From picking the right threads to where to rest your head, here’s how to do race-day in style.

As summer comes to an end at MR PORTER HQ in London, Australians are happily embracing a shift to warmer weather, swapping button-down shirts for cotton piqué polos and gearing up for spring. There’s a lot to look forward to Down Under, but one week in particular sticks out – the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Showcasing some of the world’s best horseracing in one location, the Spring Racing Carnival brings a horde of sporting and stylish gents to Flemington Racecourse ahead of “the race that stops a nation”, the prestigious Melbourne Cup, in November.

In anticipation of the celebrated week, we’ve put together the following guide on how to do the carnival in style. Here’s hoping you manage to raise the stakes this spring.

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival calls for a tailored look, but with plenty of personal flair. You should experiment with colour and pattern, but it’s probably best to keep the full peacock look for Pitti Uomo.

Opt for a classic, lightweight, tailored suit with a subtle windowpane check or stripe. Pattern always feels that little bit more spring-like. Earthy, neutral colours, such as smoky grey, beige, taupe, cream and brown, are a good choice, while a classic blue or navy won’t lead you astray. Australian designer P. Johnson is where to go for this kind of thing. You can’t go wrong with its classic light-blue slim-fit suit jacket and trousers, which, thanks to their airy construction, will keep you smart even as temperatures start to rise.

Accessories are also key here. Keep your shirt neutral and remember to colour co-ordinate with your suit – white or off-white for brown and beige suits, white or light blue for navy. When choosing your tie, experiment with a clashing pattern. A micro-check can be a pleasing counterpoint to a striped suit, for example. Be wary of being too matchy-matchy, though. A pocket square can add the finishing touch to your get-up, but it should contrast, rather than replicate, the effect of your tie.

Most men find that preparing themselves for a special occasion or an event can be an arduous, sometimes daunting, task. Thankfully, Mankind in South Yarra can ease your concerns and misconceptions, and educate you in the field of men’s grooming.

It offers an array of services, from a simple beard trim and an express facial to (if you’re after a top-to-toe refresh) a body scrub and wrap. Mankind will see to it that you look your best for the all the rigours and tomfoolery of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. And here’s where we subtly point out that Mankind also offers a Hair of the Dog package, which you may wish to avail yourself of the morning after.

You heard it here first: Mr Lloyd Williams is in the box seat to add yet another Melbourne Cup to his trophy cabinet. Last year’s winner, Almandin, is the pre-race favourite and deservedly so, with a solid record of recent wins. However, the quality of the international horses will mean this year’s cup is again hotly contested. This is our tip, of course, but whichever horse you put your money on, keep your funds in check (and in style) at all times with a Saint Laurent pebble-grained leather cardholder. (Also, gamble responsibly.)

There is nothing worse than finding yourself with an empty glass and nowhere to continue the post-race celebrations. Make a beeline for The Deck at Circa, an established hangout for the who’s who of Melbourne. Its Winners Circle afterparties are the place to see and be seen. It has a beach-side rooftop vibe, and will see that racegoers continue their daytime revelries well into the night.

The Australian sun is harsh, so a high-factor suncream is a must. Sisley’s Super Soin Solaire range is one of the best. And a spritz of Allies Of Skin Molecular Saviour Toner Mist is the perfect supercharger for sun-dried skin.

When the racing’s over and your feet can no longer support you, it’s time to check in, wash up and turn down. We suggest you do this at QT Melbourne, which offers suitably boutique accommodation in the high-end fashion district of Australia’s most creative city.

Decidedly design-driven, the rooms are quaint yet quirky, eccentric yet innovative. We’re particularly fond of the Rooftop at QT, a bar that boasts not only a particularly bracing martini, but a spectacular, panoramic view of the Melbourne skyline.

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