For years, Melbourne has had a monopoly on spring racing fashion, but that could be challenged this year as Pip Edwards lends her fashion credentials to the 2026 Sydney Everest Carnival.
“Sydney doesn’t have to compete with Melbourne because we do things our own way,” says Edwards.
A stalwart of Australian fashion and veteran of the local racing circuit, Edwards first attended the Melbourne Cup back in 2005, when she was running with the Ksubi crew who brought out Chloë Sevigny for the event. Since then, she’s become a regular in Flemington’s Birdcage.
“I have been going to the races for a long time, I love the fashion,” says Edwards, who will attend Surf to Turf at Royal Randwick on Saturday as special guest and Spring Carnival fashion stakes judge. The event kicks off the Everest Carnival, which celebrates its 10th birthday at Royal Randwick this year and runs until November 7.
“I am the personification of ‘surf to turf’ because it’s literally what I will be doing on Saturday: I live in Bondi, and I’ll be going to the races in the one day.”
While she’s a proud fan of Melbourne fashion, Edwards’ personal style is quintessential Sydney. “I love a theme, but I’ll take it and then put my own lens on it, which is often more relaxed,” she explains. “And I play with tension; whether it’s a bit more structured against something flowy, a bit more tomboy with something more feminine.”
When it comes to racewear, Edwards believes Sydney’s approach to fashion offers a unique opportunity for race-goers in the Emerald City to be more experimental than their Melbourne counterparts.
“There’s an interesting contradiction between Sydney style being so synonymous with ease and the expectation of race-day fashion requiring you to really dress up and put in effort,” Edwards says. “It means the Sydney interpretation is much more unexpected.”
While Melburnians express their reverence for racing history and tradition through strict adherence to dress code rules, Sydney is willing to get more creative, agrees milliner Jill Humphries.
“Sydneysiders are risk-takers, whereas Melbourne are more traditionalist,” says Humphries, who grew up in the Victorian racing community and launched her millinery label in 2014.
This spring racing season, Humphries predicts we’ll see a lot of inspiration drawn from labels like Schiaparelli and Dior. “There’s so much embellishment going on in the world, which is incredible because it leans well into the beauty of race wear,” she says.
The Fashion Stakes theme of Surf to Turf day is “on trend tailoring”. Speaking to what she’ll be looking for as a judge, Edwards doubles-down on the call for individuality.
“Have a bit more fun with it and be a bit more bold,” she advises.
“I really want to see how people interpret what ‘on trend’ means to them. Don’t be afraid to make a signature statement.”
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