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Arguably the most prestigious polo event now in Australia – and certainly the first glamorous event of the year, nationwide – last Saturday’s seventeenth annual Alfa Romeo Portsea Polo saw a select group of celebrities, socialites, fashion media and influencers descend (many literally, via helicopter) on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Laura Dundovic and friends in the Alfa Romeo marquee pre-match
But one who chose to arrive the old-school way (appropriate, given the key sponsor was a luxury car) was the face of the event’s key marquee, Australian actress Phoebe Tonkin, who extended her almost month-long stay in Sydney over the Christmas break to visit the event for the first time.
“I’m not a big helicopter fan so I preferred to drive,” she told GRAZIA over the phone during her commute alongside her best friend since childhood Lily. “I’m not a good flyer. Even on my flight to Melbourne from Sydney yesterday I was a little shaky. I prefer to be in a car.”
Tonkin with her event plus-one: best friend since childhood Lily Credit: Instagram @pheobejtonkin
Similarly, The Vampire Diaries star, who jetted back to Los Angeles the day after the event, decided to keep things elegantly lo-fi outfit-wise compared to most other guests, literally skipping all accessories bar two very subtle gold Tiffany & Co hoops.
“I’m actually wearing a beautiful [Salvatore] Ferragamo dress which has a little Spanish vibe,” she revealed of the pleat-knit piece from the brand’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection. “I don’t wear a lot of colour, so it’s kind of nice it incorporates the block green and orange – it feels kind of cool and modern. I’ve actually been looking at this dress for a really long time, so I’m glad I finally got to wear it.”
Tonkin poses in her Salvatore Ferragamo SS16 collection dress in front of a new model Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrifoglio
Credit: NOWFASHION
Given she describes her own default fashion modus operandi as “comfortable and easy” it’s perhaps not surprising she kept the rest of her outfit low key. “I don’t like to wear too many accessories.”
Unless almost all other female guests, the 27-year-old also opted out of wearing a hat, sunglasses or carrying any kind of bag. “I want to have my hands free to be able to talk to people and have a nice glass of champagne,” she explained. “Everyone’s always so beautifully dressed at these things, it’ll be cool to see some of the other outfits… look out at the ocean view, see some horses and spend the day with Lily.”
“It’s just the quintessential Australian day for me.”
Scroll more social style shots from Portsea Polo 2017 below
Clementine McVeigh
Stephanie Claire and Brooke Hogan
Natalie Roser
Jade Cara and Didier Cohen
Laura Dundovic
Britt Davis
Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich
Sam Wines
Lucy and Ruby Brownless
Beauticate founder Sigourney Cantelo
Kristen Clens and Rhys Stanley
Jordan Ablett
Leigh Campbell and Alison Rice
