A guide to FOTF judging- from someone who’s seen it all

 There is nothing more satisfying than attending a Fashions on the Field (FOTF) event where the individual who was best dressed was crowned best dressed. It may not be you adorning the coveted winner’s sash, however you walk away knowing that the judging was fair and equitable with all competitors competing on a level playing field.

It is a common point of discussion in the world of FOTF after an event has concluded that non-attendees ask ‘was the judging fair?’ I can honestly say that when privy to such conversations, more often than not, competitors have something to say about the judging, and it is not always positive.

Yes, we want our sport of FOTF to be an inclusive and friendly place, but when it comes to judging, can that always prevail?

I am frequently contacted by members of this group seeking advice on what to do when they believe an event was not held in the best interests of FOTF.

The most common ‘complaints’ I receive about FOTF judging include:

· nepotism (if you are not sure what this means, in a nut shell, it is giving someone a leg-up, an unfair advantage over the other competitors, usually a close friend or relation)

· not abreast of current race wear trends

· choosing the ‘most attractive’

· not following the specified criteria

· the same person(s) always winning

· the belief that people who are thin/young/tall/attractive etc etc have an advantage with the judging panel

· sharing the prizes around, for example someone won last event, so they can’t win next event due to ‘unofficial’ rules

· choosing locals over outsiders

I can confirm that in my many years competing, I have heard of all of these scenarios playing out at race meets around the country (as well as through our overseas friends). But what have I done about it personally when I feel something wasn’t quite right? To be honest, not a huge amount, except to accept the results and be satisfied that I tried my best. Remember you opted to compete in that specific competition – learn from it and move on.

I appreciate how much of bad taste it leaves in your mouth when you have gone to so much effort and it seems to be for nothing when the judging has been underwhelming. I’ve seen competitors, family members, members of the public (and believe it or not judges) verbally attack judges at events. This is absolutely no way to solve a problem. Members of this group have contacted me for advice over numerous issues in regards to judging, and my response is always the same; provide the club with feedback on what the issue was, but always wait a day or so before you do, as immediate responses are often emotionally fueled and can be a reaction rather than opening up a discussion which may result in change. I have written an article which in part gives advice on how to solve some of the problems that may be encountered in FOTF, which may be a point to start. 

I created ‘It’s All About The Sash’ many years ago as a supportive network for all aspects of FOTF, and try my best to promote the fair running of FOTF competitions. How do we do that you may ask? Through the provision of resources to race clubs such as sharing rules, guidelines and entry conditions from other clubs. Moreover providing clubs with names of unbiased judges. Our regular polls and larger anonymous surveys have also provided clubs with useful data about what competitors are looking for. To date many of these recommendations have been adopted by race clubs, nationally.

So, what should a good judge look for when adjudicating a FOTF event? That is such a subjective question as knowledge in racing fashion develops over many years and tastes are individual, however when I am asked to judge, this is what I go by:

1. Have a thorough understanding of any rules, criteria, and guidelines the club might provide. This also includes obtaining a copy of the judging criteria before the event begins and becoming familiar with particular rules a club may have.

2. Judge based on the outfit and how well it fits the body, complements the persons’ body shape and compliments with their millinery, shoes and accessories (this is for both women AND men).

3. Ensure grooming is in keeping with the outfit, the type of event & any theme.

4. Unless a club has a written rule about how often a competitor may win, do not consider this. If a person is best dressed at every competition, then they should win. I am a firm believer in the best should always win as it will help lift standards.

5. Take the person out of it. I don’t care who you are, if you are the best dressed, then you should win!

6. Don’t judge in areas where you are likely to compete yourself. I choose to only judge in areas where I am unlikely compete. In saying this, if it is a club’s policy to ask back their previous winners to judge, I’m more than happy to oblige (but give me plenty of notice, as I often plan outfits and which events I am attending over 6 months out!).

7. Understand current trends and styles, but not use this as the ultimate determining factor. I am always looking for an outfit that says ‘wow’, is unique, authentic and complements the persons individual shape and colouring.

8. Looking to see if the competitor is wearing quality millinery. In my opinion, millinery is what makes or breaks an outfit and if it has been an afterthought or poorly constructed, it lets the entire outfit down. So many race clubs do not choose judges who have any understanding of millinery, but to me it is one of the most important factors. After all, millinery is what makes an outfit become race wear as opposed to an outfit that may be worn to a wedding or event.

9. As I judge I am always looking for originality. I touched on this earlier with authenticity, but if someone is wearing a copy bag, millinery or outfit, I won’t judge it highly. In saying this, I don’t expect competitors to wear designer items as you can still look amazing on a very small budget. My biggest FOTF win to date was actually wearing my cheapest outfit. My advice is just don’t be tempted to copy or buy a copy!

10. Understand seasonal requirements. After competing in FOTF for 15+ years, knowing what to wear at any time of the year is second nature, but if you are new to judging or are not quite sure, make an effort to find out.

You are never going to make every single person happy when you are judging, and this is why it is so important a balanced panel is put together. Here are some frequently asked questions I am often asked about judging panels:

1. Is inviting last year’s winner to judge always a good idea? That depends on their understanding of race wear. They may have been very lucky and won the first competition they entered, or have only been competing for a short time, so there is no hard or fast yes or no in this area.

2. Is it good for the judges to discuss the winners? My advice is to have a judges briefing prior to the event so all judges understand the process and if they are not experienced, a run-down on what to look for is very important. I do believe in judges nominating their choices anonymously without discussion until after they have made their personal decisions, at which time judges can confer on their choices.

3. What is the fairest system of judging? I have worked with many judging systems throughout my many years judging and believe that an anonymous recording system combined with judges conferring is the fairest system.

4. Should both genders be represented on a judging panel? Having both genders represented on a panel is important, but only if people can be found with adequate race wear knowledge.

5. Is millinery really that important? Having a qualified milliner or a judge with an excellent understanding of quality millinery is essential. I believe that there is a lot of confusion in racing fashion about what constitutes good millinery, so having an expert who has studied millinery or equivalent is important.

6. How many people should be on a panel? If possible, a minimum of 3 people of different background and experiences.

7. Should judges be looking for certain brands? Some race meets run into this problem where the local boutique owner or sponsors of a brand are on the panel and they naturally look out for a brand or garment they may sell. These people should only be included on a panel if they can judge independently to their brands out of fairness to all entrants. If they cannot do so, they may not be ideal for a judging panel.

8. Will celebrity judges attract more entrants? The answer is no. Unless a celebrity has a background and understanding of racing fashion, entrants are usually not thrilled by this choice. Entrants want to see racing fashion experts on a judging panel.

9. Do judges always get their own way? Judges are usually one of many on a panel and although you may have been their pick, the other judges may have other ideas and chosen differently.

10. Is it a good idea for clubs to bring in rules regarding the participation of previous year’s winners? I’ve heard of clubs who have changed their Terms & Conditions so that a different person must win at each competition or that people must stand out for a period of time prior to entering or winning again. I personally believe that this is of detriment to improving the quality of FOTF, as it is not encouraging other entrants to improve their own outfits. These entrants won for a reason, and should be encouraged to continue to attend. As the saying goes, you do not tell a horse not to enter the next race as they won the previous one!

11. Should judging panels change from event to event? This is a tough question, as it is often difficult to secure the services of adequate judges. If you have high quality judges and feedback for your event is generally positive, there is no need to change annually. You may consider rotating members of the panel to keep the competition fresh. However, the moment overwhelming negative feedback starts to roll in or numbers decline, committees need to look at things to improve on which may include the judging lineup (amongst many other issues).

12. We can not find adequate judges for our race day, where can I look? Groups such as ‘It’s All About The Sash’ and other local race clubs may be able to provide you with the names of recommended judges. Race clubs are flying in judges from interstate or other regions more and more, which is a small price to pay for running a quality event.

13. I would like to be a judge, how do I go about it? It’s All About The Sash encourages race clubs to post on our Facebook wall if they are in need of judges. Also call or email race clubs you may be interested in judging at with your expression of interest. A lot of judges are chosen through word of mouth, so whenever talking to FOTF organizers, mention your interest in judging.

14. Should competitors contact judges personally for feedback at the conclusion of an event? In the best interests of all entrants and the confidentiality of the judges, I do not believe that providing detailed feedback or judges speaking on behalf of other members of the panel is a good idea. If asked, I will provide some general feedback post event. Accepting the judge’s decision can be difficult for some entrants, however after the conclusion of the event, there is nothing an individual can do to change the result. My suggestion to entrants is that if you absolutely love your outfit, make sure you wear it again or make some subtle changes with accessories.

15. Is it important that judges dress for the occasion? In one word, yes. Judges should be expected to dress to show their understanding of race wear and racing fashion. When judges are not appropriately dressed or wearing millinery, competitors will immediately lose faith in their understanding of race wear and their ability to adequately judge.

I hope this overview has given you some food for thought about FOTF judging and a little insight into what judges are looking for. Every judge and race club is different, so this explanation is based on my own experiences. I am always happy to help any race clubs who may have questions about any aspect of running their FOTF competition, so feel free to get in touch if you are looking for some independent advice or a neutral sounding board. Look after your FOTF judges as they are precious to the growth of our amazing sport!

Author: Emma Scodellaro for 'It's All About The Sash' 2019 - revised 2023

Sharing is welcome

Many thanks to my proof readers for the development of this article over many months.  

Emma Scodellaro September 2019 - revised 2023