The judging panel for St Pat’s 2023 Fashions on the Field competition are excited to see the outback come alive with style in March.
Shannen Graham of Adelaide SA, Bec Sheehan of Gold Coast QLD and local Kelly Zanker will have the hard job on race day of selecting the best dressed patrons.
Meet your judges
Shannen Graham
Shannen Graham from Adelaide SA joins the 2023 St Pats Fashions on the Field judging panel and will be looking for the perfect combination of traditional elegance and current trends.
Outside of her daytime role as a Finance Manager in the Defence industry, Shannen is a regular on the Fashions on the Field scene having been both a competitor and judge at a range of city and country meets. Her most recent titles as a competitor include Winner at Mildura Cup 2022, Winner at Balaklava Cup 2021, Winner at Adelaide Cup 2021, and Runner-up Adelaide Cup 2019.
Shannen grew up attending the races as her family trained race horses. She also competed in professional equestrian for many years. As a regular attendee, Shannen said she looks forward to the way that country race meets attract like minded people and in fashion provides the setting to meet great people and form friendships.
Shannen said that she has observed country race goers stepping it up in the fashion stakes in recent years to be more like the city FOTF competitions. ‘The standard that competitors go to is just amazing. When you attend country races you need to think of the location and the time of the year and dress to suit, like tweaking your heels for a thicker block if there is an uneven surface. There are many extra considerations.’
As a judge and contestant, Shannen’s philosophy is to be influenced by current trends but also remain elegant and traditional to racing fashion etiquette.
Her greatest advice for others is to ‘remember to dress for yourself. Don’t try to fit yourself into a category or style that doesn’t feel like you. Dress confident in what makes you feel great.’
Kelly Zanker
Textile designer and Broken Hill local Kelly Zanker joins the Fashions on the Field judging panel for St Pats 2023.
Born in Adelaide, Kelly moved to Broken Hill in 2010 after spending several years traveling through Europe and working as a Registered Nurse in London.
In 2022, Kelly combined her love of fashion and style to established luxurious tablelinen brand Ashbourne Abode after recognising a gap in the market for stylish, timeless and conversation-starting homewares pieces.
Kelly researched, designed and launched the business in late 2022 by releasing the first collection of six statement tablecloths of the Ashbourne Abode range. Kelly’s inspiration for the brand stems from strong familial ties to architecture, generational sentiment and a desire for quality long lasting pieces to brighten homes across the country.
Kelly said her predictions for race day fashion and style this year encompass bright colours and bold prints that are worn with confidence and instill a sense of fun in each occasion. Kelly looks forward to being a part of the Fashions on the Field judging panel at the Broken Hill St Pat’s race day 2023.
Ashbourne Abode is available online or stocked locally at Eclectic.
Shelley Murray
Shelley Murray is the Costume Designer and Head of Wardrobe Department for Home & Away, Channel 7.
Shelley has worked at Channel 7 for 23 years. Firstly on the medical drama, All Saints, but most of her time has been spent as Costume Designer for Home and Away.
Styling all the actors for Summer Bay, she has dressed the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Bec Hewitt, Georgie Parker, Isabel Lucas, Ryan Kwanten , Samara Weaving and thousands of celebrities. She loves to design characters from scripts and create outfits to compliment the actor’s physique whilst keeping true to the character traits.
Shelley is honoured to be joining us in Broken Hill from the Northern Beaches, Sydney.
