A Christchurch stylist has urged Cup Day fashionistas to create trends, not follow them.

Andhy Blake, a stylist at the Ballantynes department store, passed on fashion tips yesterday at the final session in a series of style workshops before next month’s glamour horse-racing event.

The free workshops, held each Friday this month at Ballantynes, included styling for men and women, makeup and accessories.

Yesterday’s session was titled How to Stand Out in a Crowd.

Blake said Cup Day racegoers should dare to be different.

“Don’t follow trends because they may not be suitable for you,” he said. “Create you own trends and let other people follow you.”

Blake expected headwear to be prominent in this year’s fashion stakes. “We tend to follow the Melbourne Cup [fashion], and in recent years they have focused on the headpiece more than they have on other accessories.”

Men had started “upping their game” in the style stakes. “They’re tending to take more direction from what they’re seeing on TV.”

Pauline McCormick, of Christchurch, said she attended three of the workshops for fashion advice.

“It was very professional and I learned something every session,” she said.

Source: stuff.co.nz