Ladies the races are upon us! It’s time to drop a small fortune on a feather stuck to a headband, frock up and back a winner. I thought I’d put together a small pre-races intervention for you all.
Over the years I have seen some disturbing sights (sure, some of them involving me) so I thought I’d put to use all my years of getting it horrifically wrong to help you all get it fabulously right. I give you:
Em’s guide to keeping it nice at the races.
(Because as we all know, the difference between triumph and tragedy can be just half a length or just half a champagne).
1. Shoes on AT ALL TIMES ladies. I CANNOT stress this enough. If you cannot go the distance, don’t wear the footwear, simple as that. In fact, do not remove any part of your outfit unless it’s a jacket. The Melbourne cup is not the place to get your kit off and dance like it’s 1999.
2. Do not allow yourself to get completely horizontal AT ANY POINT. Having a cheeky Nanna nap is unacceptable and you know it.
3. Do not under any circumstances use a garden bed for a toilet/rest area.
4. Have a sober friend whose sole purpose is to maintain the group’s dignity.
5. Chugging champers STRAIGHT from the bottle is a no-no.
6. Have either cleavage OR legs out. Repeat “OR” not “AND”.
7. Assume at some point your knickers are going to be seen. Decent underwear/foundation garments are essential to combat both sudden gusts of wind and/or sudden gusts of stupidity.
8. The only “mounting” of a filly should be happening on the track NOT OFF.
9. Do not let your boyfriend “design” your outfit and keep it for a “surprise” on the day. I have seen this believe it or not… Rule 7 and rule 2 were not only broken but left sobbing in the car park.
10. If it’s going to rain, be prepared. Cutting a hole in a garbage bag is beneath you.
*Bonus tips
11. Plastic bra straps ‘aint fooling anyone lady. Look at me. LOOK AT ME. I know that you know that I can see them, that we can all see them.
Either invest in a good strapless bra or pick another outfit. Seriously. WE CAN ALL SEE THEM. Yep, even the ones with the little gems embedded in the straps, especially those ones.
12. No tan is better than tandoori tan. I promise.
Thus ends my public service announcement.
Keep it nice, think of your Mother.
Em x
For some races fashion inspiration, check out our bumper gallery of the fashion from last year’s races. Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup day, Derby day – look and learn….

Emma Freedman
Em Rusciano is the host of Mamamia Today on Austereo (which you should be tuning into at 3pm every weekday on the Today Network) and regularly appears on Network Ten’s ’The Project’. You should follow her on Twitter here and take a look at her website here. You can listen to podcasts of Mamamia today here.



Em Rusciano is the host of Mamamia Today on Austereo (which you should be tuning into at 3pm every weekday on the Today Network) and regularly appears on Network Ten’s ’The Project’. You should follow her on Twitter 




Comments
31 Comments so far
So were there ANY dresses at the races this year that were not black or white?
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hahah love it
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Dress like you are going to the races; elegant & classic NOT like you are going clubbing
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Doesn’t Em look like she’s going clubbing?
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General rule of thumb – hemline should be at least 3 cm below where your cellulite finishes. Gives it a little bit of room to ride up when you sit down.
Being led away in handcuffs for brawling in the bar area is never EVER a good look. (See Rules 2, 7 and 8)
Embrace waterproof eye make-up products! Mascara/heavy eyeliner dripping down the face from too much booze, sweat or an argument with your BFF is really obvious at 4pm in the afternoon.
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Em, if I had your legs, I would be wearing undies only. You look fabulous, but even better, you ooze…… big time fun! I would split a box trifecta with you, any day of the week. X
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What is she oozing exactly, sounds…..moist!
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Em, I love you so hard!
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And no stick-on bras with skimpy little tops that don’t cover them properly. Yes people, I witnessed this horror a few weeks ago and it wasn’t pretty!
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Can I add one? No pantyhose with peep toe shoes or sandals!!! (I can see the seams, people….)
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Amen to that one! Do people not understand that a stocking seam over the toe isnt something people want to ‘peep’ at!
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Tandoori tan. Ha ha ha!
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That pic of Emma Freedman in black is exceptionally stunning! Very very classy.
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AARGH clear bra straps, saw them in action the other day. Yes, everyone can see them!
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Agree that clear bra straps are perfectly visible. It must be my age but it seems like bra straps are no longer something to be hidden. We used to go to all lengths to hide them but now I see countless women walking around in scoop shouldered/halter necks with bra straps showing. Admittedly, the straps are thinner than they used to be!
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I had to send a girl home from work once for turning up in a BOOB TUBE with CLEAR BRA STRAPS!!! After turning up to work an hour and a half late.
Her uncle was the business owner though, so somehow I ended up being the one in trouble for that. To be fair, I gave her the option – put your cardigan on and keep it on all day, go and buy a new top, or go home.
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I have no idea who Kasia Z is but she shows that simple can sometimes be best!
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She’s a model that used to sleep with Buddy Frankin, the footballer. I don’t mean that in a derogative manner, but that’s the reason why she was always in the social pages.
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In fairness, they lived together as a couple for like 4 years, so it was a bit more than being some girl who slept with him.
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I mean, there needs to be a way to distinguish between her and all the other girls he slept with in that four years.
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Wow. Jennifer Hawkins is starting to look seriously scary. Give me a DJ’s girl (Miranda, Megan) any day!
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I agree with all of those comments, but I must admit, for the races I would add – don’t wear a super short dress – although the photo of Em above goes against this.
Stunning dress, just perhaps a tad short for a day at the races?
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I’d agree. Its not that it looks bad (in fact it looks very good!) – just too short for the races. The aim should be to look ladylike!
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Agreed, it’s a little short. The sleeves are almost as long as the hem!
But Em does have awesome legs. ; )
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If you look at point #6, she does say legs OR cleavage. Clearly she has gone with LEGS for this one.
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true but even if you’re choosing to show legs, there are limits. Its npt a night club!
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Personally, I think races and weddings are the time for neither. At most an inch or so above the knees, and minimal cleavage. It’s a ladylike day.
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If my legs looked as good as Em’s, they would definitely be out
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Just to clarify, I love the dress and would absolutely wear it myself.
Just to to the races.
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I love your dress Em – it’s a fashion statement which you pull off. It wouldn’t be for everybody (as evidenced by the comments below) but I think it works for you and your unique personality.
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BEST!!!!
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