Montana Cox: 'Women can't wait to dress up'

Victoria Racing Club ambassador and model Montana Cox returned to Australia on Christmas Eve last year, leaving behind COVID-19-ravaged New York – her home since 2013 – for a debut acting role with Neighbours.

The aspiring actress, who for the past eight years has returned to Melbourne for the spring racing carnival, says she’s never been more ready to swap her activewear for a glamorous trackside look.

“Women can’t wait to dress up again in Melbourne,” says the 28-year-old. 

“For me, it’s all about embracing spring’s best colours – think rich reds, pale pinks and canary yellows.  It’s about getting out of the grey mode we’ve been wearing all year and opting for something inspiring. It’s really our chance to change the mood.”

It’s been 10 years since Cox won Australia’s Next Top Model, propelling her career from high school student to the face of Harper’s Bazaar Australia magazine and then international runway recruit for Milan Fashion Week in 2012 , where she walked for Pucci, Etro and Bottega Veneta. Since then, she’s also walked for Christian Dior and Chanel at Paris Fashion Week.  

“I’ve missed doing international runway shows this past year as I got stranded in London for an entire year,” she says. “New York is still home though, but the silver lining is I’ve been able to spend time with my parents in Melbourne, which would have only been for three or four days when I’d fly in and out for work.”

Whether Melburnians will be celebrating the Melbourne Cup Carnival at home on the front lawn, at a picnic with friends or with the capped crowd of 10,000 at the track, there’s no question many of us can’t wait to dress up for the occasion.

This year marks the second year of  Myer’s Fashions on the Front Lawn competition, in conjunction with the VRC. With no crowds at last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, the competition proved a hit with Melburnians starved of opportunities to dress up.

The city’s fashion designers and milliners say the appetite to dress up, even for a picnic in the park or your front lawn, for this year’s carnival will be just as ferocious, with garden party chic tipped to be the look de rigueur.

Melbourne fashion designer Lisa Barron has released five collections over the past 18 months in lockdown. While it hasn’t been easy selling with her bricks and mortar doors closed, it certainly hasn’t stopped her from pitching the importance of “occasion” in a pandemic.  

She’s all about bringing back floral, while floaty silk dresses will also find their moment to shine this spring racing season.

“I’m normally much more structured with my creations, but that’s a subtle shift that’s happened during the pandemic,” Lisa Barron says. “Women want form-fitting with stretch – it has to be comfortable, so I’ve opted for weighted stretch jacquards or cotton sateen.”

“I moved away from florals 10 years ago,” Barron adds. “I decided to bring them back in a way I haven’t before. It’s a regrowth of sorts – where you’ll find a floral print that looks like an unfinished artwork and I’ve introduced three-quarter-length sleeve jackets as they really dominate over a suit jacket in a post-pandemic world right now.”

Barron has even named a black and white check pant combination the Gambit – a nod to our lockdown binge-viewing as we inhaled The Queen’s Gambit in every checkered move from our couches.  

Fashion designer Julia Torannce says her spring collection channels our desire for positive energy. She captures that yearning through retro silhouettes with a modern twist. Her capsule leans on the ’60s and ’70s, bringing bohemian chic to the track – with styles from minis to floor-length garden dresses with a painterly ambition to inspire us.  

“We are desperate to dress up and want a reason to do it,” says Torannce.

“Women don’t want a one-off dress anymore; during the pandemic they’ve wanted to purchase for longevity, something that is timeless, can be worn a few ways and comfort is the key. We focus on sustainable and breathable fabrics for the races – think linen, cotton and silk,” she says.

“We’ve seen a massive trend from SS21 runway shows where people are going to dressing to spark positivity and joy. It’s a great time to choose bold prints, statement shapes that have an element of comfort – where you can put on the high heels or slip-on flats if wearing it to the park.”

Milliners have certainly seen a huge downturn in commissions the past couple of years due to the pandemic, but Fitzroy-based Melissa Jackson says it’s the time to embrace wide-brimmed hats for optimal social distancing. 

Jackson has been working closely with fashion designer Kit X on a playful range of denim-waste hats this year. But for the races, she’s best known for a signature hand-sculptured shape – which she says is the preferred style for Melbourne Cup Carnival.

 “I’ve always enjoyed the notion of tone on tone/shade on shade – so, the current monochromatic vibe is definitely a fashionable option,” Jackson says.

Milliner Chantelle Ford says when choosing headwear, think about what makes you feel good about yourself.

“Oversized bows, colourful metallics, bright clashing colours and cute details are in. Wear what excites you,” Ford says.

“Without a headpiece, your outfit could look like any other Zoom meeting, and we’ve all had enough of those,” says Ford, who predicts turban-style headbands with detachable veiling will be popular this season. 

“We all deserve a little freshness in our lives right now, so if budget permits, shout yourself something special,” she says.

“That way, you have something fun to style on the day and have a versatile piece that you can wear again and again after spring racing.”