Jennifer Marsh (left) with some of the competition at the Adelaide Cup Fashion on the Fields competition.
THERE were plenty of stylish entrants in this year's Adelaide Cup Fashions on the Field - but none with an outfit quite like Jennifer Marsh's.
The Naracoorte local was crowned the State winner of the competition, beating 120 like-minded ladies.
Having won the SA Fashions on the Field, sponsored by Myer, Jennifer will now go to the 2013 Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington Racecourse to compete in the national final, with a one in six chance of winning a Lexus sport convertible.
With a silver peplum dress she bought online for just $18US, the owner of Marsh Millinery added her own twist with bright tangerine hued accessories she made herself.
"I was going for something elegant that was a bit different," she said.
"The head piece I made from vinyl with overlays and orange beaded metal trivets which are what are used to put pots on.
"I made the belt out of matching material into a big bow and trimmed a clutch I already had with fabric and a horse diamante brooch."
Jennifer's look was complemented with burnt orange suede shoes and a detachable collar on her neck which she made herself by cutting it off of an old shirt and revamping it.
Working as a Country Fire Service regional prevention officer in Naracoorte, she said she didn't expect to do so well.
"It was such a hot day, the lining of my dress was sticking to me and while I'm probably a very harsh critic of myself I didn't think I would win the competition," she said.
"I was happy to get into the finals and anything else was a bonus."
Jennifer got into the art of making headpieces after regularly going to the races when she lived in New South Wales but always finding it hard to find a hat to match her outfit.
After discovering she had a knack for it she started her own millinery business which is predominantly online-based.
Over the years she has had a fair bit of success in fashions on the field competitions. In 2006 she was the runner-up at the Melbourne Cup competition, she came third in 2008 at the event in Sydney, got second place at the Adelaide Cup in 2011 and last year made it to the finals in Adelaide.
Jennifer said she followed trends a little but ultimately liked to wear what she wanted.
"I know what flatters me and suits my body shape but I think you need to have some sort of grasp on trends to do well in the competition."
