Nine star Francesca Cumani steals the show in stunning black and white gown as she leads celebrity arrivals to Derby Day during Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington Racecourse

Channel Nine star Francesca Cumani stole the show as she lead celebrity arrivals to Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne on Saturday.

The presenter, 41, turned heads in an off-the-shoulder A-line dress which gave her a beautifully classic silhouette during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival kickoff event.

Her Rebecca Vallance frock followed the black and white theme perfectly as it featured a stunning white bust which draped down into long black skirts.

Francesca accessorised with simple black pumps and pearl earrings as she donned a rounded white fascinator with a black bow.

The brunette beauty tucked her tresses behind her ears and slicked on a bold red lip to elevate her opulent look.

The horse racing presenter was all smiles as she prepared for the week ahead, opting for a baby pink manicure and a silver bracelet to complete her ensemble. 

Derby Day's history begins across the pond more than two centuries ago in 1787 when the Earl of Derby's horse won the race while wearing black and white colours.

In 1910, King Edward died and in true Edwardian fashion racegoers swapped out their best clothes for black, the colour traditionally associated with mourning.

'The women wore white flowers or pearls,' celebrity stylist Donny Galella told NewsWire.

The story suggests this is where the black and white dress theme for Derby Day began.

However, it's entirely possible our penchant for black and white dressing on race day kickoff actually started with a humble advertisement. 

That's right, an advertisement found in a 1960 copy of Australian Women's Weekly may have truly fast-tracked our strict black and white dress code for Derby Day.

At the time, Melbourne Cup attendees were offered a chance to win a £200 wardrobe prize (worth more than AUD$7,000 today) for best dressed. 

The catch was that participants had to wear black and white to celebrate the Black & White whiskey manufactured by collaborator James Buchanan and Co. 

The trend soon became a staple for Derby Day, with punters sticking to the duo-chrome colour palette for decades.

While Derby Day may be the strictest of all dress codes, it's far from the only event during the spring racing carnival with a theme.

Melbourne Cup is all about bright colours and patterns while Oaks Day, also known as Ladies' Day, encourages women to wear 'all things feminine'. 

The final day of the week, Stakes Day, is far more relaxed, and while some rules are in place, it's nothing compared with the kick-off event of the season.

The Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation (at least in Victoria), is one of the most fashionable of the year. This is where Fashions on the Field comes into play.

First established in 1960, Fashions on the Field rewards the best-dressed punter with a prize, prompting racegoers to wear their boldest, most fabulous outfits.

'Between black and white for Derby, the Melbourne Cup is the opposite,' Mr Galella laughed.

This means wearing 'bright, vibrant colours' to celebrate spring and taking a step out of your comfort zone with your outfit.

Fashion trends may have changed over the decades, but the love of bright colours and patterns has stayed persistent during Melbourne Cup.

More to come.