A dose of race fashion

DANDENONG Plaza sponsored a best dressed couples’ event at the Peet Pakenham Cup last week.
Part of the cup’s Fashions on the Field, the couples event was held for the first time in Pakenham Cup history. Judges included Carol Brower, Stephanie Booth and model sensation Rebecca Twigley.
Winners of the best dressed couple, sponsored by the Plaza, were Werribee’s Tony and Geannie Todaro.
The couple took a classic approach wearing a black, brown and beige ensemble.
Mrs Todaro said she designed her whole outfit from head to toe. “I believe women need to follow the word DOSE, these are my four rules, deportment, originality, style and elegance,” she said.
“Woman can’t go wrong if they follow this.”
Mrs Todaro said that creating a classic look doesn’t entirely depend on what a woman is wearing; it’s how she wears the outfit that makes it.
“I love fashion and love dressing dress up. Life’s too short not to,” Ms Todaro said.
Mrs Todaro said young girls should dress more modestly. “They need to show less flesh and cover up more,” she said.
For Mr Todaro, a bricklayer by trade, this was his first Fashion on the Field event in Pakenham.
“This is more a girl’s thing but we did enter together in Bendigo about seven years ago and won there too,” Mr Todaro said. “When I do go out I must admit I do like to dress up,” he said.
Mrs Todaro said she used some of her husband’s bricks to create the pleats in her self designed hat.
The best dressed couple won a prize pool of more than $3000.
Raquel Duarte, Dandenong Plaza’s marketing manager, said she loved the winner’s look as everything matched. “Her blouse, skirt, shoes, clutch and umbrella and his tie all matched with the same black ruffles,” she said.
Ms Duarte said Dandenong Plaza decided to sponsor the best dressed couple event as it appealed to the plaza’s customers.
“The standard of the couples was amazing, they’ll give Flemington a run for their money,” she said.
“I love fashion and I’m just blown away by the standard here at Peet Pakenham Cup.”