A girl's guide to Melbourne Cup Carnival jewellery

Racing season is in full swing and the Melbourne Cup Carnival is just around the corner. Whether you are planning on attending Flemington Racecourse itself, or a girl’s lunch at a swish restaurant, one thing is for sure - you’ll want to look polished. And one of the easiest ways to achieve this is giving some thought to your accessories.

But if you're already starting to go cross-eyed over hats, hatinators, fascinators, headbands and hair clips, why not keep it simple, and focus on your jewellery? Choosing a unique piece of jewellery will add individuality to your outfit while it also has the benefit of being able to be worn long after the Carnival (unlike the hatinator which, let’s face it, will be left to catch dust at the top of your wardrobe).

So where to start? Here’s our run down on each day with some handy jewellery ideas.

Derby Day is all about black and white so monochrome jewellery with a contemporary edge is ideal. To achieve a simple elegant look, consider choosing pieces in sterling silver that have a soft satin finish. Satin finished silver jewellery tends to reflect a whiter light which will brighten your outfit and offsets beautifully against both black and white. To see what we mean, view our Plume Large Fan earrings or Plume Long Train earrings.

Cup Day is literally the day that stops the nation, and so it only makes sense to be just as flamboyant with your fashion. We recommend statement earrings and if you are going for a colourful outfit, contrast with high lustre gold or silver jewellery with pearls. If you need some inspiration, take a look at our Bloom Triple Lotus Pearl earrings in sterling silver and gold vermeil. And if you are feeling a little more daring, why not consider Tahitian Pearls?

Oaks Day is all about the ladies (as if the other days aren’t too?). This is your chance to be as “pretty” as you like and it’s certainly a day where florals are a definite winner. While we still recommend statement earrings for Oaks Day, you may want to choose more delicate styles such as our Bloom Lotus Wreath earrings. They are large enough to stand out but intricate enough to feel feminine.

Stakes Day is the most relaxing day of the Carnival. I like to think of it as a “little more family, little more festival”. After a week of high fashion, cinched waists and possibly some sore feet, opt for an outfit that has more room to breathe. Maxi dresses and relaxed pant suits (yes - they’re coming back) were made for days like this, so choose jewellery with a similarly relaxed feel. Our Padauk collection is full of laid-back options with pieces that flutter and sway.  All designs are available in either sterling silver and gold vermeil for versatility and ease of wear.

We hope that you have a fantastic time during Melbourne Cup Carnival week and remember, the fact that you can add your Spring Racing jewellery to your year-round collection, means you can invest in high quality jewellery. It’s more sustainable than costume jewellery and also feels good against your skin. What’s not to like?

P.S. In case you are wondering, gold vermeil is the highest grade of gold-plated sterling silver. To be classed as gold vermeil, jewellery must be made of solid sterling silver and plated with a minimum of 1.5 microns of 10 carat gold.  Brave Edith takes this standard higher, with an extra thick layer of 2.5 microns, 14 carat gold. You can find out more about our materials here