Dressing For The Races On A Budget
October 11, 2008 | Filed under Media, Style
The Herald Sun‘s Saturday paper has a supplement entitled “Weekend”, which always has a page or two dedicated to images of outfits for a made-up scenario. Today’s edition was a double-page spread on outfits “on a budget” for the Spring Racing Carnival (a month of horse racing on racegrounds around Melbourne, ostensibly for sporting purposes, but really an opportunity for Melbournian women to get dressed up, get drunk, and totter around on heels that sink into the turf, all the while giggling maniacally).
I have no intention of ever going to the races, but any time that the media like attaching “on a budget” to any fashion photoshoot they might do, the cheapskate in me feels the need to point and attack them for being out of touch. The complete amount of the outfits they suggested, which really weren’t anything special, were: $362.90AUD, $233.90AUD, $328.90AUD, $433.90AUD, $422.90AUD, $400.90AUD. Erm, what? I don’t even spend that amount on three complete outfits, let alone one outfit.
To the right is what I would wear to the races, with all items pulled from my existing wardrobe:
- Fuschia silk/sateen cocktail dress, $25AUD down from $239.95AUD at the Pilgrim clearance outlet
- Black Basque heels, $25AUD down from $139.95AUD from Myer
- Fake pearl and gold charm fob necklace, $3AUD thrifted from the Salvos store
- Metallic gold clutch, $1AUD from $29.95AUD at Miss Shop in Myer
The only thing the outfit lacks that I don’t already own would be a headpiece of some sort, which is required as part of the dress code if one decides to go to the races. But when the haberdashery store Spotlight has individual feathers, beads, and ribbons for sale, and when you can get a cheap plain headband at a $2AUD store, you can craft your own individual headpiece for under $15AUD.
So take that, Polly Kerdel. My outfit for the races only cost $70AUD! This is how you dress for the races on a budget!
11 Responses to Dressing For The Races On A Budget
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Maybe it was budget for those people who use to go to the races? Maybe the outfits they suggested were budget outfits for them. I find it ridiculous though…
It’s so much better to be simple and un-famous!
Reply: But, the people who go to the races are just normal, non-famous people? Anyone can go, it’s just a matter of paying for a ticket.
Regine on October 11, 2008 #
You need all the budgeting you can with the cost of tickets! Love your outfit, the cost is cheaper than the material I bought to make my own races outfit >_<
Alexandra on October 11, 2008 #
True, but your budget includes bargain/sale items which not everyone can grab up (especially if you got there first) and those bargain items probably won;t be printed in the paper. But I agree, who in their right mind spends $400 on one outfit!
Bobbi-lee on October 11, 2008 #
Your outfit is fabulous! And you can definitely put together a cheaper outfit if you just get creative enough! Using the thrift store, looking for sales. I don’t know how they think prices of more than $250 is “budgeting”.
We have a huge thrift store here where I love, and I’m planning on going to check out what they have. You can find some really neat stuff there, like your pearl necklace. That goes so well with your outfit! XD
Lucy on October 11, 2008 #
…where I live, not where I love! oops!
Lucy on October 11, 2008 #
Now I see why my Aussie cousins love to shop where I live, it’s so much cheaper here than in Australia.
Gorgeous outfit, by the way.
Kristine on October 12, 2008 #
I always hate it when you see fashion spreads with ‘MUST HAVES’ over it, or ‘ON A BUDGET’ or anything like that. When I then go on to check the prices of the items I either must have or could fit in an budgeted outfit I have to keep myself from fainting. Seriously I can’t imagine someone wanting to spend all that money on one item when you can spend so much less for a while outfit.
I really think you should go to the races, just to show them how it’s done properly, with a budget ;)
Chans on October 12, 2008 #
I love looking at those spreads even though I wouldn’t want to spend so much on one outfit- the one you’ve put together looks awesome, which begs the question- are you going to the races this year?
Carmen on October 12, 2008 #
Wow, that is an amazing outfit for a lot less than $400 AUD!
If only I knew how to budget as well as you do… :P
Regina on October 12, 2008 #
I love how you budget your outfits. I’m not good enough to do that in a reasonable amount of time, so I just wear whatever – unfortunately :P
marilyn on October 12, 2008 #
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