The very best and worst dressed celebrities on the 2026 Melbourne Cup: Daring colors, leopard print and outrageous sequins carry the Birdcage to life

It is likely to be the race that stops the nation, however at Flemington on Tuesday, all eyes had been on a really completely different type of competitors.

As Australia’s largest celebrities, fashions, WAGs and socialites descended on the 2026 Melbourne Cup, the Birdcage was reworked right into a high-stakes vogue runway the place the outfits had been each bit as unpredictable because the horses.

And whereas some well-known faces galloped straight into the best-dressed stakes, others proved that even the most important designer price ticket cannot assure a successful look.

From extravagant millinery and show-stopping silhouettes in pink and burgundy to questionable hemlines and ill-fits, this yr’s superstar arrivals actually gave vogue critics loads to speak about.

Some embraced the magnificence and class of conventional racewear, whereas others appeared to have mistaken Flemington for the Met Gala – with various levels of success.

However in a sea of feathers, a whole lot of sequins and vogue fake pas, it was clear that not everybody was destined for the winner’s circle.

So, who took dwelling the unofficial vogue crown, and whose outfit ought to have been scratched earlier than the race even started?

Here is a better have a look at one of the best and worst dressed celebrities at one of many nation’s most iconic occasions – together with one shock Hollywood actor within the midst of our Aussie stars.

Racing royalty and Lexus ambassador Kate Waterhouse pulled out all of the stops for Melbourne Cup Day, turning to celebrated Australian designer Steven Khalil for her trackside ensemble.

The daughter of legendary horse coach Gai Waterhouse accessorised her designer look with Jimmy Choo sneakers and an identical purse, whereas beautiful jewelry from luxurious home Chopard added an additional contact of glamour.

Trend entrepreneur Pip Edwards took one of many largest model dangers of the day in an outrageous head-to-toe turquoise ensemble that includes a sculptural peplum high, cropped trousers and a dramatic tulle practice. 

Topped off with an outsized assertion hat and matching pointed heels, the eccentric look was extra avant-garde costume, but it surely will get our tick of approval.

A shock sighting of Jamie Foxx thrilled onlookers as he sipped cocktails in his metallic gold blazer whereas spinning ladies across the dance flooring in model.

Actress and mannequin Bella Henry embraced her love of color in a blinding strapless mini costume adorned with shimmering floral gildings in shades of gold, orange and bronze.

She took the look to new heights with an extravagant sculptural headpiece that includes swirling metallic particulars, guaranteeing all eyes had been on her as she stepped into the Birdcage. 

Rebecca Judd made a daring assertion in a $544 striped Nola costume by Strong & Striped, that includes a strapless neckline, sheer panels and placing bands of burgundy, pink, blue and yellow. 

The Jaggad Activewear founder accessorised with a dramatic pink hair ribbon and matching purse, whereas husband Chris Judd saved issues traditional in a pointy navy pinstripe swimsuit and patterned inexperienced tie. 

Rozalia Russian was the epitome of magnificence in a figure-hugging blush pink robe by Alin Le’Kal, that includes a plunging neckline and complex shimmering gildings that accentuated her curves.

The Melbourne influencer accomplished her romantic race-day look with an outsized, wide-brimmed hat by Melissa Jackson Millinery, whereas smooth waves and glowing make-up added a contact of outdated Hollywood glamour.

Lethal Critical podcast host Hannah Dal Sasso put a playful spin on conventional racewear in a smooth, floor-length blush pink robe that includes daring waist cut-outs and a contrasting textured waistband.

She added a splash of on-trend burgundy with opera-length leather-look gloves and an identical pillbox hat, delivering a placing, vintage-inspired look.

Inside Designer and decide on The Block, Darren Palmer stayed very on theme with the burgundy this yr wanting dapper in his swimsuit and pastel pink tie.

Content material creator Jessie Murphy was the image of magnificence in an elegant off-the-shoulder pale pink midi costume that includes a dramatic sculpted hip silhouette, which she paired with an identical pillbox hat and miniature purse. 

Married At First Sight season 13 star Rebecca Zukowski proved that extra is extra relating to race-day vogue, incomes her place on the best-dressed record in a vibrant, tropical-print robe and coral-red assertion hat by Stephanie Browne Australia.

Freelance mannequin Siena Tainsh shocked in a customized blush pink robe that includes an extravagant sculptural bodice, smooth satin skirt and matching wide-brimmed hat for a romantic, couture-inspired look.

Movie star stylist Lana Wilkinson took a stroll on the wild facet in a placing leopard-print halterneck costume by Cappellazzo Couture, that includes a plunging neckline and dramatic sculptural skirt. 

She accomplished the fierce feline look with gold heels from her personal footwear label, proving animal print could be a successful alternative at Flemington.

Following swimsuit within the animal-print stakes was TV presenter Emma Freedman, who embraced her wild facet in a head-to-toe leopard-print Dolce & Gabbana ensemble, full with a tailor-made jacket and matching skirt. 

Her black pillbox hat by Millinery Jill and a daring pink lip had been the cherry on high. 

Ex-AFL WAG Jules Neale was a imaginative and prescient in pink, turning heads in a figure-hugging scarlet robe that includes a feather-trimmed hemline. 

The enjoyable monochromatic look was paired with matching opera gloves, pointed heels and a daring pink headband, proving that generally extra actually is extra.

Mia Fevola was additionally seeing pink on race day in a blinding pink mini costume by Vivenna Lorikeet, that includes intricate gildings and a three-dimensional floral skirt. 

She topped it off with a really on-theme matching pillbox hat by Mensforth Millinery, towering heels by Billini and jewelry by Jimmy Choo. 

By no means one to draw back from a very attention-grabbing pink carpet second, Charlene Davies’ intricate golden robe was constructed from over 1000 hand-cut items of resin, created to imitate the consequences of a gold mirror.

It weighs a whopping 4 kilograms and was created in collaboration with Shanghai-based designer Jing.

Mannequin Stella Klim seemed like a real-life princess in a pastel yellow costume, accessorised it appears by her side-kick Trend and Movie star Stylist Paul Versace.

Those who missed the mark

Sadly Allison Langdon missed the style mark for a second consecutive yr, together with her emerald inexperienced robe’s awkward draping and unflattering proportions doing little justice to the tv presenter’s mannequin body. 

Former overseas minister Julie Bishop appeared to have taken her vogue inspiration from Little Home on the Prairie moderately than the Flemington Birdcage, stepping out in an ankle-length floral frock that did little to ship on race-day glamour. 

TV meals critic Melissa Leong didn’t hit the style jackpot in a salmon-pink robe from Toni Maticevski that includes an outsized neckline, feathered shoulder and awkward asymmetrical hemline doing little to flatter her determine. 

As soon as dubbed ‘Australia’s hottest AFL WAG’, Chelsea Becirevic failed to attain within the vogue stakes, choosing a chocolate-brown mini costume with an awkwardly outsized collar, exaggerated sleeves and an identical pillbox hat that seemed extra workplace stylish than anything. 

A stunning couple sure, however AFL legend Joel Selwood and spouse Britt didn’t make a successful impression on this yr’s outfit selections. Higher luck subsequent time, guys. 

And following of their brown and barely boring footsteps had been Collingwood FC star Jordan De Goey and accomplice Aisha Jade McKinnon.