The Crossing Fashion Starts Here Best Dressed Competition is a highlight of Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Day. To give you the inside running, we check in with head judge Jackie O’Fee, owner of Signature Style, to see what she is looking for in a winner.

What’s the golden rule of race day fashion? Just look gorgeous and have fun!

What will you be looking for on the day? Attention to detail, and that’s every detail from the top of your head to the sole of your shoe – it gets so hard to pick a winner that one year we really did eliminate one of the finalists due to her shoe being broken! I’ll also be looking to see on-trend looks – as an example, this year I’m expecting we’ll see a lot of statement sleeves, and I love colour!

How important is it to work a theme? It’s important that your overall look is cohesive, so if you are going for a Dior silhouette you need to make sure everything works with it, while if you are opting for something modern, like a jumpsuit, everything has to fit that look also.

What advice do you have for contestants? Make sure you’ve sorted every element of your outfit and then on the day, relax and be yourself. This is one of the best ‘dressing up’ things you can ever do, so you want to make sure you really enjoy it.

What’s the most common fashion faux pas? The wrong shoe or forgetting to style your hair.

What’s the best way to get the judges’ attention? Look amazing! Honestly, every year we are blown away by the incredible standard of the outfits. You truly need to look fabulous.

How do you nail selecting a hat or fascinator? Make sure you do your research – take a look at racewear winners internationally, particularly Australia as the seasons are the same, and see what is trending. Also, ask your milliner for advice – they work in this world all the time.

What are you hoping not to see? Too much flesh or cocktail wear. Race day fashion isn’t party fashion.