Perfecting the art of smart casual

Kate Waterhouse

In a sleeveless white Saba top and breezy trousers, Waterhouse was a safe bet in white, exuding style without the dramatic detail expected at the racetrack.

“It doesn’t have the heritage of the horse races,” says fashion commentator and Melbourne Cup regular Kate Waterhouse. “The AO has our casual spirit. It’s an opportunity to express yourself with ease.”

Costeen Hatzi

The composed Hatzi and her exuberant boyfriend Nick Kyrgios’ odd couple appearance is most apparent in their outfit choices.

Accessible brands such as Witchery and Odd Muse, along with a youthful pale blue set from Melbourne label Viktoria & Woods, are Hatzi’s mainstays, requiring no warnings from fashion umpires.

Jimmy Jan

“I’m still finding my fashion sense,” says TikTok personality and medicine student Jimmy Jan. Having appeared on the runway at Australian Fashion Week, the part-time model is used to being dressed rather than creating his own fashion-forward looks.

“It’s all about comfort and nothing being too bulky for me,” says Jan.

Jan faced stiff competition from a parade of guests hosted by event sponsor Ralph Lauren, aspiring for looks ripped from the pages of an advertising campaign. The mild-mannered influencer’s less tortured take on preppy chic won the day.

Nadia Bartel

The co-founder of Melbourne label Henne shopped her wardrobe for the AO. “That’s the great thing about the tennis,” Bartel says. “You can just grab anything at the last minute and go.”

It helps when you have an entire collection at your disposal.

“The difference to other events is that you can wear these outfits again over summer.”

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