The White Lotus and Real Housewives crossover coming to Melbourne

Two guests wearing the same dress is usually the greatest drama inside the A-list Birdcage enclosure at the Melbourne Cup carnival but next month, The White Lotus actor Michelle Monaghan and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Dorit Kemsley are raising the stakes.

Monaghan, who played fictitious famous actor Jaclyn Lemon, holidaying in Thailand with her two best friends in the HBO hit series, will check into the Landmark by Lexus pavilion on Derby Day. Swimwear designer Kemsley will make the neighbouring Crown marquee her home on Oaks Day.

On the surface of your TV screen, the differences between the respected star of The White Lotus (season three), Mission Impossible franchise, and True Detective series, and Real Housewives’ Kemsley – famous for jumping off a boat in Mexico to get a Birkin handbag from Hermès on season seven of the series – seem great.

Common ground extends beyond Flemington Racecourse, however, with a love of fashion uniting them. Both women have scored Anna Wintour’s seal of approval with profiles in US Vogue.

Monaghan attended Irish designer Jonathan Anderson’s  debut womenswear collection for Christian Dior at Paris Fashion Week, in a prim, black skirt, with a simple pink jumper, white shirt and foppish bow tie.

“I’m more low-key than Jaclyn,” Monaghan says. “I tend to gravitate towards slim, streamlined silhouettes. I like a casual, timeless look whereas Jaclyn likes bright, bold patterns, lots of accessories and leans into the trends. I prefer a classic look most of the time.”

When the occasion calls for it, Monaghan can go big, like at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles this month, wearing a voluminous purple floral empire waist ball gown from Caroline Herrera.

For her Derby Day debut, Monaghan may resort to channelling her White Lotus character – “she’d definitely make an unforgettable entrance” but she is tempted to echo the understated style of her Australian friend, sass & bide co-founder Heidi Middleton and her Artclub label.

“I’ve long admired her talent but also her values regarding fashion and sustainability,” Monaghan says. “I have several pieces of hers that I wear over and over. They are wearable works of art.

“I’m most excited about donning a Derby Day hat.”

From the three-storey Landmark by Lexus pavilion, with interiors by Brahman Perera, food by 40Res chef Josh Raine and flowers by Simone Gooch, Monaghan, who married Australian interior designer Peter White in Port Douglas in 2008, will be observing local looks.

“I think Australian style can be quite laid back which I love but Aussies also know how to glam it up,” she says. “I love to see the ladies dress up and kick up their heels.”

On Oaks Day, Kemsely, who Vogue spotlighted for her love of vintage pieces from Dior and Vivienne Westwood, will be judging the finals of the long-running Fashions On The Field competition.

“I have heard that Crown Oaks Day is all about elegance, fashion, and trackside fun,” Kemsley said in a press statement.

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