Strap on those stilettos and dust off your fascinator ladies, the Katherine Cup is back again.
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Aside from putting a bet on a nice looking thoroughbred and watching the horses stride past the post, the races are all about fashion.
Fascinators and dresses
Fe’s Variety Store owner Fe Fahey started crafting gorgeous fascinators in May to ensure she could meet the race day demand.
“I had to order more material to make more, I just had three deliveries this morning and I still need more,” Ms Fahey said.
“Some are very hard to do, it takes hours. I make them when I have time in the store and at night.
“Look at my hands, I keep poking needles into them.It is hard work but I really enjoy it.”
Ms Fahey’s fascinators range from $39 to $95 depending on the material used and hours of labour.
Her top fashion tip for the women of Katherine is to “be yourself and smile”.
“When you have confidence and show your personality you look more beautiful,” Ms Fahey said.
“Men should also dress up with a fedora or a suit, as long as they coordinate their colours.
“Ladies should look elegant, it is the races not a disco. Knee length is good, you don’t want something too short because that is not classy, or anything too revealing.”
Fe’s also sells heel stoppers so ladies can confidently wear heels without fear of sinking into the ground.
If you are looking for something more affordable, many of the opportunity stores in town sell race day attire.
“We have hats, fascinators and dresses and hopefully we will be getting some more in,” Red Cross manager Roz Morley said.
“We have had quite a few coming in looking for bibs and bobs. We have plenty of shoes and heaps of jewlerly for as little as $1.
“The women all try and out do each other, the best part of the races is going to look at the fashion,”she said.
Tans, nails and makeup
Dee'Vine Beauty owner Danielle Whitehouse said she had clients booking in makeup appointments “months in advance”.
“These ladies are going crazy, it is the biggest event of the year,” Mrs Whitehouse said
“Next week is going to be absolutely nuts. Girls are panicking, it is the one event where everyone goes all out.”
Mrs Whitehouse does makeup, hairdos, eyelash extensions, spray tans and nails for her clients so they are race day ready.
“Women plan their nail designs to match their dresses and fascinators, Friday night is tan night and they all come in and get their spray tans done.
“I had to stop taking appointments for spray tans, last year I had people lining up to get tanned. I started referring people to Kristy Gorman from Katherine Spray Tans but I think she is booked out now too.”
Mrs Whitehouse gave some tips for ladies looking after their beauty preparation at home.
“If you are doing your tan at home, make sure you exfoliate really well and moisture. For makeup if you are doing a dramatic eye don’t do a dramatic lip as well, it is a day look so keep it classy.
“Don’t wear a dress you would wear to a nightclub, keep dresses to the knee and make sure your breasts aren’t hanging out.
“Your fascinator should match your shoes and your handbag, everything should flow.”
Hair
Reflections Hair Professionals owner Natalie Angove said her salon is completely booked out.
“We have to set our hair in rollers on the Friday night or we don’t have time to do our own hair,” Mrs Angove said.
“We are already booked out on race day, everyone gets really excited, us ladies seem to plan a year in advance, race day is a really big deal.”
For the women who are unable to secure an appointment with a professional, Mrs Angove said a DIY race day hairdo is possible.
“Youtube is really great for hair tutorials these days. It is also a good idea to think about what you want to do with your hair the night before, like if you want some curly beachy waves you can braid or plait your hair the night before,” she said.