What to Wear to the Melbourne Cup and the races: The Complete Men's Guide

The Melbourne Cup is not the day to wear the tie your office gave you in 2017.

You're going to the races.

There will be suits, champagne, horses, betting, big hats, questionable decisions and at least one bloke who has somehow managed to wear a three-piece suit in 28-degree heat.

So what should you actually wear?

For men, Melbourne Cup fashion sits somewhere between formal, stylish and just a little bit more adventurous than usual.

It's a chance to dress up, add some colour, experiment with patterns and actually have some fun with your outfit.

And if you're going to spend the day surrounded by people dressed to impress, you may as well make an effort.

Here's how to put together a Melbourne Cup outfit that looks sharp without looking like you tried to become a racehorse yourself.

What Is the Melbourne Cup Dress Code for Men?

The Melbourne Cup and spring racing carnival generally call for smart, polished and sophisticated outfits.

Depending on the specific race day, venue and event, the dress code can vary.

But a good starting point for men is:

Suit + dress shirt + tie + polished shoes + accessories.

From there, you can decide how traditional or adventurous you want to be.

And this is where race day gets interesting.

A normal day at the office might call for a relatively conservative tie.

Race day doesn't.

This is one of the few occasions where you can wear something a little bolder without someone asking whether you've recently been promoted to regional sales manager.

What Suit Should You Wear to the Melbourne Cup?

A suit is the easiest place to start.

Classic colours such as navy, grey and charcoal are always safe options.

But spring racing gives you an opportunity to go beyond the standard corporate wardrobe.

Consider:

• Navy
• Light blue
• Grey
• Charcoal
• Beige
• Tan
• Cream
• Checks
• Subtle patterns
• Lightweight summer fabrics

Lighter colours can work particularly well for spring racing, particularly when the weather is warm.

And if you already own a great navy or grey suit, don't feel like you need to buy another one.

In short, any suit works, just don't wear a black suit.

You can completely change the personality of the outfit with your shirt, tie, pocket square and accessories.

Which brings us to the important part.

What Tie Should You Wear to the Melbourne Cup?

Now we're talking.

Your tie is one of the easiest ways to make a race day outfit more interesting.

You could go with a classic solid colour.

Or you could use the occasion as an excuse to bring out something with a little more personality.

Think:

• Burgundy
• Green
• Blue
• Pink
• Purple
• Orange
• Yellow
• Patterned ties
• Striped ties
• Textured ties
• Statement ties

The key is balance.

If your suit is patterned, you might want a more restrained tie.

If your suit is plain, you've got much more freedom to make the tie the focal point.

And don't be afraid of colour.

You're going to the races. Not a job interview.

Should You Wear a Bold Tie to the Races?

Absolutely.

Well... within reason.

Race day is one of the occasions where a bold tie can actually make sense.

A bright colour, interesting pattern or unusual texture can add personality without making the entire outfit ridiculous.

The trick is making the bold element look intentional.

You want people thinking:

"That's a great tie."

Not:

"Did he lose a bet?"

If you're going to make the tie the statement piece, keep the rest of the outfit relatively clean.

Let the tie do the talking.

Can You Wear a Bow Tie to the Melbourne Cup?

You absolutely can.

A bow tie can be a great option if you want to do something different from the standard race day look.

It immediately gives the outfit a more distinctive feel and can work particularly well with a sharp tailored suit.

You can keep it classic with black, navy or burgundy.

Or you can go for something more adventurous with a pattern, texture or unusual shape.

And if you're the kind of person who doesn't particularly enjoy looking like everyone else at the event, a bow tie gives you another way to stand out.

Classic if you want it. Different if you dare.

What About a Pocket Square?

This is where you can add another layer without completely changing your outfit.

A pocket square doesn't have to exactly match your tie.

In fact, I'd generally avoid making it look like you bought them as a matching gift set in an airport.

Instead, look for colours that complement each other.

For example:

Navy suit + burgundy tie + white pocket square

Simple and sharp.

Or:

Light grey suit + blue patterned tie + blue and white pocket square

More relaxed and colourful.

The important thing is that the accessories look like they belong together without looking like they've been glued together.

Don't Forget the Cufflinks

Cufflinks are a small detail, but race day is all about the details.

If you're wearing a French cuff shirt, you've got another opportunity to add some personality.

Classic silver or black cufflinks are easy.

But if you're already embracing the occasion, you can choose something with a little more character.

The same rule applies as everything else:

One or two statement details can look fantastic. Ten statement details looks like you're trying to win a costume competition.

How to Stand Out Without Looking Ridiculous

This is probably the biggest race day style challenge.

You want to stand out.

But you don't want to look like you've confused Flemington with a fancy dress party.

The easiest way to get it right is to choose one main statement.

For example:

Statement tie
Keep the suit and other accessories relatively clean.

Statement pocket square
Choose a more restrained tie.

Bold suit
Keep the shirt and accessories simpler.

Interesting bow tie
Let that be the feature.

You don't need every element of your outfit screaming for attention.

Sometimes the best-dressed person in the room is the one who looks like they didn't have to try very hard.

What Not to Wear to the Melbourne Cup

There are a few traps worth avoiding.

The Office Tie

You know the one.

You've worn it to 47 meetings.

It has been to more Monday mornings than you have.

Leave it at home.

The Boring Corporate Uniform

Navy suit.

White shirt.

Plain blue tie.

Black shoes.

Black belt.

You've accidentally dressed for Monday.

Add some personality.

Too Many Colours

Colour is good.

Every colour in the Pantone catalogue at once is not.

Choose a palette and stick with it.

Too Many Accessories

Tie.

Pocket square.

Lapel pin.

Tie bar.

Bracelet.

Three rings.

Huge watch.

Statement cufflinks.

At some point you're no longer accessorising.

You're decorating yourself.

The Wrong Shoes

Your shoes can completely change the outfit.

Make sure they're polished and appropriate for the rest of the look.

Because there's nothing quite like spending an hour choosing the perfect tie and then finishing the outfit with shoes that look like they've survived three years of office commuting.

Melbourne Cup vs The Everest - Is the Style Different?

Both are major Australian racing events, but the atmosphere and dress expectations can vary depending on the venue and event you're attending.

The same basic principles apply:

Dress up. Look polished. Add personality.

For spring racing more broadly, lighter colours, interesting patterns and colourful accessories can work particularly well.

And if you're attending different race days throughout the season, you don't need a completely different wardrobe for each one.

Change the tie.

Change the pocket square.

Change the accessories.

Suddenly the same suit looks completely different.

That's a much cheaper strategy than buying five new suits.

A Simple Melbourne Cup Outfit Formula

If you don't want to overthink it, here's an easy formula.

Classic

Navy suit + white shirt + patterned blue tie + white pocket square + polished brown shoes

Clean. Sophisticated. Hard to get wrong.

Bold

Light grey suit + white shirt + burgundy or green statement tie + contrasting pocket square

More personality without going overboard.

Statement

Light-coloured suit + patterned shirt or tie + bold pocket square + interesting accessories

For the bloke who actually wants people to notice what he's wearing.

Different

Sharp suit + bow tie + pocket square + statement cufflinks

Because apparently wearing the same outfit as everyone else wasn't an option.

My Hot Take

Race day is one of the rare occasions where I think men should stop playing it safe.

Most blokes spend 95% of their working lives wearing some variation of the same outfit.

Blue suit.

White shirt.

Blue tie.

Repeat.

Then Melbourne Cup comes around and they have the opportunity to actually have some fun with their outfit...

...and they reach for the same tie.

Why?

This is the races.

If you're going to dress up, actually dress up.

Try the green tie.

Wear the patterned one.

Throw in a pocket square.

Wear the bow tie.

Choose the accessory that makes your mate say, "That's a bit different."

Because that's kind of the point.

You don't need to look ridiculous.

You just need to look like you made a decision.

And whatever you do, don't accept the stock-standard tie someone gives you with the suit and call it a day.

Your outfit deserves better.

Your photos deserve better.

And frankly, that tie has already suffered enough.

Final Melbourne Cup Style Checklist

Before you head off to the races, make sure you've got:

• A well-fitting suit
• A clean, pressed shirt
• A tie that actually has some personality
• A pocket square that complements the outfit
• Polished shoes
• A matching belt
• Cufflinks if appropriate
• Accessories that don't compete with each other
• Plenty of confidence

And perhaps most importantly...

Don't wear the tie you wear to work.

You can do better than that.

Find Your Race Day Style

Whether you're heading to the Melbourne Cup, The Everest or another spring racing event, race day is the perfect excuse to step outside the standard corporate wardrobe.

At Untied Tie Club, we've got ties, bow ties, pocket squares, cufflinks and accessories designed for men who don't necessarily want to look like everyone else.

Because there's nothing wrong with classic.

But there's also nothing wrong with being the bloke everyone remembers.

Dare to Be.

Thanks and see you at the races! (Find me wearing an extremely colourful suit and an even more daring tie set)

Andy