In front of the Flemington racecource in my new outfit from the famous Myer department store. When in Melbourne….

How deliciously fantastic…. to attend the Melbourne Cup Carnival races two years in a row.  This year, I was lucky enough to be invited to Crown Oaks Day, popularly dubbed Ladies’ Day, which is the third day of the four-day extravaganza, obtaining Media Credentials to cover it officially for our illustrious hometown newspaper, The Aspen Daily News.  My most charming fiance, Ian, who escorted me once again in grand style, was delighted to accompany me into the exclusive Myer Fashion on the Field finals tent with the most beautiful and well-turned-out ladies of the day, many of whom were vying for the  coveted Women’s Racewear competition title.   The lucky lady walks away from the runway with an impressive collection of prizes topped off with a Lexus 300 HP sport, valued at almost $80K.

With the phrase, “It’s a small world” coming into most acute focus, I actually had a connection with the winner, 21 year old Brodie Worrell.   Her most stylish Mother, Dee Worrell, is the proprietess of two ‘gently experienced’ clothing stores, Bella Once Loved, one of which is in Mornington, on the peninsula, an hour outside of Melbourne.  It just happens to be the store where I bought the hat I eventually wore to last year’s Melbourne Cup, as it matched my orange and blue Halston dress, as if I’d had it custom made for it.  Dee was so engaging and pleasant, I included her in my coverage from last year’s race.

When I went into her store the day before the race, she wasn’t there, but I was informed by her assistant, that her daughter was a finalist in the Myer competition!  I was so pleased that I would be covering that day’s festivites, and that I’d be sure to get plenty of photos of her, now that I knew who it was.   Sure enough, the next day, I spotted Dee in the audience, went up to her, and was most pleased that she remembered me.  We hugged as I wished her daughter all the best.

After taking lots of photos of her most glamorous daughter, in her simple and elegant white Toni Maticevski dress (which concidentally the Millinery Award winner was wearing as well), the winner of the three days of competition including Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day and Oaks Day was….. Brodie Worrell!

I waited patiently for the right moment, until I could capture Mother and daughter together in their collective moment of rapture.  Like Mother, like daughter….  sheer beauty!

When I asked Brodie who most influenced her style, she quickly responded, “Audrey Hepburn!”  A classic choice, which was in evidence, of course, by her completely elegant look,  but I think her Mother had a lot to do with it too.

Brodie Worrell, winner of 2014 Myer Fashion on the Field Racewear competition.

Jim Babbidge, his friend Jennifer, and Ian