People dressed in recycled fabrics and environmentally friendly ensembles showed up for South Africa's most famous horseracing event, the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday.

This year's fashion theme was "A Material World" and natural fibres were used to good effect.

Someone who really took the theme to heart was dressed as a mielie [corn].

As tradition dictates women and couples strolled around on the finish line before the first race hoping to catch the judges eye which would put them in line for one of the many fashion prizes.

The hot weather played into the hands of those who chose skimpy dresses with plenty of bare arms and shoulders.

As always there were those leaned toward the outrageous with splashes of colour and enormous matching hats sporting feathers and bows.

Although hats were plentiful the preference was for fascinators made famous by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.