No doubt most men will be leaving the Fashions on the Field business to the ladies this Melbourne Cup, but that doesn’t mean that your crusty tee and stained trackies will suffice. If you’re lacking appropriate racing attire but plan on joining the festivities, opt for a classic look with a crisp business shirt and well-tailored suit pants. Keep the midday Brisbane heat in mind and opt for lightweight fabrics in brighter shades. Local menswear favourites such as Richards & Richards, Elio Moda and Pistols At Dawn can kit you out, while you might also want to consider a crop and a shave from an old-school barbershop like Bou’s For Men.

Even if you’re not in the race for the Westfield Chermside Fashions on The Field competition at Doomben Racecourse, there are plenty of other local venues cracking open the kegs and screening all the racing action live from Melbourne. If you plan to make a day of it, why not start on a high note with a champagne breakfast at The Chelsea, Libertine or French Twist at The Barracks? In the city, Post Office Square will invite workers to place a bet at the pop-up Tattsbet mobile, kick back in a deck chair and watch the race on the big screen. Across the river at South Bank, foodie favourites like Aquitaine Brasserie, Dell’Ugo and Bacchus are all cooking up special event packages, while Dandy’s Rooftop Bar at The Fox Hotel is combining Bollinger champagne with sweepstakes, DJs and fashion parades.