
By entering the competition, the entrant acknowledges the Terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. Each Entrant submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts exercising jurisdiction there in connection with matters concerning these Terms and waives any rights to claim that those courts are an inconvenient forum.
Fashions on the Field 2026 begins on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day, with the competition located alongside the Makybe Diva statue. Throughout the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the competition will then take centre stage in Fashions on the Field pavilion on The Club Lawn.
Across Howden Victoria Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day and Crown Oaks Day there will be a series of Promenades, Preliminaries and Daily Finals to award Daily Winners the opportunity to compete in the Grand Final on Crown Oaks Day.
For Best Dressed and Best Suited there will be four opportunities to enter, beginning on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day and continuing throughout the Melbourne Cup Carnival: Howden Victoria Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day and Crown Oaks Day.
More information to come regarding timings and process.
Category Clarification
The combination of jacket and shorts falls under the definition of Best Suited where the jacket and shorts are made of the same or coordinated fabric and are designed to be worn together.
Best Suited, from the Terms and Conditions for the Best Suited Competition “For the purpose of the Competition, Best Suited is defined as a set of outer clothes made of the same or coordinated fabric and designed to be worn together, typically consisting of jacket and trousers or a jacket and skirt”
Best Dressed, Best Suited typically requires a jacket, per clause 4 of Terms and Conditions for both categories.
Yes, you can enter different outfits, in different competitions, on different days. However, you cannot enter the same outfit into both Best Dressed and Best Suited on the same day. It is important to note, you will be judged according to the criteria of competition you enter.