Stylish Ange Claims Fashions Crown Again
Grafton local wins Purple Pearls title for second straight year
Grafton fashionista Angela Carroll has cemented her place as one of the Grafton Cup Carnival’s most accomplished race-day dressers, taking out the prestigious Purple Pearls Fashions on the Field Best Dressed Woman title for the second consecutive year.
Carroll’s latest victory also marks the fourth time in the past decade that she has claimed the coveted award, with judges once again recognising her understated elegance, meticulous styling and eye for detail.
Having won the title for the first time in 2017, Carroll said experience had taught her that thoughtful planning and carefully coordinated accessories were just as important as the outfit itself.
Her successful campaign actually began earlier in the day when she won the Millinery section with a sophisticated feather-cut pillbox hat created by renowned milliner Jill Humphries of Millinery Jill.
Carroll revealed the award-winning ensemble evolved from a dress she discovered online by independent designer Julia Albert.
“I loved the dress as soon as I saw it and hoped the green would match the hat,” she said.
“When it arrived, it turned out to be a perfect match.”
The only last-minute addition was a purple coat purchased from Target the day before the event after forecasts predicted cooler weather. The decision proved inspired, with judge Michael Rogers noting the coat provided a striking contrast that perfectly complemented the dress and headpiece.
The Millinery competition set the tone for the afternoon, with Casino’s Shanette Farrell taking top honours after impressing judges with a feather-cut pillbox hat featuring delicate feather flowers. Farrell said recent trends had seen a welcome return to the timeless pillbox style, inspired by fashion icon Jackie Kennedy.
The Best Dressed Couple award went to Carmel Ward from Coopernook and Len Richards, whose coordinated outfits and attention to detail impressed the judging panel. They edged out Grafton pair Brody and Sarah Dickson in a closely contested category.
Ward said the pair deliberately chose subtle colours and complementary styling.
“It was a harmonious colour choice,” she said. “And not too mucky-mucky.”
In the men’s competition, Daniel Saunders of Brisbane claimed the Best Dressed Gent title with a stylish suit featuring a hidden personal touch—a monogram stitched beneath the lapel reading, “You can’t spell danger without Dan.”
Jason Sewell finished runner-up.
Judges Michael Rogers, Renee Lindley and Nicole Cardow praised the overall quality of entries, noting contestants had embraced originality while respecting the traditional elegance expected of race-day fashion.
“We saw a lot of original outfits and it was obvious that all the contestants had gone to a significant amount of effort to put together their outfits,” Cardow said.
Although the Best Dressed Gent field was smaller than previous years, the overall standard across the competition remained exceptionally high, adding another colourful highlight to the 2026 Grafton Cup Carnival.
