Note: This is a sponsored and picture-heavy post.

Spring has descended upon us and that means one thing here in Melbourne: spring racing season is finally here!

Last week, Tim and I checked out Northland Shopping Centre and boy, they sure are celebrating the Spring Racing Carnival season with a bang. There are so many activities going on in store; most of them are complimentary services to shoppers.

If you fancy checking out Northland and I hope you do, here are some of the activities you’d expect to find:

The Stables: a lovely garden setting that invites shoppers to take a break and unwind in a whimsical horse stable-inspired lounge. You’ll be able to book for a complimentary styling session with MYER’s personal stylist and shopper, Cat Morrison (but hurry, I hear there’s not many left!). There’ll also be express makeup touch-up sessions and mini manicures, skin consultations, and live music, which are free for all shoppers. Popular nail artist Clara Hwang will be there to do your nails too!

MYER Punter’s Lounge: a setting of opulence and sophistication where there’ll be a perfume buffet for shoppers to test and sample a range of the season’s most popular fragrances. Gentlemen will also be invited to experience an old-fashioned shoeshine with compliments of MYER. Like The Stables, you’ll also be able to enjoy express makeup touch-ups, skin consultations and mini manicures. There’ll even be a floral cart where shoppers will be able to select their favourite blooms from a cart of spring’s finest floral offerings. The hosts will be able to prepare the gorgeous posies and wrap them up all pretty for you, compliments of Northland. The Punter’s Lounge is accessible to Northland VIP Shoppers, which is free to sign up.

There are even competitions that you can join. One of them is the “Style Your Way to Race Day” where you can stand to win the ultimate Spring Races Experience which includes VIP tickets to Oaks Day, return helicopter flights into Flemington, AU$500 to spend at Northland and a pre-event pampering session courtesy of MYER. What a fantastic prize! What an entrance the winners will make at Oaks Day, eh? Shoppers simply have to create and submit their favourite SS15 look using Northland’s retailer products available on the free “Style Your Way” app. Check out northlandshopping.com.au for more information. I’ve entered the competition; you should too!

Now comes the fun part of the Spring Racing Carnival at Northland. At least, it was a lot of fun for me. 🙂

When Northland challenged me to a “shop the spring racing carnival look for $200 or less“, all I could think of was YOU ARE ON LIKE DONKEY KONG. I love shopping for good bargains and I love spring racing looks so off I went to Northland to check out what amazing things they have to offer.

Here’s a confession: I’ve actually never been to the races. Gasp shock horror, I know. It’s not that I don’t want to go to the races; I never had anyone who wanted to go with me. Tim’s not interested (bah, humbug!) and it’s no fun going alone. I love people-watching in the city and train stations when it comes to the racing season because so many people would be dressed up to the nines in their gorgeous hats, fascinators, frocks and suits heading to Flemington. I won’t deny it; I’d love to join them one day too.

When it came to shopping for a complete spring racing carnival look, I had two things in mind. It must say “springtime frolicking fun” to me AND it must not be too fancy that I cannot wear it for other occasions too. Goodness knows I have enough dresses in my wardrobe that I buy just for one occasion and hardly ever wear again. I don’t want that for this challenge so it was imperative that I choose something pretty yet practical that I’ll be able to wear again for other occasions.

I have to say, as amped as I was in accepting the challenge, man, it’s actually not as easy as I thought it was going to be. Luckily a lot of stores in Northland were having sales which allowed me to get a full look from top to toe for under $200.

Dress by Portmans: AU$67.46 (25% off RRP AU$89.95)
Shoes by Betts: AU$67.46 (25% off RRP AU$89.95)
Fascinator by Colette: AU$19.95
Clutch by Colette: AU$20.00
Necklace by Lovisa: AU$9.00

All up, I spent AU$183.87. I even get change from a whole AU$200, how cool is that? I fell in love with the dress when I first laid eyes on it. The print made it look like it’s a really expensive piece when it’s actually not very.

How do you think I did? Okay, it’s not as fancy as it should be and it’s definitely not Ascot races material but this is something I’m most comfortable in and will definitely wear if I was invited to the races. It’s comfortable, it’s pretty, I can actually walk in those shoes and most importantly, I can wear all of these again.

Right, now that I’m decked to the nines, does anyone want to come with me to the races? Perhaps a day of shopping together at Northland? 😉