Diamonds most certainly are a girl’s best friend, and SKYCITY Diamond Day on Saturday saw hundreds of girls lining up to compete in the Diamond Darling in the last of Auckland Cup Week’s fabulous series of fashion events at Ellerslie race course…
Diamonds most certainly are a girl’s best friend, and SKYCITY Diamond Day on Saturday saw hundreds of girls lining up to compete in the Diamond Darling.
The Pandora jewellery prize fashion competition is the last of Auckland Cup Week’s fabulous series of race day events at Ellerslie race course.
Pictured left: Two Fujifilm girls at the entrance to Whips n Spurs; Talia Bennet and Imogen Vivian.
A celebration of all things female and fashionable was on show for the self professed ‘ladies day’, as the Fujifilm Whips n Spurs Summer Party took off.
Below: Hannah Latimer, wearing Manning Cartel and Toni Ryan, wearing Alanah Hill, both competed in Diamond Darling.
Below: A hen’s party came to the races. The one to be wed is fittingly in white with the stunning hat, Penny Forde. And all the ladies entered the competition.
Below: Dominique Wisniewski, wearing a pink and white outfit made by her friend, also competed.
Pink and purple ribbon and lace tied up tiers in the English garden party, while the ladies were lavished upon in high tea style with melt in your mouth cupcakes, candyfloss – served by bare-chested gentlemen – and candy.
It was very reminiscent of the recent Alice in Wonderland re-make as flamingos and lollipop bouquets adorned tables.
Thread.co.nz team; Megan Robinson, Olivia Boswell and Beth Peters at the garden gate into the Whips n Spurs party.
White dresses with colourful prints were a favourite trend on the day, with matching handbags, shoes and headpieces. These kept the day fresh and summery, with lots of pattern and bright colours – much more interesting than some plain block colour trends seen in previous years. One race-goer went so far as to – coincidentally- match her outfit with the decor, with fuchsia flamingos prancing around the hem of her maxi-dress.
Pretty pink prints: Claire Vermer, Kelly Kilgour and Amelia Shine in her flamingo maxi dress.
Candice Murphy in a printed white dress.
Jodine Bell wearing Hailwood swallow-print dress matched with her grandmother’s swallow earrings.
Up in the Gucci VIP Lounge overlooking the stands and race course, there was less frivolity than down on the lawns, but just as much, if not more, anticipation when the horses were rounding the track. The balcony was graced by the most elegantly dressed of the day, with ladies wearing vintage glamour befitting the brand’s equestrian heritage and of course, a nod to Gucci. To be invited to the Gucci VIP Lounge, one must have had impeccable style and taste.
This year’s Auckland Cup Carnival is Gucci’s first equestrian sponsorship in Australasia and is the perfect brand alliance of racing, fashion and equestrian style. After all, Gucci’s iconic horsebit and striped girth strap were originally appropriated from horse riding.
Claire Hahn (left), wearing Anna Stretton and vintage hat and Emma Mclachlan wearing all vintage.
Below: Gucci’s Sally Poole wears outfit by Gucci.
Near the end of the day, the Pandora Diamond Darling finalists were brought to centre stage. Fourteen of the best-dressed ladies who entered the event picked a horse running in the Auckland Diamond Stakes. The lucky entrant who drew the winning horse won a prize package including a set of 18 carat gold and diamond love pods from Pandora, a SKYCITY Grand Extravagance package and a year’s supply of Nicolas Feuillatte champagne. Oh to be so fortunate.
By Olivia Boswell, 13 March 2010.
Photos Bethany Peters.
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