MEET ALEX SMYTH-KIRK - CREATOR & DESIGNER OF LEADING AUSTRALIAN JEWELLERY BRAND VERA XANE
Here are my top 3 tips for dressing for the races.
1) Pick the correct hemline. Micro minis are a definite no as are flowy maxi dresses, something which sits around the mid-calf is the perfect length for racing.
2) Night club wear and race wear do not cross over!
3) Consider your heels wisely. Tables go early, so you will most likely be standing for hours on end. As great as they may look, thin straps and anything too high can be your worst nightmare come 6pm.
We caught up with Alex in a bit more detail about Vera Xane, and her Spring Racing Carnival experiences.
Tell us a little bit about your brand and how you started?
I launched Vera Xane in 2012 while still at university. I studied silver and gold smithing under the guidance of a master jeweler from the age of 17, and then went on to work in-house for a prominent Australian fine jewellery brand. I always knew from a young age that I wanted to have my own label and create pieces which were a little bit different.
Vera Xane is all about bold jewellery that makes you feel confident and strong. Our designs are often quite futuristic in shape, yet maintain a distinct vintage feel at the same time. I have a long-held love for architecture and modernist design and that definitely comes through in the pieces that we make.
What would you wear to the races this year?
I’m loving metallic fabrics for spring, so a really great soft gold look is on my radar.
I’m also really excited about the new Vera Xane Bun Cuffs, a flexible cuff which is designed to sit over the band of your high pony or bun. So I’ll be planning my first race day outfit around a serious 1990’s Madonna/Jean Paul Gautier inspired ponytail!
What will be in your handbag?
IPhone, backup bobby pins, lipstick, and concealer for mid-afternoon touch ups.
Which Vera Xane pieces are a must-have for the 2016 race season and why?
Bold earrings are a key accessory trend for spring - the bigger the better! They are also a really great alternative for ladies who don’t love to wear a headpiece. The new Vera Xane ‘Round She Goes’ circle layer earrings are perfect for a strong, sophisticated race day look (that will take you straight to a night out).
Geometric headbands are also having a real moment this year. The Distant Sun Pyramid Headband is our signature racing headpiece and looks absolutely beautiful when styled with hair up or down.
What is your favourite race day of the year (i.e. Melbourne Cup, Oaks day) and what do you usually do?
I’m a sucker for all things monochrome, so Derby Day in the Spring Racing Carnival is always my favourite. If I’m lucky enough to get away to Melbourne then you’ll usually find me hiding somewhere in the Flemington Bird Cage, otherwise I’ll be at Royal Randwick having a champagne.
VERA XANE
