The fashion mistakes every woman should avoid making at the spring races.

If you’re planning on heading to the races this year there are few things you should keep in mind when picking out your outfit.

Before you settle on the perfect dress, shoes and headpiece, here are five fashion mistakes to avoid so you can make the most of your day at the races.

Don’t wear stilettos. You will regret it

Sure they’re fine if you’re in the stands all day. But as soon as you go downstairs, stiletto heels will sink straight into the grass.

Not only is this annoying but it puts extra strain on the front of your foot and your feet will burn like the fire of a thousand suns – speaking from experience.

But if you’re dead set on stilettos, try a pair of secret stoppers. They’re clear caps that you can put on the heels of your shoes to stop them from sinking into the grass. You can buy them from ASOS or eBay.

Don’t wear something too short

Short dresses are totally gorgeous, but not for the races. Why? Because they’re difficult to sit down in.

If you’ve never been to the races before, let me tell you that chairs are very few and far between, unless you bring your own. And unless you want to stand up all day, you’ll end up sitting down on the grass at some point.

Sitting on the ground in a mini dress is a recipe for disaster. Unless you feel like giving everyone an eyeful of your knickers, choose something a bit longer. Something that you can sit down in comfortably.

Don’t leave your jacket behind

It can still get pretty darn brisk during spring in Australia, so don’t forget a jacket or pashmina.

I know the shining sun can be deceiving. So can the midday temperatures. But right around four o’clock the temperature will start to drop and you’ll be left shivering on the damp grass.

Whenever I pull out the “bring a jacket” line, my friends always complain. “But then I’ll have to carry it all day!” As soon as you’ve arrived at the races, just put your jacket down on your seat or on the grass where you’re sitting or standing. And if you do have to carry it, it’s no bigger burden than the clutch purse you’re already carrying.

At the very least, bring a scarf. You’ll thank me when the temperature drops to 15 degrees.

Don’t be tempted by those expensive fascinators

The cost-per-wear value of a fascinator is already high enough without you buying one of those fancy $200 ones. And if you do splash out and buy a designer fascinator or hat, no one is going to know and you’ll probably never wear it again. It’s just not worth it.

Opt for one of the totally acceptable options from THE ICONIC, Boohoo or ASOS. This year there are loads of cute headwear pieces available on these sites and you can pick one up for less than $30. Go cheap on the fascinator front and save your cash to splash on your dress.

Don’t forget your sunglasses

You’d never forget to take your sunglasses to the beach or the football, so why would you leave them at home for the races? Most racecourses have big uninterrupted outdoor areas. It gets super sunny and the glare can be painful.

Don’t spend the day squinting. Just bring a pair of sunnies. And if you’re worried that you’ll lose those $200 Ray-Bans after you’ve had a few drinks, bring a cheap pair. You can pick up cheap sunnies at a $2 store or even a cheap clothing store like ASOS.

Remember, squinting gives you wrinkles. There’s no point slathering on all those anti-ageing creams if you’re going to leave your sunglasses at home on a sunny day.

Mia Steiber is the shopping and beauty expert at finder.com.au, the site that compares virtually everything.

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