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Racing Fashion Weekly

You are invited · Sat 30 Jan 2027

Wellington Cup Day

Trentham Racecourse, Upper Hutt, New Zealand

flagship

Billed by the club as 'the biggest day on Wellington's sporting and social calendar': full summer racewear, and a Fashion in the Field that feeds the national final.

what to wear

The dress code

Dress standard
Formal
Millinery
expected
Season
Summer

Women

General Admission: 'There is no formal dress code in General Admission areas at Trentham.' 'We simply ask that clothing is tidy and presentable.' On Wellington Cup Day many racegoers wear dresses and headwear. Read 13 Nov 2026.

Required

  • tidy and presentable clothing

Encouraged

  • dresses and headwear on Cup Day

Men

General Admission: no formal dress code; tidy and presentable. Many wear suits and jackets on Cup Day. Read 13 Nov 2026.

Required

  • tidy and presentable clothing

Encouraged

  • suit or jacket on Cup Day

Styling notes

Judges look for 'originality, confidence, and a well-styled outfit that reflects modern fashion flair' (2026 wording).

Weather

Upper Hutt midsummer: about 13-23 C, often windy; can be hot in the sun and cool in shade. (General climate knowledge.)

History

The Cup Carnival opens on 9 January 2027; 16 January is Family Day with the Thorndon Mile and a Kids' Fashion in the Field.

where you are standing

Enclosure by enclosure

General Admission

General admission $50 for 2027.

Women

No formal dress code; tidy and presentable.

Men

No formal dress code; tidy and presentable.

Members Stand

Members are responsible for their guests' dress.

Women

Smart casual: dresses, skirts, tailored pants, smart jeans. Avoid singlets, sportswear, ripped or torn clothing and jandals.

Men

Smart casual: collared shirts, polos, smart jeans, dress shorts, tailored pants. Avoid singlets, sportswear, ripped or torn clothing and jandals.

Committee Lounge

Women

On larger feature racedays including Wellington Cup Day: 'ladies expected to dress to an equivalent raceday standard' (to jacket and tie).

Men

On larger feature racedays including Wellington Cup Day: jacket and tie required. Other racedays: smart attire, jacket and tie not required.

Hospitality areas

Some areas set their own requirements, shown on the ticket or event information.

Women

'A smart standard of dress is encouraged'; raceday attire especially on feature days.

Men

'A smart standard of dress is encouraged'.

Fashions on the Field

  • Fashion in the Field (Wellington Cup Day): includes a Millinery category open to professional and amateur milliners and an 'Eye on the Crowd' category; all category finalists except Eye on the Crowd are considered for The Ned Prix de Fashion; one overall Supreme Winner (2026 terms, per search of the club's page). Two Ned Prix de Fashion spots are listed for 30 January 2027.

Check the official details before you go: wellingtonracing.co.nz ↗

for the day

Shop the look

HeadwearDressesShoesBagsJewellerySuitingOuterwearAccessories

save the date

Coming up

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    Bahrain International Trophy

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    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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