In partnership with the Australian Turf Club
Spring in Sydney always seems to arrive with ceremony. The mornings are lighter, wardrobes soften, and the city begins to dress with new intent. Nowhere is this seasonal shift more palpable than at the Sydney Everest Carnival, an event that transforms from a day at the races into a cultural celebration of style, food, entertainment and connection.
For RUSSH purist and Carnival attendee Izi Simundic, the day felt like the true beginning of summer. “You can feel it on the day and see it in the change of wardrobe, as everyone starts to pull back on the winter layers,” she reflected.
Fashion remains the heartbeat of the Carnival, and this year’s return of Fashion Stakes brought that into sharp focus. At Sydney Surf to Turf Day, bold interpretations of the “touch of red” theme lit up Royal Randwick, with participation numbers the highest in years. The Pamper Pavilion became a hive of activity – with racegoers enjoying express hairstyling, touch-ups, and even live fashion sketches, Chandon glass in hand.
For Simundic, whose style favours timeless elegance over fleeting trends, dressing for the occasion is about subtle details with impact. “I try to buy well and less,” she explained. “I love taking things I already have and giving them a fresh spin.” On the day, she wore a high-neck, low-back silk dress from Bianca Spender – refined yet quietly dramatic, the kind of piece that embodies the spirit of Spring dressing. For her, race-day style is pared back but elevated, with the Carnival offering the rare opportunity to wear “something more special.”
The Sydney Everest Carnival has long distinguished itself as more than just racing. With race days spanning from Sydney Surf to Turf Day through to Five Diamonds Ladies Day, it is an unfolding calendar of experiences – a curation of gastronomy, entertainment, and fashion-led moments.
The opening day set the tone: The Peacock Lounge presented by Balter was a festival-style playground of DJs, live music, flowing bubbles and the dish of the moment – George Mirosevich’s Balter beer-battered lobster roll, already iconic for its long queues and rave reviews. Elsewhere, the Whispering Angel Garden offered members a refined rosé escape, while the Chandon Spritz Garden created a fresh destination for all racegoers. And as the sun dipped, the After the Last concert transformed the Theatre of the Horse into a dance floor, with Hot Dub Time Machine leading thousands into the evening.
But for Simundic, the most memorable moments were simpler: time spent with friends, laughter among the crowd, the energy of shared celebration. It’s this sense of connection that gives the Carnival its richness, transforming it into something layered, something cultural.
In many ways, the Carnival sets the tone for Spring style in Sydney. This season, details reigned supreme – a high neckline, an unexpected back, a fabric that moves in the light. They are subtle but expressive, and they mark the Carnival as not just an event to attend, but an event to dress for.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower, the Carnival revealed itself as more than the sum of its parts. It was fashion, yes, but also food, music, and friendship – a postcard from a city in bloom.
Discover more about the Spring Carnival season at the Australian Turf Club website.
Izi wears BIANCA SPENDER dress; LACK OF COLOUR hat; DINOSAUR DESIGNS bangles; MAX MARA bag; talent's own shoes and earrings.
PHOTOGRAPHY Myles Kalus
STYLING Koby Dulac-Daley
HAIR Darren Summors @ AP—REPS
MAKEUP Katie Angus @ AP—REPS
