On a history making day in Australian racing all eyes may have been on Makybe Diva at 3pm.

But the fashions on track also provided plenty of entertainment throughout the day.

Were there some shockers on the track? In a crowd of over 100,000 people, of course there were. In fact, the day would have been all the more dull without the spectacle of fashion tragedies.

Many of the faux pas' were glimpsed in the public areas and betting rings of the track. They tended to be skimpy miniskirts, dresses that didn't support (or cover the bust area), and very visible underwear (bra straps, VGL's and VPL's - you name it!).

On the whole however, Melburnians and their interstate and international visitors for the Cup, showed why Flemington is the premier Australian race course for fashion action on the first Tuesday in November.

There was a sea of colour and movement in the ladies outfits, with those wearing black in the definite minority. Many of the gentlemen however sweltered in the 30 degree heat wearing dark suits. On the whole, the boys disappointed just a little with their lack of fashion imagination on the day.

The best that most could come up with were brightly coloured ties and a pin stripe in their shirts. Great for the office, but a little boring for the race track. Those who stood out from the masses did it by wearing hats, neutral colours in their suits, funky pants and shirts or even the traditional morning suit.

Yellow roses in the buttonhole were essential for the boys, and most followed through with this tradition.

In keeping with the fashion direction of both Sydney and Melbourne major race meetings, form fitting, European style suits were the go. Bespoke suits looked best, but those wearing well cut Armani and Hugo Boss suits didn't disappoint.

The passion for fashion was evident in a majority of ladies on course however. It was clear that many had put both thought and resources into their outfits for the day and there was a strong edge in much of the fashion we observed.

Bright colours and bold prints were out in force. Think canary yellow, bright red and all shades of green in particular.

Also on display were fitted and structured dresses, some with boning in the bodices for an even more formal look.

The a-line shaped dress was once again in order for the ladies - especially those who spent much of their time outside on Cup day.

The scorching heat made wearing anything else almost unthinkable.

For those in the enclosed areas (Member's Stands, Marquees, or the Birdcage) dresses were mixed with elegant pant suits.

Quite a few opted for strapless in their dresses and tops - leading inevitably to some severe sunburns throughout the day.

As at the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup punters rejected the maxi dress trend that took Sydney's Spring Racing Carnival by storm. Proving to be a truly national trend however, the boho look born in the late 60s and 1970s most lately embraced by Sienna Miller, was big on Cup day.

As we've been predicting for a while now, hats were plentiful, overtaking fascinators as the essential accessory for the race track.

Making a comeback too were decorated combs and headbands featuring feathers, beading and sequins. There were even quite a few ladies sporting "across the forehead" ceasar style headbands.

I never thought I would say this, but on the right girls, they looked quite chic.

Many of the headwear choices for the ladies were also strong fashion statements. A myriad of larger than life, ornate and unique hats were on display. Netting across the face a la "mother of the bride" was re-born and looked right up to the minute on those who pulled it off.

Floppy, wide brimmed sun hats were plentiful in the public areas, being more widely available (and less expensive) than their designer counterparts.

Like many at the Cox Plate, those ladies seeking unique headwear chose to make or customise their hats, fascinators and head pieces using elements from Lincraft, Spotlight and Cleggs.

The clever ladies also remembered to bring their sun umbrella's, ensuring that they remained cool and beautiful even as the sun rose high over the track and Makybe Diva stole the hearts of a nation.