Cape Town - South African celebs and fashionistas are gearing up to put their best fashion foot forward in the 151st running of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate this weekend.
Among the well-known punters who will attend Saturday’s event at the Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town will be beauty queen and presenter Joanne Strauss, Summit TV news anchor Jen Su, Kfm presenter Elana Afrika, and fashion designers Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan du Toit of KLûK CGDT.
The Queen’s Plate came to South Africa in 1861, with a prize of a silver plate and 500 sovereigns donated to the winner by Queen Victoria.
Sponsored by L’Ormarins since 2005, the event also showcases the winemaking skills of Anthonij Rupert. There will also be a selection of vintage cars on display from one of the leading collections in the world, courtesy of the Franschhoek Motor Museum.
What sets the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate experience apart is the royal blue and white fashion. Executive promoter from events company SAIL, Michelle van Eyden, explains that the stud colours of the Drakenstein Stud Farm, located at L’Ormarins in Fransch-hoek, are blue and white.
“The jockeys who ride any of the horses from the Drakenstein Stud ride in blue and white silks. This was woven into the event when L’Ormarins started to sponsor the event,” she says.
Eyden describes the event as an elegant day at the races.
“Horse racing is something people don’t do every day so it offers an alternative entertainment and lifestyle option,” she says.
On what to wear she advises, “Definitely wear elegant blue and white – no jeans. There are great prizes to be won for the best dressed and best hat on the day.”
In the exclusive VIP Stud Club, guests will be able to rub shoulders with the country’s who’s-who. The popular Style Lounges have an uninterrupted view of the race- track. Also on offer will be an array of culinary treats.
The Best Dressed and Best Hat competition will be judged by some of South Africa’s leaders in the fashion industry, such as Sam Walker (PopYaCollar), Emily Bell (Marie Claire), Jacqui Kolbe (Milliner) and Tammy Tinker (British Vogue).
The winner of the Best Dressed title will win an exclusive Errol Arendz dress valued at R10 000 as well as an Elizabeth Arden hamper. Prizes for the Best Hat category include pieces from The Little Hattery, Elizabeth Arden hampers and fragrances from Cartier.
The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate will donate a percentage of ticket sales to the Montrose Foundation’s Equine Youth Development Programme.
The eight-week programme offers personal and social projects for young people including building trust and orientation, self-awareness, anger and stress management, healthy habits and motivation to self-development.
l L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate takes place from 11am to 11pm on Sunday. Limited tickets to hospitality areas are available at Computicket. - Cape Argus