It was lifestyles of the rich and the famous on Melbourne Cup Day with special guests, American rockers Good Charlotte. The charming brothers graciously posed for pics in the nightclub-style Lavazza marquee (albeit in the roped-off section of the exclusive tent in the already very VIP Birdcage) hosted by coffee kings the Valmorbida family. The fine food distributors treated guests to an antipasto spread by chef Guy Grossi. New dad Joel Madden was sadly sans Nicole Richie, and his brother Benji narrowly missed ex-fiance Sophie Monk, who was making a beeline for the Emirates marquee.

Click here for images from the day

Famous faces in the airline’s Indian-themed tent: Irish singer Ronan Keating, Grant Hackett and Candice Alley (is it possible to look this good less two months after giving birth to twins?!), actress Sibylla Dean (who’s just scored a cameo on Gossip Girl), and special royal guest and talented horsewoman, the Queen’s grand-daughter Zara Phillips.

Kaftan-wearing waiters served up rosewater cocktails to the sounds of Jai Ho! and snake-charmer music. Bollywood dancers, sparkly bangles and bindis for all.

Myer’s botanica-themed garden party was a breath of fresh air with the pretty people donning paintbox block colours for the occasion. Hats off to Myer racing ambassador Rebecca Twigley, who looked gorgeous in a fuchsia Nicola Finetti frock and black lattice headpiece by milliner Richard Nylon. Waiters in tennis whites served up Moet, mohitos and cucumber sandwiches to the sounds of old school-meets-disco funk. The guest list included actors Esther Anderson and Jess McNamee, Olivia Newton-John, Jennifer Hawkins, Michael and Lindy Klim, and charming male models Rhys Uhlich and Kris Smith

Best dressed? The super-cool Valmorbida kids who hosted guests in their family’s marquee. Clearly a case of money and taste.