SYDNEY, Australia – September 6, 2026 – With the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival just weeks away, new data confirms Australians are continuing to spend on clothing — and the season's biggest fashion event is expected to push that number higher.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), household spending on clothing and footwear rose 1.6 per cent in July 2026, marking one of the strongest monthly gains across all categories. The Australian Retailers Association reports the sector turned over $3.1 billion in July alone, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year.

The figures align with a broader willingness to pay for occasion wear. Research from the Australian Retail Council and Roy Morgan found clothing, footwear and accessories was the most popular category for mid-year sales shoppers, chosen by 34 per cent of respondents. For working Australians, annual clothing spend now sits between $1,500 and $3,200, according to comparison platform ShopBack, with women averaging around $2,400.

The Spring Racing Carnival, which runs from Derby Day on October 31 through Stakes Day on November 7, is one of the year's largest drivers of formal and occasion wear. Each day carries its own dress code: Derby Day is strictly black and white, Melbourne Cup Day embraces bold colour, and Oaks Day — traditionally the carnival's most fashion-focused day — is represented by the purple rose. Fashions on the Field, the carnival's long-running style competition, offers a prize pool of more than $370,000.

For racegoers, the message is clear: the dress matters. Industry observers note that attendees increasingly invest in pieces they can re-wear beyond a single race day, favouring structured silhouettes, rich colours and comfortable fabrics that hold up through a full day at the track.

ZimmerFormal, an Australian formal dress brand, says it has expanded its purple and jewel-toned range specifically for the 2026 spring season. The collection includes floor-length gowns suited to Members' Reserve areas and shorter, midi-length styles for general admission and after-parties. Sizes run from 6 to 18, with size charts and staff try-on photos published on every product page.

"Purple is having a real moment this spring, and Oaks Day's purple rose only reinforces that," said a ZimmerFormal spokesperson. "But we're also seeing customers ask for dresses they can wear again — to a wedding, a graduation, a birthday. The race day is the excuse; the re-wearability is the reason they buy."

All ZimmerFormal orders are quality-checked before dispatch and backed by the brand's standard return policy. Customers can contact the brand directly for sizing and race-day styling advice before purchasing.

About ZimmerFormal
ZimmerFormal is an Australian formal dress brand specialising in graduation, formal and occasion wear for teens and young adults. The brand focuses on size-inclusive design, honest sizing guidance and dresses built to be worn more than once.