Melbourne Cup

Sydney is full of uniforms, from the matching coveralls of the city workers to the nearly-identical grey suits worn by the office goers. Nearly the only people out of uniform are the strikingly well dressed women whose high fashions decorate the city. The're always beautifully attired, with designer shoes, cute skirts, and colourful fabrics.

Today the women look more like fanciful birds then ever, as every one of them is wearing feathers in her hair. As near as I can tell, the entire country has taken a day off, dressed to impress, and headed out to a pub to watch the Melbourne Cup horse races. There are even, I'm told, contests for the most Ascot-style outfits, and competition is fierce. Ostrich and plumes droop elegantly from tiny hats. Little tufts of dyed feathers top elaborately sequined hair clips. A few women have simply embedded peacock plumes in their elaborate hairstyles, the feathers sticking up in the air in a way that reminds me of agitated Wrens.