The best and worst outfits in the Birdcage on Oaks Day: sassy sheer numbers, bizarre hats and risky futuristic dresses

Oaks Day is neither the best known nor the richest event on Australia’s busy spring racing calendar, but when it comes to who’s who at the Birdcage, it could be the most important.

Kennedy Oaks Day, affectionately known as Ladies Day, gives celebrities and socialites the chance to shine on the track.

Bold, confident and inspiring looks are celebrated, as are the more traditionally ‘feminine’ moments – think pink, floral and lace.

Oaks Day is also often the last chance for the rich and famous to impress at the Melbourne Spring Racing carnival – as Stakes Day on Saturday is a family day and usually the tamest event on the calendar.

Worst dressed

While most people went out in style that day, some missed the beat – with ‘royalty’ Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer making rare and early appearances on the worst-dressed list.

Lady Eliza Spencer and her sister Lady Amelia Spencer both wore white pantsuits that day, continuing their matchy-matchy theme for the carnival.

And while the sisters stunned in their red dresses on Tuesday, on Oaks Day they came up short and missed the mark.

The pair were among the first to pose in the Birdcage. Lady Eliza’s trouser suit had girlish features on the shoulders, and the bottoms were uniform and neat.

She added a large necklace to the outfit, although the statement piece looked out of place.

Lady Amelia’s pantsuit featured a one-shoulder top that was overly structured and peaked at chin height, and the pants were loose and flowing, almost resembling a skirt when she walked.

The sisters both wore bejeweled headdresses for the occasions and smiled brightly for the cameras.

Rozalia Russian made a late appearance before the photographer at the Birdcage – and found herself heading towards the less well-dressed crowd.

The stunning creative director took a wrong turn when she donned a nude Mariam Seddiq dress that day.

The nude dress had a scooped waist that showed off her navel before reaching high on the hips.

The skirt almost looked like the tutus that were in style in 2020, but it looked tucked in at the bottom.

The sheer material flowed from the waist to the sleeves and a nude bralette covered her bust.

She wore her tomb raider-style hair in a long, flat ponytail down her back and carried a beige Bulgari bag to complete the off-key race day look.

Emmylou MacCarthy fell short in her figure-hugging red and white dress. She paired the look with pretty white heels, gold hoops and a white hat, but the outfit felt more Christmassy than spring racing.

Victoria Racing Club ambassador Crystal Kimber failed to impress the day after donning a flashy grape dress with a huge, shimmering neckline.

The Alemais dress looked out of place in the Birdcage – and Crystal’s giant purple-adorned hat only added to the confusion. She added a very stylish bag and simple black sandals to complete the look.

Demi Brereton got off to a great start with her race day look, pairing a gorgeous cornflower blue lace dress with a pair of simple pointed cream shoes and a cute bag.

However, the model landed on the worst-dressed list after adding a clunky hat that looked like a light shade of the 1950s. She also ties a scarf to her bag, which takes away from the elegant dress.

Tegan Martin – the former Miss Universe Australia – looked out of place at the Birdcages in her oversized lilac suit.

The stunning young woman’s features were overwhelmed by the huge block of color that also overshadowed her petite frame.

Her shoes and bag were good, but not enough to help her avoid the worst dressed list of the day.

Sarah Holland went for a more-is-more look on the day, which landed her on the wrong side of the best-dressed side. Although she looked stunning in the floral appliqué dress, the model made do with the accessories – without taking into account how busy her gown was.

She combined the dress with pearl earrings, lilac shoes and bag and a silver clutch. Her makeup, on the other hand, was perfect and her hair neatly pulled back was a great choice for the day.

Model and fashion brand owner Darcy Spinks almost donned the relaxed look of an oversized suit that day and came closer to the goal than some of her friends in the birdcage.

However, the smart pinstriped suit clashed with her scarecrow-like hat and pumpkin-orange purse.

While each part of the race day fit worked on its own, they clashed when worn together.

Digital creator Elle Ray played it too safe with her ‘boring’ race day look. The asymmetrical cream mini dress was paired with gold accessories.

The beautiful brunette was missing the centerpiece of her outfit.

Best dressed

Meanwhile, the always glamorous Kate Waterhouse, Olivia Moly Rogers and Annalize Dalins nailed their Ladies Day looks.

Kate captured the true spirit of Oaks Day in her incredible, flowing lace dress. The dress, by Zimmermann, featured a fitted, sculpted top that was a strong trend among A-listers during Carnival, and a soft lace skirt with ruffles.

She wore her hair in a bun with a simple ribbon and added a pair of quirky black, gold and blue shoes to take the look to the next level, which was finished with an oversized Dior clutch.

The look capped off three days of stunning wardrobe choices for the glamorous mum, the daughter of racing king Gai Waterhouse.

Olivia Molly Rogers also did well, as usual, in her beautiful blush lace dress. She paired the beautiful dress with a simple pink bag, pink heels and a signature double-bow headband.

Her midi dress features a thigh-high slit, long sleeves and a giant floral organza embellishment.

Annalize Dalins took a risk when she donned a shiny light blue dress from Eliya the Label for the occasion, but it paid off.

the model paired the dress, which had both sleeves and spaghetti straps, with a pair of simple cream pumps and a matching bag.

She also chose to add a wide-brimmed hat to the mix, which seemed to protect her porcelain skin from the sun.

The outfit was a huge improvement on her Mrs Claus-style dress from the Melbourne Cup.

Brand consultant Eleanor Baillieu looked fantastic in her race day outfit.

The Guide Dogs Australia ambassador wore a classic midi dress from Dolce and Gabbana and paired it with an apple green bag that clashed in the best way possible.

The brunette beauty added a simple bowler hat to the look and looked relaxed as she posed in front of the Birdcage with one hand in her pocket.

Jessica and Max Gawn cut a cozy figure as they posed together on the purple carpet.

Jessica kept it simple: paired her light blue dress with her shoes and topped it off with a fuss-free headband.

Max was also demure, dressed in a smart suit with a green tie.

Rachel de Oliveira showed how to make floral appliqués – with simple antique silver accessories.

The Melbourne mum wore the long-sleeved off-the-shoulder Elliatt dress as she posed confidently outside the Schweppes marquee.