She’s become one of Australia’s top fashion bloggers, and with one look at Nadia Bartel’s blog or social media it’s easy to see why. Whether she’s styling high street threads or designer clothes, Nadia is inspiring fashion lovers around the country. We caught up with Nadia, this year’s Fashion Insider for Lavazza, to get her top Spring Racing style tips.

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CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR SHOOT WITH NADIA

Congratulations on being named Fashion Insider for Lavazza for the Spring Races again! What are you looking forward to most during the carnival?

I have always enjoyed attending the Lavazza marquee, I have loved working with them again this year. The atmosphere at the races is what I love the most; Melbourne comes alive this time of year. The fashion on each day has been incredible; everyone did such a great job at putting together different looks to suit the dress code on each day

What are the top fashion trends we can expect to see trackside?

On Derby Day you must wear black and white, this day is always my favourite as it is the first day to kick off the carnival and black and white are two of my favourite colours to wear. There was lots of leather, sheer panels and cut-out details to make it interesting. On Cup Day it was nice to see bold colours, red, hot pink and blue popular with a longer hemline and two-piece sets popular. We all know Oaks day is feminine and chic, this year pastel colours ruled the day with baby blue, lilac and yellow popular.

What are your top tips for where to shop for the perfect spring racing outfit?

We are so lucky in Melbourne to have so many great places to shop for all budgets. I love heading to David Jones, they have a great selection of my favourite designers. Scanlan & Theodore have so many tailored and classic looks that are perfect for the races. Dion Lee, Toni Maticevski and Manning Cartell are other labels I turn too. Another idea is to shop at ASOS or SHOPBOP to find some unique pieces that are more affordable that you can mix it with your race wear look.

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What labels and milliners would you recommend to standout this racing season?

Dressing for the races is all about keeping it classy, but you still want to wear something that you feel comfortable in, if you feel great you will look great. Milliners that have really stood out this year are Viktoria Novak, Danika Erard and Natalie Bikicki because they create pieces that are unique. I love labels like By Johnny, Camilla & Marc, Toni Maticevski for sleek race wear looks

Hair and beauty are just important when deciding your look for spring racing. What are the top trends we can expect to see during the carnival?

Yes, it is important, as a day at the races can be long so it’s important to use a great primer so your makeup stays put all day. I love going for a natural look of a brown/ gold smokey eye and keeping the skin really dewy and fresh with bronzers and highlighters. Red lips has been a really popular trend this year.

Your partner Jimmy Bartel always looks well dressed at events! Do you help him choose his outfits and do you have any style tips for men looking to stand out this season?

He is actually pretty good at dressing himself; he surprises me sometimes with his style as I think he has it going on. He does ask me for advice sometimes and I am always happy to help, I try to get him to wear colours that he may not be comfortable in. Haha. My tips for men at the races would be to invest in a tailored suit, it doesn’t cost that much to go to a dressmaker and I think it makes all the difference so you look sharp. Another trend for men this year is two-toned suits; I noticed lots of beige or grey pants paired with blue or a darker shade jacket.

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The Lavazza Marquee is always buzzing during the spring racing carnival! What do you love most about working with the brand?

Yes, I love the atmosphere in the Lavazza marquee. This year has been their best year yet. It felt like you were in a café in the heart of Italy as soon as you walked into the marquee with the large glass chandelier, the antipasto plate and the huge mural print. It is the perfect fit for me with my Italian heritage, we have similar core values and I love Lavazza’s strong Italian style and how iconic they are. Lavazza also know how to throw a great party.

Any tips for picking a winner this season?

I am not the best person to ask about picking winners, as I never seem to have much luck. I normally pick the horses based around my lucky numbers.

For more style inspiration from Nadia, visit her blog, The Chronicles of Nadia.

Images courtesy of Chronicles of Nadia and The Iconic

About The Author

Lisa Teh

Lisa Teh is the Editor-in-chief of Couturing.com, one of Australia's top fashion, beauty and lifestyle resources. She has worked on campaigns with brands including David Jones, Myer, Mecca Cosmetica, Simone Perele, Lenovo and L'Oreal. She recently appeared in Couturing's exclusive Australian Fashion Week reality web series, The Frow, alongside top industry names including Toni Maticevski and Maybelline Creative Director Nigel Stanislaus.