Between former judge Matt Preston’s silk cravats and current judge Poh Ling Yeow’s show-stopping dresses, MasterChef has become an unexpected runway for some serious fashion moments.
While the judges have always set a high bar for fashion (back in 2020, when Melissa Leong joined MasterChef Australia as the first female judge, her on-screen outfits became big business, with sales for one of her dresses tripling), what about the contestants?
Sure, their street clothes are hidden behind their infamous MasterChef aprons, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some parameters around what they can and can’t wear.
Despite a few rules, the aspiring chefs still know how to show off their personalities through their sartorial choices.
For example, in 2025, Sarah Todd became known for her polished model-off-duty look, which made sense as she came into MasterChef with a fashion background.
Then there was Nat Thaipun’s cool girl aesthetic, with the breakout cook – and 2024 winner – bringing a youthful, Melbourne-style to the kitchen.
And who could forget Aldo Ortado’s colourful outfits that matched his charisma? Aldo became just as known for his big glasses and fabulous outfits as he did for his cooking.
So, what exactly are MasterChef Australia contestants allowed to wear on the show, and more crucially, not allowed to wear?
MasterChef Australia style rules for contestants
The 2025 champion of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, Laura Sharrad, told WHO that there are a few ‘rules’ that contestants must follow.
“The rule for TV is always nothing that strobes, so no fine lines or fine patterns, but colour is always encouraged!” she said. “Wardrobe is all about expressing personality, which is super fun.”
Keeping it bright and bold is important, but there are other guidelines to follow too, according to MasterChef 2024 contestant, Juan De La Cruz. “There are guidelines around logos, certain patterns, colours, branding, and things that don’t work on camera,” he admitted.
“With wardrobe, we choose most of our own outfits, but everything has to be approved beforehand.”
Juan added that personal style is encouraged by the wardrobe department. “They want everyone to look like themselves, though, which I think is important because personality is such a huge part of the show. Other than the aprons, there isn’t really a full wardrobe provided day-to-day.”
Like Laura, Jamie Fleming competed on MasterChef Australia: Back to Win in 2025, but he didn’t put too much thought into his outfits. “My wardrobe was pretty formulaic,” he laughed. “It’s always very much our own style and clothes. I was there to think about food, so for me, [it was] insert oversized blank tee and pants I can run in.”
MasterChef’s safety first shoe policy
The shoe situation on MasterChef is a different story, as when contestants are cooking, their safety is paramount.
Fleming noted that “shoes were provided” in his season, but he “wasn’t a fan” of the choices.
His season’s show sponsor, Cougar Footwear, provided shoes for the contestants, so they adhered to hospitality and industrial footwear standards. Although closed-toed shoes are always mandatory in the MasterChef kitchen, contestants often swap out the heavy-duty shoes worn during the cook for a more stylish choice during the judging.
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