Both the traditional and contemporary best dressed ladies and the best dressed gent wore outfits of white, black or grey hues.

Miss World Australia runner-up Alex Hecker, Face of the Carnival Laura Kelly and Marriott Hotel representative Leah Tsakmakis had the tough job of judging the 33 women who entered the competition, which offered $22,000 worth of prizes.

Koroit's Molly Coghlan-West took out the traditional lady, wearing a black and white fishtail skirt, white top and black cape.

Miss Coghlan-West said as soon as she found the skirt in Melbourne, she knew it was a standout.

"The skirt was the wow piece," she said.

"Wendy Taylor made my top and my headpiece was an original hat and I changed the colours and added some white."

Second place was awarded to Jess Haberfield, with Leah Habel was third.

Marcia Miller's headpiece took out most spectacular hat.

The simple-yet-structured piece was made by Warrnambool milliner Sharon Wilson.

It took Mrs Wilson 25 hours to complete the leather and metallic ribbon.

"I got the idea from the squares in my dress," Ms Miller said.

"I wanted to create something really simplistic and then I took the idea to Sharon and she created it. It was a lot of work."

Ms Miller teamed the headpiece with a rose gold and white dress.

In the contemporary lady section the judges sashed Garvoc's Kristen Lenehan.

She wore a black and white Cue dress, with a custom-made headpiece from her sister-in-law Bronwyn Lenehan.

"I had my dress altered to fit and my belt is from Cue as well," she said.

"It was a nice surprise to win. While recovering from surgery in January I spent a lot of time on the net, where I found this dress."

The headpiece had a felt-blocked base with a straw braid.

Second prize was awarded to Marcia Miller and third to Annalisse Bayliss.

The best-dressed gent was awarded to Koroit's Taff Chitava.

His partner Christine Watts selected the outfit for him. He said the couple would now be able to take a holiday , courtesy of an accommodation package.

"Christine bought my whole outfit," he said.

"All I had to do was stump up the money for it."

rhoulihan@fairfaxmedia.com.au