Kidman sets fashion stakes high on Derby day

Hollywood siren Nicole Kidman stayed long enough to make a lasting impression on the Melbourne Cup carnival but not to see the main race on Derby day.

“Our Nic” set the fashion stakes impeccably high when she arrived just after 11.30am at the Swisse marquee in the exclusive VIP birdcage area wearing a white-lace My Fair Lady-inspired outfit.

Showing style, grace and a touch of humour, Kidman whipped off her high heels when she posed for a photo with the much shorter MasterChef judge George Calombaris.

The pair had a laugh as photographers had a field day tapping into the lighter side of Kidman’s personality.

Kidman’s fitted dress with black trim was designed by close friend L’Wren Scott and was complemented with a hat by renowned milliner Stephen Jones.

“It’s inspired by (My Fair Lady),” Kidman told reporters.

“It’s one of my favourite movies.

“We decided to do something that was fun and a bit different.”

The Academy Award-winning actress conducted a 20-minute media call before spending more than two and a half hours mingling with the guests of Swisse.

She was accompanied to the event by her parents, Anthony and Janelle Kidman.

Husband and country crooner Keith Urban stayed back in Nashville for the Country Music Association Awards on Thursday night, where he performed and was in the running for Male Vocalist of the Year award.

He was also busy minding their two children - four-year-old Sunday Rose and 23-month-old Faith Margaret.

“I brought my mum and dad,” Kidman said.

“I wish I could have brought Keith but he was at the CMAs last night and taking our kids trick or treating.”

Kidman was due to fly back to France last night to return to the set of the Grace Kelly biopic, Grace of Monaco, in which she plays the leading lady.

Also getting plenty of attention was Russell Crowe’s estranged wife, Danielle Spencer, who played it safe and brought a “close friend” to the races.

Spencer was a guest of Myer in her first public outing since the news of her marriage split.

Dressed in a white Collette Dinnigan outfit with a black belt, Spencer stayed tucked away in a corner of the opulent marquee with a few friends, acutely aware of the media and paparazzi buzzing around the tent.

“I brought a close friend with me,” Spencer said.

Also mingling in the Myer marquee was the brand’s ambassador, Jennifer Hawkins, comedian Mick Molloy and actor Vince Colosimo.

Italian designer Roberto Cavalli had a slightly bigger entourage and security detail than Kidman for his appearance in the Lavazza marquee around 1pm.

He told reporters he started in fashion because: “I could have much more (of a) chance to meet the beautiful girls.”

Irish singer Ronan Keating, who split with his long-term partner earlier this year, brought along his new partner, Aussie TV producer Storm Uechtritz.

Keating, 35, arrived with Uechtritz and a host of Seven Network stars, including fellow X Factor judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Packed To The Rafters’s George Houvardas and Erik Thomson and Home And Away trio Demi Harman, Emily Symons and Samara Weaving.

Former Australia’s Got Talent judge Brian McFadden and his wife Vogue McFadden were among the celebrities in the Irish themed-Emirates marquee, which was one of the in-places in the VIP compound.

McFadden chewed the fat with soccer star Harry Kewell, while Collingwood Football Club president and Nine presenter Eddie McGuire was sharing the latest gossip with several AFL identities.