What to Wear to the Golden Slipper 2027: Autumn Race Day Hats and Style

The hats in this story: Golden Dahlia · Mulberry Meadow · Moonlit Bow. Send me a photo of your outfit and I'll choose the one that belongs to you.

Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens is the heart of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. It is the richest race in the world for two-year-olds, and for many Sydney women it is the most elegant race day of the autumn: the light turns golden, the evenings cool, and race day style becomes richer and more considered than in spring.

If you're planning what to wear to the Golden Slipper 2027, this guide is for you. As a milliner, I'll focus on the part of the look I know best: how to choose an autumn race day hat that belongs to the whole look.

Golden Slipper 2027 at a glance

When: March 2027 (I'll add the confirmed date here as soon as the Australian Turf Club announces it)
Where: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Rosehill, Sydney
Season: early autumn, usually still warm by day and cooler by late afternoon
Dress code: race day elegance. Think tailored dresses, midi lengths, a light jacket for the evening, and a hat that completes the look

Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival 2027: the key race days

The Golden Slipper sits in the middle of a carnival that runs from late February to mid-April. The main days usually include:

the opening weekends at Rosehill and Randwick in late February
Ladies Day at Rosehill in March
Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens
The Championships, two Saturdays at Royal Randwick in early April

Once the 2027 dates are confirmed, I'll list them here, along with the last day to order your hat for each one.

What to wear to the Golden Slipper: the autumn race day mood

Autumn racing in Sydney has its own palette. Where spring racing is fresh and pastel, autumn moves towards warmth and depth: gold, caramel, mulberry, plum, burgundy, olive and rich navy. Fabrics gain a little more weight, and many women add a fine jacket or wrap as the afternoon cools.

My one piece of advice: let one element lead. Elegance comes from harmony, not restraint. A deep-toned dress gives your hat room to carry a warmer accent, while a printed dress pairs beautifully with a hat in one of its own colours. Tone on tone, or one decisive contrast.

Is there a theme or colour for the Golden Slipper 2027?

Some race days now announce a theme or a signature colour, as The Everest does with its touch of blue. If a theme or colour is announced for the Golden Slipper 2027, I'll share it here. Until then, you can't go wrong with the warm autumn palette: gold, mulberry, caramel and deep plum.

Sinamay, straw or felt for autumn racing?

This is one of the questions I'm asked most often. In late March, Sydney is usually still warm, so sinamay, straw and raffia remain the most comfortable choice for the Golden Slipper. Felt comes into its own a little later in the season, from The Championships in April and through the winter racing months. If your day is cool or you'll stay into the evening, a richer colour or a fine velvet detail gives sinamay an autumn feel without the weight of felt.

How to choose an autumn race day hat

Colour with depth. Choose warmer, deeper tones than you would in spring, or a natural base with one rich accent.
Light, comfortable materials. Early autumn days can still be warm, so sinamay, straw and raffia keep you comfortable from the first race to the last.
A secure fit. A discreet headband keeps your hat in place without pressure. My sizes and fitting guide will help you choose.
Proportion. The hat begins with the woman. A hat may be bold, as long as it belongs to her and never overpowers her.

Three pieces for the Golden Slipper 2027

Each of these pieces is shaped by hand in my studio in Bowral, in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

Golden Dahlia

A sculptural cocktail hat in natural raffia, with hand-shaped silk dahlias in rich golden tones rising above the crown and sculptural foliage around them. Golden, warm and full of movement, it carries the colour of autumn light. It sits on a discreet headband for comfortable all-day wear and is beautiful with caramel, cream, olive or deep navy.

Mulberry Meadow

A softly rounded cocktail hat in mulberry sinamay, with hand-dyed silk flowers in pink, violet, apricot and white, fine netting caught among them and a sinamay twist curling upward. Around eight hours of handwork go into each one. Wear it on the right side, tilted forward over the brow, with blush, ivory, sage green or soft grey.

Moonlit Bow

A headband in shimmering golden sinamay, covered in French veiling and finished with a sculptural tulle bow. One gesture, beautifully placed. It is a lovely choice for a hairstyle you'd like to show, and works with black, ivory, chocolate or a deep jewel tone.

You'll find more pieces for the carnival in my Race Day Hats and Occasion Hats collections.

Hat or fascinator for the Golden Slipper?

Both are welcome at Rosehill. A headband or small fascinator is light and easy, and lets your hairstyle show. A cocktail hat or a hat with a brim creates a stronger shape and a more complete look in photographs. Above all, choose the piece that feels like yours.

How to wear your race day hat

Most hats sit on the right side of the head, tilted forward over the brow. A few centimetres of angle can change the whole look.
A low bun or soft waves at the nape keep the line clean.
Keep jewellery simple when your hat has strong detail. One gesture is enough.
Try your hat on with the whole outfit, including shoes and jacket, before the day.

Personalise or create your Golden Slipper hat

Autumn gives you time. If you'd love a piece in the exact colour of your dress, a made-to-order hat lets you choose a design and personalise its colours. For something entirely your own, a bespoke hat begins with a conversation about you, your occasion and your wardrobe.

When to order your Golden Slipper hat

Made to order and bespoke: please allow around three weeks for your hat to be made, plus delivery. For the Golden Slipper, I recommend getting in touch by mid-February.
Ready to wear: order at least a week before race day. Hats are sent Australia-wide by standard post in a protective hatbox and usually arrive within 3–5 business days. Express delivery is also available at checkout.
Please keep the Easter long weekend in mind, as there are no postal deliveries on Good Friday or Easter Monday.

Let me help you choose your hat

Every hat begins with the woman. Send me a photo of your Golden Slipper outfit and I'll personally choose up to three handmade hats that belong to your look, complimentary and with no obligation. I usually reply the same day.

Send me your outfit →