Race day is the one day of the year when Perth dresses up in daylight. It is also the day most likely to end with shoes in one hand and a broken fascinator in the other.

Melbourne Cup day falls on Tuesday 3 November this year, and Ascot's summer racing carnival runs on through November and December. Whether you are trackside or at a long lunch in the city, the same rules apply.

Start with the dress code

Check before you buy anything. Members' areas and marquees usually publish a dress code, and it is enforced at the gate. General admission is more relaxed, but race day is still a dress-up occasion.

The safe ground is a dress that sits at or below the knee, with shoulders that are either covered or easy to cover. A tailored jumpsuit or a matching top and trousers works just as well, and is a good deal easier in the wind.

If you like a theme, racing has a few. Derby Day is traditionally black and white. Oaks Day is the feminine one, all florals and soft colour. Cup day itself is where the brightest colours and the boldest hats come out.

Hat or fascinator?

Headwear is the part people get most nervous about, and it is the part that matters most. Without it you are just wearing a nice dress.

• A fascinator is the easy option. It is light, it stays put on a headband, and a netted veil makes any outfit look deliberate.
• A hat is the practical option in Perth. A proper brim gives you shade from midday to the last race, which a fascinator never will.
• Match the scale to the outfit. A busy dress wants simple headwear. A plain dress can carry something dramatic.

Whichever you choose, put it on at home and shake your head. If it moves, it will be on the grass by race three.

Shoes that survive the lawn

This is where race days are won and lost. A racecourse is mostly grass, and a thin heel goes straight into it.

• Choose a block heel or a wedge. They spread your weight and stay on top of the turf.
• Wear them in first. Race day means hours on your feet. New shoes will find every weak spot by lunchtime.
• Pack a flat pair. Fold-up flats in your bag are not giving up. They are planning ahead.

Dress for the weather you will actually get

Spring in Perth can hand you 22 degrees and a stiff breeze or 35 and no shade, sometimes in the same week. Check the forecast the night before, not the week before.

• Hot day: natural fabrics, a looser cut and a hat with a brim. Put sunscreen on your shoulders and the back of your neck before you leave the house.
• Windy day: avoid light, floaty skirts and anything that needs constant holding down. Secure your headwear with a comb as well as the band.
• Cool change: a blazer or a tailored coat over your shoulders looks the part and saves the evening.

What to put in the bag

A small bag is part of the look, so pack it carefully.

• Sunscreen and lipstick
• Bobby pins and a few safety pins
• Blister plasters
• Fold-up flats
• A phone charger

The short version

Dress up, cover your head, and choose shoes you can stand in for six hours. Get those three right and the rest is detail.

And if you are having a flutter, set your limit before the first race and stick to it.

Photo credits

• Cover: photo by Allef Vinicius via StockSnap (CC0).
• Fascinator and veil: photo by Candace McDaniel via StockSnap (CC0).
• Wide-brimmed hat: photo by Daria Shevtsova via StockSnap (CC0), cropped.
• Red heels: photo by Kristin Hardwick via StockSnap (CC0).