Where to eat?
What better way to enjoy a beautiful day than to tuck into some of the delicious offerings at one of Maribyrnong’s many great restaurants and cafes.
Soak up the sunshine and enjoy a glass of wine on the banks of the Maribyrnong River at The Boathouse. Enjoy something light from the spring menu including a pear, gorgonzola, prosciutto and rocket gourmet pizza or some of the miso lamb ribs with garlic, ginger and eggplant pickle.
Hyde Street Hotel, the area’s newest gastropub, has a deliciously fresh seafood platter to share with friends, or enjoy pub classics including house panko-crumbed chicken parmagiana with chunky napoli, mozzarella and champagne ham, beer battered chips and crisp salad or buttered chats and seasonal vegetables.
The prawn linguine, roast red capsicum, arrabiata sauce, watercress and lime also comes highly recommended at Junction Beer Hall in Newport.
What to wear?
Here are some tips to make sure you put your best foot forward in the Spring Racing Carnival fashion stakes:
1) BE TRENDY OR CLASSIC
Your outfit must reflect a very current trend or be totally classic. If your grandmother is not a designer extraordinaire, you could have a design made-to-measure. Both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup Carnival winners of 2013 had tailor-made dresses which were right on trend for the season. Off-the-rack dresses get a little tired because there are so many of them floating around and the judges love a unique outfit. Spring/Summer 2014-15 has a lot of Japanese influence. There are some gorgeous dresses from the Toni Maticevski range which I’m dreaming about! I think the peplum needs to be buried now.
2) FEEL GOOD IN WHAT YOU WEAR
Wear something that you feel good in and suits you. Don’t fall into the trap of dressing in something you think the judges will be looking out for. It’s such a subjective thing. Every judge looks for something different. I’ve seen ladies who have not gone past the first round at one competition, to then go all the way to win first prize at another. Recycle your outfits!
3) A HAT IS A MUST
The hat has to complement the outfit. It pays to visit a good milliner but if that’s out of your budget, it’s worth learning to make your own. Sculptural and vintage hats are very popular. I’ve seen so many gorgeously dressed women out there who are let down by their hats or headpieces.
