Best Dressed: The Remix Submission Guide

There are three key differences between the two competitions.

1. Standalone Competition

Best Dressed: The Remix is contested exclusively on TAB Champions Stakes Day (Saturday 7 November 2026). Unlike Best Dressed, which forms part of the broader Fashions on the Field competition and culminates in a Grand Final on Crown Oaks Day, Best Dressed: The Remix is a standalone competition that begins and concludes on the same day.

2. The Remix Principles

Entrants will need to demonstrate one or more* of The Remix principles:

• Rewear – use of circularity, vintage, rental or archival fashion;

• Rework – adding customisation or upcycling an existing outfit or item; and/or

• Restyle – a contemporary interpretation of racewear through personal style and creativity.

* If an entrant chooses to Rewear an outfit that has previously been entered in Fashions on the Field Best Dressed, Best Suited, Emerging Designer or Millinery Award, two or more principles of Best Dressed: The Remix need to be demonstrated (e.g. entrant's outfit will already demonstrate the Rewear principle by virtue of the fact that it is being reworn, so that entrant will additionally need to demonstrate either the Rework or Restyle principle).

3. Use of Millinery and Accessories

The use of millinery (hats, fascinators, head bands, tiaras, flower laurels, hair scarves) and accessories (ties, pocket squares, jewellery, bag) is encouraged but not mandatory.

To be eligible to enter the 2026 Best Dressed: The Remix Competition, you must fulfil and agree to abide by the criteria specified in the Competition Terms and Conditions, which includes (but is not limited to) the following: 

• Must be at least 18 years of age on Saturday 7 November 2026 and enter on course at TAB Champions Stakes Day

• No items in the outfit are permitted to promote commercially a brand, store or designer

• Entrants must not be dressed by or styled by a designer or milliner

• Must not receive any compensation from a third party for participating in this competition

• Must not be 2026 winner of the Best Dressed, Best Suited, Emerging Designer or Millinery Competition

• Must not be a current or previous employee or representative of the promoter

• Entrants are not permitted to alter or add to their design in any way from the beginning until the end of the competition

• Unless otherwise stated, all prizes awarded to the entrant must remain the property of the entrant and are not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash

No, you do not need to be a resident of Australia to enter the competition.

By entering the competition, the entrant acknowledges the Terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. Each entrant submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts exercising jurisdiction there in connection with matters concerning these Terms and waives any rights to claim that those courts are an inconvenient forum.

Our judges consider the following criteria when selecting finalists: 

• The originality of the outfit. Make the outfit your own and show us how your ensemble expresses your personality!

• The appropriateness of the outfit for the Fashions on the Field Competition Best Dressed: The Remix, at the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

• How the outfit demonstrates one or more of The Remix principles, being:

  • Rewear – use of circularity, vintage, rental or archival fashion;

  • Rework – adding customisation or upcycling an existing outfit or item; and/or

  • Restyle – a contemporary interpretation of racewear through personal style and creativity.

  
  The Promoter may ask for reasonable proof to validate compliance with these Remix principles.
  

• Suitability of the outfit for a daytime, race day event. Remember you are styling an outfit for a day at the races!

• The understanding and display of style, fashion trends and individuality. Use inspiration from current trends to accentuate your own individuality!

• Use of millinery (hats, fascinators, head bands, tiaras, flower laurels, hair scarves) and accessories (ties, pocket squares, jewellery, bag) is encouraged but not required.

• Grooming and deportment, hair and make-up can tie your entry together. 

• How the entire outfit is complementary and fits together - make sure all elements of your outfit work together.

• National Dress will be accepted if the above selection criteria is met. 

Best Dressed: The Remix and Best Suited: The Remix will take centre stage in the Fashions on the Field Pavilion on The Club Lawn during TAB Champions Stakes Day. Celebrating creative expression through rewearing, reworking and restyling, entrants will showcase their looks across a series of promenades and judging rounds, culminating in the Grand Finals where the inaugural winners will be crowned.

There is only one opportunity to either enter Best Dressed: The Remix or Best Suited: The Remix, which is on TAB Champions Stakes Day (Saturday 7 November). More information to come regarding timings and process.

For other Fashions on the Field competitions, please see specific competition pages to find out how and when you can enter.

Yes, you can choose to enter 2026 Fashions on the Field Best Dressed, Best Suited, Emerging Designer or Millinery competitions, as well as Best Dressed: The Remix. However, you must not be the 2026 winner of any of those competitions.

Please refer to specific Terms and Conditions for the competition you'd like to enter to check the eligibility criteria.

If you choose to 'Rewear' an outfit that has previously been entered in a Fashions on the Field Best Dressed, Best Suited, Emerging Designer or Millinery Awards, two or more principles of The Remix need to be demonstrated (e.g. entrant's outfit will need to demonstrate the Rewear principle and either Rework or Restyle principle as well.)

No, you can't enter both competitions as they run consecutively on the same day. However, for the avoidance of doubt, you cannot enter the same outfit into both competitions (and nor would the same outfit meet both the Best Dressed: The Remix and Best Suited: The Remix category definitions).

That's completely up to you! Millinery (e.g.  hats, fascinators, head bands, tiaras, flower laurels, hair scarves) and Accessories (e.g. ties, pocket squares, jewellery, bag) is optional in this category.

The combination of jacket and shorts falls under the definition of Best Suited: The Remix where the jacket and shorts are made of the same or coordinated fabric, and are designed to be worn together.

Best Suited: The Remix, from the Terms and Conditions for the Best Suited Competition: "For the purpose of the Competition, Best Suited is defined as a set of outer clothes made of the same or coordinated fabric and designed to be worn together, typically consisting of jacket and trousers or a jacket and skirt."

Best Dressed: The Remix. Best Suited: The Remix typically requires a jacket, per clause 4 of Terms and Conditions for both categories.