First Place Prizes

• $45,000 Cash payable via pre-paid card valued $45,000
• TCL TV & Appliance Package valued at $4,000
• Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Voucher valued at $2,950
• Voucher valued at $1,000
• Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 valued at $800
• A years’ supply of Schweppes valued at $500
• Paramount+ valued at $119

Total First Place Prize Valued at: $54,369

Second Place Prizes

• $5,500 Cash payable via pre-paid card valued $5,500
• Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Gift Voucher valued at $2,900
• TCL TV & Appliance Package valued at $1,999
• Voucher valued at $1,000
• A gift from Penfolds valued at $600
• A years’ supply of Schweppes valued at $500

Total Second Place Prize Valued at: $12,499

Third Place Prizes

• $3,500 Cash payable via pre-paid card valued $3,500
• Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Gift Voucher valued at $2,900
• TCL TV & Appliance Package valued at $1,699
• Voucher valued at $1,000
• A gift from Penfolds valued at $360
• A years’ supply of Schweppes valued at $500

Total Third Place Prize Valued at: $9,959

Digital Finalists

National Finalists: A MCC 2023 Experience to compete in the Final on Kennedy Oaks Day

Includes:

• Flights and transfers
• Accommodation x 4 Nights Sofitel on Collins
• MCC Experience

To the value of: $6,400 per finalist.

International Finalist: A 2023 MCC Experience, including:

• Flights and transfers
• Accommodation x 4 Nights Sofitel on Collins
• MCC Experience

To the value of: $12,400 per finalist.

Cup Week Finalists

• Compete in the final on Kennedy Oaks Day
• $1,500 cash payable via pre-paid card

Valued at $1,500

Best Dressed is defined as a well-considered special occasion race day outfit, but not a suit, styled by the Eligible Entrant to be worn to the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival. To be complete, the outfit must also showcase millinery and complementary accessories (jewellery, shoes, bag, gloves - as preferred) - borrowing from current fashion trends to reflect the entrants own individual style and appropriateness for a day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

To be eligible to enter the 2023 Best Dressed Competition, applicants must fulfil and agree to abide by the criteria specified in the Competition Terms and Conditions, which includes (but is not limited to) the following:

• Must be 18 years of age or more as at the day of final judging, Thursday 9 November 2023
• No items in the outfit are permitted to promote commercially a brand, store or designer.
• Entrants must not be dressed by or styled by a designer or milliner.
• Must not receive any compensation from a third party for participating in this competition.
• Must not be 2022 winner of the Best Dressed or Best Suited Competition.
• Must not enter the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field Millinery Award and/or Emerging Designer Award competitions as a milliner or a designer.
• Entrants are not permitted to alter or add to their design in any way from the beginning until the end of the competition.
• Physical attendance will be required for the successful Finalists
• Unless otherwise stated, all prizes awarded to the entrant must remain the property of the entrant and are not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash.

From a shortlist of 10 national and 10 international entrants, three outstanding national finalists and one exceptional international finalist will be brought to Flemington courtesy of the VRC and take centre stage on Kennedy Oaks Day, Thursday 9 November 2023. Alternatively, you can enter on-course during Cup Week.

The consideration criteria is as follows:

• The originality of the outfit.
• The appropriateness of the outfit for the 2023 Fashions on the Field Competition – Best Dressed, at the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
• The understanding and display of style, fashion trends and individuality.
• The use of millinery (hats, fascinators, head bands, tiaras, flower laurels, hair scarves etc).
• Attention to detail with accessories (eg, jewellery, bag, shoes).
• Grooming and deportment.
• How the entire outfit is complementary and fits together.
• Suitability of the outfit for a day time, race day event.

National Dress will be accepted if the above selection criteria is met.

Best Dressed competition terms and conditions can be found here.

See below for additional information and frequently asked questions.

No, you do not need to be a resident of Australia to enter the competition. The competition is open to international entrants via the digital platform or on course during the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

By entering the competition, the entrant acknowledges the Terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.  Each Entrant submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts exercising jurisdiction there in connection with matters concerning these Terms and waives any rights to claim that those courts are an inconvenient forum. For further eligibility detail, please refer to the published Terms and Conditions available when the competition goes live.

Entrants must meet the eligibility criteria as listed in the Terms and Conditions for both Best Dressed and Best Suited. 

The Alpha Competition will not be running this year.

Update: On TAB Champions Stakes Day, The Fashion Garden in The Park transforms into the Magical Garden.  In a celebration of family style, fun and entertainment, we will be out and about surprising some of the best dressed families with special family friendly prizes up for grabs. Make sure you and your little ones have your most stylish racewear on show for your chance to win!

The combination of jacket and shorts falls under the definition of Best Suited where the jacket and shorts are made of the same or co-ordinated fabric and are designed to be worn together.

Best Suited: from the Terms and Conditions for the Best Suited Competition “For the purpose of the Competition, Best Suited is defined as a set of outer clothes made of the same or co-ordinated fabric and designed to be worn together, typically consisting of jacket and trousers or a jacket and skirt”)

Best Dressed. Best Suited typically requires a jacket, per clause 7 of Terms and Conditions for both categories.

Yes, you can enter different outfits in different competitions. However, you cannot enter the same outfit into both Best Dressed and Best Suited in the Digital Competition.  It is important to note, you will be judged according to the criteria of competition you enter.

You can submit up to four outfits in each Digital Competition and compete on-course in one competition per day. However, you can only be a finalist in one competition, per outfit. For example, if you become a finalist in the Best Dressed Digital Competition, you will not be eligible to be an entrant in the Best Suited Digital Competition wearing the same outfit.

We recommend no more than 50 words, and this is optional.

This is up to the discretion of the entrant; however, we see this as an opportunity to highlight the outfit.

No, this year a top 10 will be selected from across Australia. A selected top 3 will then be flown to Melbourne to compete live on track on Kennedy Oaks Day in the final along with the International finalist and Cup Week finalists.

The top three Australian finalists and the top International finalist for both Best Dressed and Best Suited will win a trip to Cup Week to compete in the final on Kennedy Oaks Day, Thursday 9 November 2023.

Once your entries are submitted and approved (you will receive notification of this), you may share your entry on social platforms.

Details on this will be available ahead of Melbourne Cup Carnival and will be published on our MCC Fashions on the Field website.

For Best Dressed and Best Suited there will be three opportunities during Melbourne Cup Carnival: Penfolds Victoria Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day and Kennedy Oaks Day.

The Fashion Garden in The Park at Flemington will again be the host location for the Fashions on the Field Competition during Melbourne Cup Carnival.  This will include a runway and general viewing area. Mobility access is available.

There will be three x finalists for both Best Dressed and Best Suited Competitions on Penfolds Victoria Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, and Kennedy Oaks Day.