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Racing Fashion Weekly

You are invited · Sat 14 Nov 2026

Martin Collins New Zealand Cup Day

Riccarton Park Racecourse, Christchurch, New Zealand

flagship

The South Island's biggest thoroughbred fashion day, closing Christchurch's Cup and Show Week, with a ten-category Fashion in the Field.

what to wear

The dress code

Dress standard
Formal
Millinery
expected
Season
Spring

Women

The Canterbury Jockey Club publishes no dress code page; no rule was found on its racing site. Cup Day is a full racewear day by custom. Read 13 Nov 2026.

Encouraged

  • racewear with millinery (there are Millinery and Finishing Touches categories)

Men

No dress code published by the club. Suits are the custom on Cup Day; there is a Best Dressed Man category. Read 13 Nov 2026.

Encouraged

  • suit and tie

Outfits built to this dress code

What to wear to New Zealand Cup Day

7 outfits for women and men, with the reason each one passes.

See the outfits

Styling notes

Registration on course; categories span classic, contemporary, first-timers ('Carnival Debut'), millinery and accessories, so a complete head-to-toe look matters. Two Ned Prix de Fashion spots come from Riccarton (one each from TAB Mile Day and NZ Cup Day).

Weather

Christchurch mid-November: about 8-20 C; can swing from a warm nor'wester to a cold southerly within the day, so bring a layer. Grass lawns. (General climate knowledge.)

History

The Canterbury Jockey Club also runs a 'Winter Fashion in the Field' (page for 2026 on its site).

where you are standing

Enclosure by enclosure

General admission

General admission $50 ($40 final online release) in 2026.

Women

No rule published.

Men

No rule published.

The Pavilion (hospitality)

New hospitality development operating for Cup Week 2026; check the ticket for any dress requirement.

Women

No rule published on the pages read.

Men

No rule published on the pages read.

Fashions on the Field

  • The Ned Fashion in the Field, NZ Cup Day (2026, registration 11am): Classic Racewear (Stephanie Murray Mortgages); Contemporary Racewear (Harlem Clothing); Carnival Debut (Style by Leigh); Finishing Touches (DK & Co); Millinery (Mad as a Hatter Millinery); Merivale Mall Style Award; Avenues Runway; Eye on the Crowd (True Grit); Best Dressed Man (Scenic Hotel Group); Best Dressed Man 1st and 2nd runner-up (Rembrandt); Supreme Winner receives The Ned prize package including a Ned Prix de Fashion qualifier spot.
  • The Ned Fashion in the Field, TAB Mile Day (Wednesday, registration 2pm): Best Dressed (Youngs Jewellers; Ned Prix de Fashion qualifier); Best Suited; Vintage (Peppermint Twist); Millinery (Monika Neuhauser); Finishing Touches (DK & Co); Eye on the Crowd (True Grit).

Check the official details before you go: racing.riccartonpark.nz ↗

for the day

Shop the look

HeadwearDressesShoesBagsJewellerySuitingOuterwearAccessories

save the date

Coming up

  • majorFri 13 Nov 2026

    Bahrain International Trophy

    Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, Sakhir (Riffa)

    Bahrain's Group 1 night and the kingdom's main social race meeting. The Bahrain Turf Club publishes no dress code; national dress or smart, modest evening wear is the norm.

  • majorFri 13 Nov 2026

    Show Day Races (Addington)

    Addington Raceway, Christchurch

    The Friday public-holiday harness meeting of Cup Week: a dressed-up crowd, looser than Cup Day.

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