Channel Nine star Francesca Cumani stole the show as she led the celebrity arrivals at Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, on Saturday.
The presenter, 41, turned heads in an off-the-shoulder A-line dress that gave her a beautifully classic silhouette during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival opening event.
Her Rebecca Vallance dress followed the black and white theme perfectly, as it featured a stunning white bust that fell over long black skirts.
Francesca accessorized with simple black heels and pearl earrings while donning a rounded white headpiece with a black bow.
The brunette beauty pinned her hair behind her ears and applied a bold red lip to enhance her opulent look.
The horse racing presenter was all smiles as she got ready for the week ahead, opting for a baby pink manicure and a silver bracelet to complete her ensemble.
The history of Derby Day begins on the other side of the pond more than two centuries ago, in 1787, when the Earl of Derby’s horse won the race wearing the black and white colors.
In 1910, King Edward died and, in true Edwardian style, racegoers traded in their best clothes for black, the color traditionally associated with mourning.
Channel Nine star Francesca Cumani, 41 (pictured), stole the show as she led the celebrity arrivals at Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, on Saturday.
“Women wore white flowers or pearls,” celebrity hairstylist Donny Galella told NewsWire.
History suggests that this is where the issue of black and white dressing for Derby Day began.
However, it’s quite possible that our penchant for wearing black and white on race day began with a humble announcement.
That’s right, an advertisement found in a 1960 copy of the Australian Women’s Weekly may have really accelerated our strict black and white dress code for Derby Day.
At the time, Melbourne Cup attendees were offered the chance to win a £200 costume prize (worth more than AUD$7,000 today) for the best dressed.
The presenter turned heads in an off-the-shoulder A-line dress that gave her a beautifully classic silhouette during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival opening event.
The problem was that participants had to dress in black and white to celebrate the Black & White whiskey made by collaborator James Buchanan and Co.
The trend soon became a Derby Day staple, with punters sticking to the duo-chrome color palette for decades.
While Derby Day may be the strictest of all the dress codes, it is far from the only event during the spring racing carnival with a theme.
The Melbourne Cup revolves around bright colors and patterns, while Oaks Day, also known as Ladies Day, encourages women to wear “everything feminine.”
The last day of the week, Betting Day, is much more relaxed, and while there are some rules, it’s nothing compared to the season-opening event.
The Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation (at least in Victoria), is one of the hottest races of the year. This is where fashion in the field comes into play.
First founded in 1960, Fashions on the Field awards the best-dressed bettor with a prize, prompting racegoers to wear their boldest and most fabulous outfits.
“In the Derby, between blacks and whites, the Melbourne Cup is the opposite,” Mr Galella laughs.
This means wearing “bright, vibrant colors” to celebrate spring and step out of your comfort zone with your outfit.
Fashion trends may have changed over the decades, but the love of bright colors and patterns has remained persistent throughout the Melbourne Cup.
More to come.