Cup sizzle brings out men’s shorts, rainbow colour for women

afr.com:

Property developer Paul Franze did not plan to break the rules on Cup day, but when he heard the mercury was going to breach the 30-degree mark, he changed direction.

“I always dress according to the colour of the day,” said Mr Franze outside the Landmark by Lexus marquee inside the Birdcage at Flemington, “but when it was clear it was going to be hot, I went for shorts.”

Paul Franze: “The tie is what makes it really unbearable.” 

Mr Franze wore white shorts with a drawstring tie by Ladini and a cream linen jacket by the same designer. He wore a pink shirt and Gucci loafers.

“It’s no different to styling normal pants,” he said.

“But I reckon I’d be cooler in pants and a T-shirt. The tie is what makes it really unbearable.”

“The gentlemen have owned it today,” said stylist and designer Lana Wilkinson. “We underestimate them, and often think they don’t care, but I’ve seen men with their beautiful pocket squares, with top hats, with real flair. Fashion is just a lovely way to express yourself here.”

For women, colour was the order of the day: pink, orange, yellow, green and red were everywhere.

Royalty-adjacent Ladies Amelia and Eliza Spencer (daughters of Earl Spencer and niece of the late Princess Diana) both wore tomato-red gowns from local Melbourne label Cappellazzo Couture.

Kate Waterhouse in butter-yellow Mariam Seddiq. Justin McManus

Media personality Kate Waterhouse wore butter yellow Mariam Seddiq while Rey Vakili, who recently married chicken heir Johnny Ingram, wore baby pink Rebecca Vallance.

Australian designers were front and centre at all Birdcage tents; luxury property magnate Monika Tu wore white Carla Zampatti. Former Young Rich Lister Erin Deering wore mint green Bottega Veneta and performer Delta