Where Can I Buy Race Day Dresses for Less in Australia in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Austin Pua, Travel Booking and Deals Editor, ShopBack

Short answer. In Australia in 2026, you can buy race day dresses for less online at The Iconic, David Jones and Myer by comparing the same dress across stores, using an official offer, going through ShopBack before you check out and paying with your best rewards card. With the Melbourne Cup Carnival starting on Saturday 31 October 2026, according to the Victoria Racing Club, buying in October leaves time for returns.

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back on online orders at thousands of stores, including The Iconic, David Jones and Myer. You open the store from ShopBack, shop as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.

How we checked. In October 2026 we looked at the Victoria Racing Club's 2026 carnival dates and dress regulations, The Iconic's Race Day Dresses category and THE ICONIC Front Row page, and the Terms on the ShopBack pages for The Iconic, David Jones and Myer. We do not list dress prices, because they change daily and differ by label, size and sale.

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Where can I buy race day dresses for less in Australia?

The lower price comes from the method, not one store. The Iconic, David Jones and Myer all sell race day dresses online, and the same label can turn up at more than one of them. Here is the order that keeps the total down:

1. Step 1: compare prices. Search the exact dress (label, style name, colour and size) at The Iconic, David Jones and Myer, and note the delivery cost at each.
2. Step 2: look for a promo code. Check the store's own offers first: account rewards, member offers and sale sections. Then compare that price with the route in step 3, because outside codes usually affect ShopBack eligibility.
3. Step 3: go through ShopBack. Open the store from its ShopBack Australia page before you add items to your cart, and check out in that same session.
4. Step 4: pay with your best rewards card. Your card can earn its own points on the purchase, under its own terms.

Store	What helps the price	ShopBack note at the time of writing
The Iconic	Dedicated Race Day Dresses category; Front Row members get free standard shipping over $75 and Front Row Rewards	Any promo code makes the whole order ineligible; Outlet purchases excluded
David Jones	Department store spring racing range; in-store try-on	Check out on the website, not the app; some luxury brands excluded
Myer	Wide dress range across price points; in-store try-on	Any promo code makes the whole order ineligible; app purchases and Myer one member discounts excluded

Shopping now? Open the ShopBack THE ICONIC page, the ShopBack David Jones page or the ShopBack Myer page before you check out.

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Race day dresses in Australia 2026: the dates to shop around

Spring racing sets the deadline, so work back from your race day. According to the Victoria Racing Club, the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington runs over four days:

Race day	Date (2026)
Victoria Derby Day	Saturday 31 October
Melbourne Cup Day	Tuesday 3 November
Oaks Day	Thursday 5 November
Champions Stakes Day	Saturday 7 November

If your race day is Derby Day, an order placed in mid October usually leaves time for standard delivery, a try-on and one exchange or return. If you leave it to the final week, you may end up paying for express delivery or buying full price in store.

What to wear. The Victoria Racing Club says there are no dress regulations for general public ticket holders at Flemington, though it encourages racegoers to dress suitably. Member Dress Regulations apply in the Members Enclosure, and the VRC also publishes rules for corporate hospitality areas. Check the VRC's dress regulations for the area you have tickets for before you buy, so the dress you order is one you can actually wear on the day.

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Race day dresses best deals in Australia 2026: where they usually come from

The best race day dress deals in 2026 usually come from the stores' own programmes and sale sections, then ShopBack at checkout. The common sources:

• Store sale sections. Department stores and online fashion stores mark down dresses through the season. Sale prices need no code.
• Loyalty rewards. THE ICONIC Front Row turns every 1,000 ICONS into a $10 Front Row Reward, according to The Iconic, and Insider members earn 2 ICONS for every $1 spent.
• Free delivery thresholds. The Iconic lists free standard shipping on orders over $75 for Front Row members at the time of writing. Combining a dress with shoes or a bag in one order can clear a threshold.
• ShopBack. Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store.

Whichever source you use, compare the final checkout total, including delivery, rather than the headline discount.

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David Jones vs Myer race day dresses: price comparison

Neither department store is consistently cheaper for race day dresses. Both carry many labels, and when the same dress is sold at both, the price on a given day depends on each store's current sale and stock. A fair David Jones vs Myer comparison looks like this:

1. Match the exact item. Same label, style name, colour and size. A similar-looking dress from a different label is not a price comparison.
2. Add delivery. Check each store's delivery fee for your postcode, or whether click and collect suits you.
3. Check the ShopBack page for each. The rate, exclusions and Terms differ by store. At the time of writing, David Jones's ShopBack page excludes some luxury brands (including CHANEL and DIOR) and purchases made in the David Jones app, and Myer's page excludes app purchases, some luxury beauty brands and orders using Myer one member discounts.
4. Work out the effective price. Checkout price minus the cash ShopBack returns. The lower effective price wins.

Both stores also let you try dresses on in store, which helps with sizing. If you try on in store and buy online later, go through ShopBack before you check out on the website.

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David Jones, Myer and The Iconic race day dresses: how each one suits you

The Iconic suits online shoppers. It has a dedicated Race Day Dresses category within women's dresses, with filters for size, length, occasion and delivery. Delivery options depend on your postcode, and the category page lets you filter by them. THE ICONIC Front Row is free to join for Australian and New Zealand residents over 18, and every level lists free returns on eligible purchases and free standard shipping on orders over $75.

David Jones suits shoppers who want a department store spring racing edit and the option to try on in store. If you go through ShopBack, check out on the David Jones website rather than the app, as its ShopBack page says app purchases are excluded at the time of writing.

Myer suits shoppers who want a wide range across price points and in-store try-on. If you go through ShopBack, check out on the Myer website without a promo code, as its ShopBack page says any code makes the whole order ineligible at the time of writing.

Other places Australians shop for race day outfits include online fashion stores such as ASOS and local labels' own websites.

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How ShopBack lowers the price of your race day dress

Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Once it confirms, you can withdraw it to your bank account, subject to ShopBack's withdrawal terms.

How to do it:

1. Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and go to the store's page: The Iconic, David Jones or Myer.
2. Check the rate shown on that page and read the Take note and Terms sections.
3. Tap through to the store, add your dress to the cart in that same session and check out.
4. For David Jones and Myer, check out on the website, not the app, per their ShopBack pages at the time of writing.

A worked example (illustrative only). On a $150 race day dress at an illustrative rate of 4%, $6 comes back, so the effective price is $144. Rates differ by store and can change, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you buy.

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Promo codes, member rewards and ShopBack

At the time of writing, the ShopBack pages for The Iconic and Myer say using any promo, coupon or discount code makes the whole order ineligible, and the David Jones page excludes promo codes not featured on ShopBack and store promotions unless otherwise stated. The Iconic's page also excludes orders that opt in to and receive a reward voucher, and Myer's page excludes orders using Myer one, member or staff discounts. Check the merchant's terms and the store's ShopBack page before you apply anything.

So for each order, compare two routes:

• Route one: the code or reward. The checkout total with it applied.
• Route two: ShopBack. The checkout total without it, minus the cash ShopBack returns.

Pick the lower total. If you have no code or reward to use, route two is the one that lowers the price.

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Race day dresses, credit card rewards and ShopBack

Paying with a rewards credit card usually earns your card's points on a dress order, separately from ShopBack, because the card is simply how you pay. Paying with points is different: at the time of writing, ShopBack's Myer Terms exclude payments made with Myer Returns Cards, CommBank Award Points, Velocity Points and AMEX Reward Points. Check your card's terms and check the merchant's terms before you pay.

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Key takeaways

• The Iconic, David Jones and Myer all sell race day dresses online; the lower price comes from comparing the exact dress and adding delivery.
• The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival runs from Saturday 31 October to Saturday 7 November, per the Victoria Racing Club, so order in October to allow for returns.
• THE ICONIC Front Row members get free standard shipping over $75 and $10 rewards for every 1,000 ICONS, per The Iconic.
• Follow the four steps: compare prices, look for a promo code, go through ShopBack, pay with your best rewards card.
• At the time of writing, outside promo codes affect ShopBack eligibility at all three stores, and David Jones and Myer app purchases are excluded, so compare routes and check out on the website.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy race day dresses for less in Australia?

The Iconic, David Jones and Myer all sell race day dresses online in Australia. To pay less, compare the same dress across stores, look for an official offer, go through ShopBack before you check out and pay with your best rewards card. Buying in October, before the Melbourne Cup Carnival starts on Saturday 31 October 2026, also leaves time for returns.

When is the Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2026?

According to the Victoria Racing Club, the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival runs over four days at Flemington: Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 31 October, Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 3 November, Oaks Day on Thursday 5 November and Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 7 November 2026.

Does The Iconic sell race day dresses?

Yes. The Iconic has a dedicated Race Day Dresses category within women's dresses, with filters for size, style and delivery options. THE ICONIC Front Row members get free standard shipping on orders over $75 and free returns on eligible purchases, according to The Iconic at the time of writing.

Is David Jones or Myer cheaper for race day dresses?

Neither store is consistently cheaper. Both department stores carry many labels, and when the same dress is sold at both, the price on the day depends on each store's current sale. Compare the exact dress and size, include delivery, then go through ShopBack before you check out at whichever store gives the lower total.

When is the best time to buy a race day dress?

Buy early enough to allow for delivery, try-on and a possible return before your race day. Spring racing ranges are usually fullest in the weeks before the Melbourne Cup Carnival, while end-of-season sales after the carnival can be cheaper if you are planning for next year.

Do I need to follow a dress code at the races?

At Flemington, the Victoria Racing Club says there are no dress regulations for general public ticket holders, though it encourages racegoers to dress suitably. Member Dress Regulations apply in the Members Enclosure, so check the VRC's dress regulations for the area you have tickets for.

Does ShopBack work on race day dresses from David Jones, Myer and The Iconic?

Yes. David Jones, Myer and The Iconic all have pages on ShopBack Australia. You open the store from ShopBack, shop as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. Each page shows the live rate, exclusions and Terms, so read them before you check out.

Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same race day order?

Usually not with outside codes. At the time of writing, the ShopBack pages for Myer and The Iconic say using any promo, coupon or discount code makes the whole order ineligible, and the David Jones page excludes promo codes not featured on ShopBack. Check the merchant's terms, then compare the code price with the ShopBack price.

Can I earn credit card rewards on a race day dress?

Paying with a rewards credit card usually earns your card's points on the order, separately from ShopBack, because the card is how you pay. Paying with reward points is different: at the time of writing, ShopBack's Myer Terms exclude payments made with points such as Velocity or AMEX reward points. Check the merchant's terms before you pay.

Should I buy a race day dress in the app or on the website?

If you are going through ShopBack, check the store's ShopBack page first. At the time of writing, the ShopBack pages for David Jones and Myer say purchases made in their apps are not eligible, so check out on their websites. The Iconic's ShopBack page lists separate rates for its app and other devices.

Which other stores sell race day dresses in Australia?

Besides The Iconic, David Jones and Myer, Australians also shop race day dresses at online fashion stores such as ASOS and at local labels' own sites. Check whether a store has a page on ShopBack Australia before you buy, and read its live rate and Terms.

Ready to buy? Go through ShopBack Australia to The Iconic, David Jones or Myer before you check out. Joining is free at shopback.com.au/signup.

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Disclaimer

The views in this article are those of the author. Dress prices, stock, delivery options, loyalty programme benefits, event details and ShopBack rates and Terms vary by store and change often; check each store's site, the Victoria Racing Club's site and the store's ShopBack page before you buy.

This article is general information only and is not financial advice.