Derby Day: Bec Judd, Olivia Molly Rogers, Emma McKeon glam up for historic racing action

Former WAG Bec Judd, Olympians Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon and lifestyle influencers Olivia Molly Rogers and Tayla Broad descended on Flemington Racecourse for Derby Day.

The annual spring carnival season kicked off on Saturday ahead of the main action for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Up at 5.30am to get herself ready, Judd graced the VIP marquee in a custom white dress and cape by Bianca and Bridgett.

Also up at the crack of dawn and straight into makeup was former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers.

Rogers stunned in a custom white ensemble from Oglia-Loro couture and arrived with her Melbourne-based mystery man on her arm.

Perth-born influencer Tayla Broad, who is married to AFL player Nathan Broad, was spotted with Demi Brereton, daughter of champion jockey Danny Brereton.

The friends wore matching Forever New outfits.

Racing royalty and horse trainer Gai Waterhouse and her daughter Kate Waterhouse with both turning heads in glamourous outfits.

Also in the mix were Olympic champions Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon were spotted switching their swimming caps for millinery.

However, McKeon didn’t stay dry for very long, getting soaked by an exploding bottle of champagne.

The high-profile racing day also brings together famous faces from the world of TV entertainment, each celebrity eager to put on a show of class.

Former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong dressed for Derby Day with optimism in mind and was a huge fan of the strict black-and-white dress code.

“I really like the rules because it gives a structure that you build around or at least subvert,” she told The Age.

Melbourne-born model and actor Abbey Lee, who was a Lexus special guest, followed in the footsteps of Victoria’s Secret bombshell Alessandra Ambrosio who was last year’s guest.

Lee went for a femme fatale look in a vintage Mugler dress complete with a hat from British milliner Noel Stewart.

Her father and former VFL player Kim Kershaw was her date for the day and mentioned he was proud to see her star opposite Kevin Costner in the movie Horizons.

Not everyone opted for fashion accessories that signified the peak of wealth.

Fashion personality Rebecca Harding, fiancée of TV personality Andy Lee, rocked up with a pair of black stockings fashioned into a headband.

“My stylist had a very clear vision of what she wanted [on my head] and we couldn’t find it, but we did find it in the sock drawer ... which her mum cut up and sewed together,” she told The Age.

And it wasn’t just the VIP guests turning heads with items of extravagance. This year, the marquee staff also dressed to impress.

Aussie designers Rebecca Vallance and Nadia Bartel’s Henne were worn by the hostesses and hospitality staff respectively.

Inside the marquee, guests were spoiled with luxurious food and beverages.

With an exquisite international menu of canapes featuring yuzu-infused watermelon cubes topped with tuna tartare, other food options included prawn toast and tempura corn fritters joined by beef and ale pot pie.

There are several theories as to why racing lovers have adopted wearing black and white on Derby Day.

It may have begun more than two centuries ago; in 1787, when the Earl of Derby’s horse won the race wearing black and white colours.

Or perhaps in 1910, when King Edward died, and in true Edwardian fashion, racegoers swapped out their best clothes for black, the colour traditionally associated with mourning.

Another possibility from 1960 involves an Australian Women’s Weekly ad offering attendees a chance to win a £200 wardrobe prize (the equivalent of more than $7000 today) for the person with the best outfit on the field.

They of course had to wear black and white.

The trend soon became a staple for Derby Day, with punters sticking to the duochrome colour palette for decades.