On Friday, BAZAAR caught up with Magic Millions ambassador Jess Hart at the premier racing event to talk racewear, wardrobe staples and what's in store for 2011.
Harper’s BAZAAR: Is this your first Magic Millions?
Jess Hart: "Yes it is. It’s all very new to me – I’m being educated along the way about how it all works. I learned yesterday that the race has to have horses that were sold at the [Magic Millions] auctions in the past. Yesterday we went down to the sales and I watched the auctions. It’s all very new, but it’s very cool and really interesting. And you watch these beautiful horses, it’s just incredible."
HB: You’re one of the Myer Fashions on the Field judges tomorrow. How do you anticipate the style will be different to other race events you’ve been to?
JH: "I’ve never been to the races overseas, but I’ve always gone at home in Melbourne. But being Melbourne, you can never really depend on the weather, so we are always have to dress prepared for anything there. Here, it’s hard core summer, so you can be a bit lighter and a lot more out there."
HB: You'll be at the ‘Mates in Need Street Party’ tonight [a community fundraiser on Tedder Avenue organised by the local Gold Coast community in conjunction with Harvey Norman and Myer] to help raise funds for the Premier’s Department Flood Appeal.
JH: "It’s just great that we have everybody here [for the Magic Millions] and that it’s created a good opportunity to raise funds. We’ll have powerful, wealthy, important people all under the same roof tonight [in the VIP area; next to the general public area on closed off Tedder Avenue] creating a great opportunity to help “Raise a Magic Million” which is our slogan now. We’re hoping we can do that."
HB: As the Magic Millions ambassador, will you have any official role in the fundraising?
JH: "Tonight I’ll just be there supporting and pushing everybody to put their hands in their pockets. That will be my role!"
HB: Will you have many official jobs to do tomorrow at the races?
JH: "I’m going to be doing Myer Fashions on the Field, which is exciting, I love doing that. But the rest of the day I’ll just be there watching, having fun, punting hopefully. I have no idea about anything [regarding betting] – I go on numbers, names, look, anything like that. But it’s fun."
HB: What are you wearing today?
JH: "This is a Nicola Finetti number, shoes by Tony Bianco, clutch by Olga Berg and the hat is by [Melbourne milliner] Kerrie Stanley hat, who is sold in Myer."
HB: And have you planned your races outfit for tomorrow?
JH: "We actually haven’t decided yet. We’ll obviously be a little more conservative now given the circumstance and we’re going to go into Myer later today to see what we can find."
HB: Racing style aside, what are your every day wardrobe staples?
JH: "I’m usually very casual, which is why I love events like this, because it’s an excuse [to dress up] and you just have to go all out. But for me generally, I’m very causal and boyish in a way. I like things to be loose fitting and baggy, usually in black. But I love having fun with it too. Living in New York has really given me the freedom to be creative with my style and that’s what I’ve loved doing – being creative and kind of going a little bit out there, doing things a little bit differently and seeing how I go. People are a little bit more accepting in New York."
HB: How long have you lived there?
JH: "In April it will be six years. Time flies!"
HB: How do you feel about the success you’ve had so far?
JH: "I’ve been really fortunate, I think it’s all just gone really well along the way. I’ve had a very steady career, I've been fortunate enough to have been making money, and I know that it’s not as easy for some as it is for others, so I’m extremely happy with how it’s gone."
HB: What’s next?
JH: "Who knows! This industry is a day by day industry. I’m just going to get back to New York. I’m finding a new place – I’m moving in with my sister. She’s just moved there a year ago modelling, and we were both living with other people and now we’ve decided to go together, which is really, really exciting. I was like ‘oh, we’re going to get a really, really nice place’ and she was like ‘why? We’re there, like, once a month’, so I think we’re going to be arguing a little bit [laughing]."
HB: Will you continue to focus on your fashion design?
JH: "I have [already] been working with General Pants doing my own fashion line [Neon Hart] and we’re about to drop the third season in March. It’s very exciting and we’re hoping to push it overseas."
HB: What’s your design philosophy for Neon Hart?
JH: "It’s always been based around my style, which as I was saying before, is very casual and boyish. I always believe that anything you wear during the day can be worn at night – you just throw on a pair of heels – but again, that is very much a New York thing. In Australia, I have noticed that girls won’t do that, they just won’t. It’s good that they make effort, but I’m a little more casual in that way. So it’s a very small line that’s very casual, but I have a lot of involvement."
HB: What’s your favourite piece in the next collection?
JH: "For winter? I’ve just been through winter in New York, you guys are about to hit it. For me, I’m really loving big knits, big cardigans and things like that. I’m always wearing leather pants, but because that’s not always affordable, I do them PU [for Neon Hart] so everyone can have them. They’re great for winter because they’re really warm and they look great with everything, and you can dress them up or down. I’m also loving big flowy maxi dresses, which are again, not too bad for the winter because you can just put leggings underneath and a jacket over the top."
HB: Any plans to expand your design career?
JH: "I’ve been having a lot of fun with it doing it affordable for everyone, but because I’m starting to appreciate really good fabrics … I think eventually I’d love to look into doing something where I can really play with materials and really good textures like real leather."
I didn't even thing she'd done pink? Why does the media always label her a VS angle?!
