19 photos in galleryWho needs a royal wedding when you’ve got the racecourse? I freaking love Australia. And you will too, if you don’t already. The last photo alone… well, I hate to spoil it for you, but suffice to say there seems to be some humping. I’m shocked and awepalled, which is my terrible mash-up of “awed” and “appalled” that I promise never to use again.
[Photos: Getty]
Comments (86):
I am not seeing the photos………waaaahhh.
Neither am I.
Ditto, glad it’s not just me. I would like to see the fabiculous (fabulous + ridiculous) headwear, pretty please. =D
Me neither. I keep clicking refresh in hopes it’s just my browser being stupid. Have to run in a minute and REALLY wanted to see that last photo. Fug Girls are cruel to tease us so!
Oh! It’s “bring-your-imaginary-awful-hats to GFY” day!
Should be working now — sorry!
Yay they’re here! And even the first one does not disappoint…Australia is apparently WAY better than Britain for wackilicious millinery. Thank you, Fug Girls!
Hats! I love them. And I love Dita’s dress.
She’s the best dressed of the group. The hat matches and isn’t too over the top.
I’m biased, though, because I love her whole schtick!
I really liked Chantelle Delaney’s dress, although it was covered by an awful jacket and yes her teeth were spooky white. I’m off Dita von Teese since I saw her utterly dreadful performance on CSI.
I adore Dita too. Even her on CSI couldn’t kill that ( btw, I think all of the CSI shows are aweful, so it wasn’t likely she’d disappoint me anyway)…
You forgot Brynne Edelsten.
Right? Where the hell is the sparkling diva queen of mullet dresses that she “designed herself”? I saw her on the day and while not hugely exciting (tight, bright and pink) it was definitely fug-worthy.
I also love Dita’s dress. That last photo is HYSTERICAL!
I like that first hat. I think it’s ridiculous, but I like it.
My fave, too!
Is Charli Delaney mid-twirl, or is her dress always out like that? I think it would hilarious if it was the latter, and she couldn’t really walk through doorways.
you made me grin
Also love her shoes!
Oh wait she is down below with her very own post. Excellent!
Hilarious. Outside my local pub (which is about 1000 miles from Melbourne) there were decorated shetland ponies and women in fascinators passed out around them. It looked like performance art.
Oh my goodness – what did the ponies do to them?? Were they so cute they made people pass out, or was it loss of blood from the hat-pin pricks?
I would say the ladies had partaken of a bit too much of our special water.
I love a sunburnt country…
Man. Except for the Kentucky Derby, the US is SORELY lacking in crazy-hat-wearing events.
I would totally be down for wearing a crazy hat on Super Bowl Sunday- who’s with me??
I’ve been to the Melbourne Cup, so the last photo does not surprise me at all… you’d be surprised how much champagne can be consumed down there on the blankets in the field. Good times were had by all..!!
What a shock on reading this – I own one of these hats! The black lace one that Alexandra someone-or-other was wearing. I love the races, both in Australia and the UK, and had that black one made in white for me when I was in Australia in June. I haven’t seen it on anyone else before (must have stern words with that milliner).
I think mine looked better – not that I’m biased. But man, do I ever love crazy hats, and do I miss the Spring Racing Carnival.
This makes me proud to be an Aussie, I think.
You guys would love Kerri Ann Kenerley, she has been on TV since it began, does a daily morning show and usually has a glass of wine in her hand by about 9:30-45am. Pure Aussie Gold!
I agree, the Fug Girls would love KAK!
They might know her as the one who John Stamos appeared drunk with that time.
100% agreed, they would love her to bits!
Drunk Kerri-Anne Kennerly is the best. It happens pretty much every morning…
“And you thought you wouldn’t think about Meschach Taylor today! Gotcha.”
Sadly, I actually didn’t think that at all. I dressed up in 80s gear for Halloween, and I totally had the sunglasses he wore in Mannequin. I’m wearing them in my Facebook profile pic.
The last photo is what happens by the end of the day…after 780 glasses of cheap champers. We’re very classy.
I’m still computing the fact that Heather used to watch HOME AND AWAY.
I loved that show. That, and Neighbors, back in the day when Scott and Charlene’s trailer burned down and then the next day she was still wearing all the same clothes that were allegedly burnt to a crisp because the show has no wardrobe budget. Good times.
I am so happy to see you guys fug the Melbourne cup but their was much more fug to behold. I was so disgusted by the fashion i literally threw my scalf at the tv in rage. Even though the fashion was a flop I backed the winner so the public holiday wasnt a total loss.
“Most well seasoned” is now how I intend to describe my age. Makes me sound like a tasty casserole.
Some of the headgear looks like the wearers have unpleasant growths in need of ointment. And the two gals in the little black negligees simply look soaking wet.
I would totally pour my cheap champers on Melissa Doyle’s head.
Ahh Rebecca Judd, the ‘model’ who managed to get a career because of the dress she wore accompanying the footballer Boyfriend to the best and fairest. She used to be the ‘spokesperson’ for the Spring racing carnival or something.
http://www.droppunt.com/images/rebecca-twigley-brownlow-dress-4.jpg
Years later she put it on again and her new chest made it hang a little differently…
Every year the commentators talk about how fabulous her dresses are for the Brownlow and I invariably go, yuck.
Picture #17 might possibly be the most awesome photo I have seen yet on this site.
That Charli Delaney outfit is delightful, and she looks spectacular in it. She gets a big Well-Played for me.
Thanks for the awesome post, Fug Ladies!!! Whether fab or fug, I say: three cheers for having the moxie to look different and wear something fun on your head! (I am guessing that many at the Melbourne cup said cheers more than three times.)
Many people I have never heard of here. I have never heard of Rachel Finch until now, but wow, I would give my eye teeth to look that pretty just one day in my life.
Looooove Dita’s dress.
As a milliner myself, some of these left me wanting to abandon my supper and run back to the studio, and others made me wish I could destroy things through the power of my mind alone.
Ah – the Melbourne Cup! As an Aussie its easily my favourite fashion event of the year ( never mind the bloody horses! ) so cheers to the Fug Girls for featuring it on your site.
P.S Kerrie Ann is probably equivalent to Mary Hart, Melissa Doyle could better be described as a Katie Couric type…
i expected better from miss j in the way of chapeaux. i mean, come ON. it towers. not surprised she’s pulling off the suit. very, very nice.
Thank you fug girls for featuring the Melbourne Cup!
As someone said before, you should check out Brynne Edelstein. Especially the dress she wore to the brownlows last year .My eyes are still recovering!
I am very happy that I live in a state that gives us a day off to get dressed up, drunk and gamble all day long. Three cheers for Victoria!
P.S. Neighbours all the way!
LOL at the caption for Miss J on SMH (image 14)
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/lifestyle/fashion/fashions-on-the-field/melbourne-cup-2011-fashion-highlights-20111101-1mt6m.html
Yes it really is THE event here in Australia. I actually find it rather a tacky day and it becomes a sea of fascinators. Everyone ends up shitfaced and calls in sick the next day. And to be honest, I thought there were no outstanding outfits this year. I expected more from Jen Hawkins. The highlight of the Cup coverage was when Cadel Evans was spotted in the crowd. What a legend. But to be honest there aren’t really that many worthwhile celebs here – full of the same Kerri Annes, Molly Meldrums.
dita’s gorgeous, but you’re supposed to be in black and white for derby day…
The chick with the cracked-out hat maker who made Princess Bea’s wedding hat? Her fab outfit is what Dita should’ve had on. It is MAJOR.
Pretty good way to guarantee you stand out in the crowd!
I live in Aus and the answer to what’s in the water is ‘champagne.’ Flemington Racecourse gets about 100,000 punters for the Melbourne Cup and they serve 100,000 bottles of champagne, not to mention the beer. Wow. I live in Sydney and people were retarded drunk all over the place.
This is weird for me, as I have RELIGIOUSLY watched every season of Australia’s Next Top Model (I may be American rather than Australian, but the fact remains that AusNTM is INFINITELY BETTER than ANTM, SO THERE), and yet I recognize none of these runners-up. My old roommate, with whom I watched in person/am watching remotely, must never know.
I kid you not, Miss J is a spokesperson for Fruche yoghurt down here in Australia and all the posters involve Miss J holding a tub of yoghurt with a line of copy about how everyone needs some fruit in their life. WHAT?
I could explain who these celebs are better, but why bother?
Love that!!!
I’m with you, could explain them better, but meh.
Though not sure about the comment Aussies love their beauty pagent queens, we don’t, except for the ones that end up on telly doing other things. Otherwise we sort of sneer the beauty pagent, in my experience.
I think Rachael Finch is beautiful… I like her hat in the 1st picture and the dress she’s wearing in that 2nd picture of hers looks exactly like the apron I made in my 10th grade Home Economics class! I loved Charli Delaney’s whole outfit! It’s just lovely! And, her twirling pose is priceless!
Ooh you stumbled upon ” The Cup” an excuse to frock up and vomit in Australia. We are all class…..
I think “frock up and vomit” should be my new personal motto, even though it’s just about the farthest thing from my real life as possible.
In our fairness, Jen Hawkwin’s isn’t just some beauty queen, she was Miss Universe – and she was the one who started Australia’s beauty queen love affair!
Wow, I did not look at my spelling or grammer there – sorry!
Australia freaking loves you too! And I had no idea Home and Away was on in the US. How can they even understand what Alf is saying? Not even I can understand him half the time.
It isn’t — I grew up in England.
The MTV VJ is Rubi Rose. She pretty famous in Australia.
The Melbourne Cup is just a fun event, no need to rip it to shreds with negativity.
I think it’s pretty clear we weren’t doing that. We were having as much fun with it as it has with itself.
I don’t think it’s clear at all – your posts could have been clever and imaginative; instead you just seem negative and dull – really disappointing for what is usually such a great site. It would have been saved if you’d bothered to think beyond your thin one-liners to say something creative and positive.
Her name is Ruby Rose, as it says at the top of the post.
If this is how they roll down under, then Australia just leap-frogged to #1 on my list of places to see before I die!
Oh Carolina, you have no idea. It is SO how we roll.
A Martin and Lance reference on GFY? I’ve been a fan of this blog for years, but this has just taken you guys to my all time favourites!
That last picture is nothing, just a normal Tuesday arvo here in Australia!! At least they still had their clothes on…
Anthea Crebbin is just about my favourite name ever. Also, Ruby Rose seems to have a tattoo of someone’s autograph on her neck. Anyone know whose? That seems extreme to me (as an admittedly tattoo-free person).
Her neck tatt says “and breathe me” it’s inspired by a song by Sia – an amazing Australian artist and good friend of Miss Rose.
Australians are wack.
This post is so delightful! Thank you
I was in the marquee Ashley Hart was pictured outside. She is ridiculously, scarily pretty in real life and dances like a huge dork (think running man) totally unself consciously. Respect. Cadel Evans was super nice and charming. I don’t know if Joan Collins ever showed up, but we didn’t see her. Miss J was wearing a slightly more Miss J-ish get up the day we were there – an ivory formal shorts + matching tux blazer combo with white socks and keds and a huge baby blue fascinator.
I just felt the need to clarify that we actually do NOT make a big deal out of beauty queens here in Oz… Beauty pageants barely exist. But then, out of nowhere, Jennifer Hawkins won Miss Universe, and ever since then the entertainment media have been insisting that we care who Miss Australia is every year. We do not care.
Oh, and I totally went to high school with Anthea Crebbin’s little brother.
The water in my homeland is
taintedblessed by unicorn pee and melted rainbows. Can you tell?Check out photos from today – this dress up extravaganza carries on for weeks – it’s Sarah Jessica Parker day, otherwise known as ladies day or Oaks
Day, usually the most elegant. Joan Colins – OMG, just saw her outfit, shoulders straight from Dynasty.
And – celebs are usually the worst dressed, looks for all the other wealthy women dressed in Paris.
Hate this time of year – us poor working shlubs have drunken racegoers fall all over themselves on our trains.
You know, I think you’re a bit too harsh on the hats. Most of these are pretty spectacular and believe me, there were way more on the day.
Would you believe Adrian Grenier was paid $50,000 to jump ship from one marquee to another? Apparently his publicist here had to explain to the loser why AG was a no show for their shindig.
BTW, both Jennifer Hawkins (former Miss Universe and now working for Myer, a big department store and a truly lovely person whenever I’ve see her on TV) and Rebecca Judd are wearing creations by Sass & Bide who are showing all over the world. Not their best work for mine, in fact I don’t like much of it at all.
And where is Brynne Edelsten? I heard that when she saw the dress that was made for her she decided it was too long so hemmed it. Way up I hope.
I might add that I’ve recently returned from Paris where I went to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe which is the biggest race in Europe and regarded in racing circles as the most important race in the world. I was expecting big things of the fashion there but nope, hugely drab. In fact, the dress code for the members was “suggested” to be smart casual. This was very loosely interpreted and the best efforts came from a few middle-aged punters over from England. And those best efforts were nowhere near the heights achieved here in Australia. Think “chav”.
what is in the water down here? LOTS OF BOOZE.
And Joan Collins! http://media.theage.com.au/life-and-style/fashion/joan-collins-channels-dynasty-at-the-races-2748998.html
As an Australian, this is the funniest thing Ive read in ages. You literally put into their places so many of our awful, awful ‘celebrities’ – THANKYOU. And we do way over-value our beauty contestants.
Did you see the winner of Fashions in the Field? Unbelievable. If you find a pic, please tell me I’ve missed something and beige suits with lumpy hems are the black du jour.
Linda I wondered exactly the same thing about the lumpy hem – what on earth made the judges choose THAT as the winner?
I just realized I went to school with one of the actresses on Home and Away. (The one wearing the ten-pound weight.) That’s unsettling.