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Home / Entertainment

Covid 19 coronavirus: Hilary Barry farewells lockdown #formalfriday with special outfit

NZ Herald
24 Apr, 2020 02:34 AM5 mins to read

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Hilary Barry wore a two-piece suit with her late father's bow tie, her son's shirt and a poppy pinned to her lapel. Photo / Twitter

Hilary Barry wore a two-piece suit with her late father's bow tie, her son's shirt and a poppy pinned to her lapel. Photo / Twitter

Hilary Barry, the woman who singlehandedly kept New Zealanders from slumping on the sofa in their pyjamas in lockdown, has marked the final "Formal Friday" of lockdown with in a stunning tuxedo.

"The #formalfriday movement really has filled my heart during the lockdown," she wrote on Twitter today.

"Thanks for the giggles and the effort and the absolute nuts of it all. It's one part of this crazy time that I will remember very fondly."

Barry posted a photo of herself wearing a tiara, heels and a perfectly fitted tuxedo. She completed the outfit with a poppy on her lapel to mark Anzac Day.

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Posting the same photo to her Instagram account, the TV presenter added a couple of extra details that made her outfit all the more special: the bow tie belonged to her late father and the shirt belongs to her son.

View this post on Instagram

I was going to ditch the tiara for today’s #formalfriday and then I thought ... yeah nah. Fashion credits: Dearly departed Dad’s bow tie. Son’s shirt.

A post shared by Hilary Barry (@hilary.barry) on Apr 23, 2020 at 3:08pm PDT

Across social media, New Zealanders thanked Barry for getting them out of their trackpants and applauded her decision to end Formal Friday with a gender non-binary look.

I love this. I’ve always wanted a lady tuxedo. Great work on making #formalfriday happen here and giving everyone something to smile about. 💖

— Josie Campbell (@josiecampbell) April 23, 2020

That is one AMAZING suit! Thanks for encouraging us all to get out of our trackpants and glam up for the day - it is a highlight of the week and helps us at least remember what day of the week it is! pic.twitter.com/zMoMSlHLKz

— Rebecca Huang (@RebeccaMHuang) April 23, 2020

Thanks to you Hilary! You have pulled us all together and given us something to smile about and enjoy. Love your work.

— Viv Allan (@VivAllan) April 23, 2020

Hilary, thank you so much.
Lockdown has been a rough time, but with each notification I received on social media a smile and some giggles was always given, received and welcomed by us all.
You have done New Zealand proud Hilary, Thank you.
👍 ❤️ 🇳🇿 ⚪️ 🔐@SevenSharp @TVNZ

— Claudette Bunn (@ClaudetteBunn) April 23, 2020

Barry launched the "Formal Friday" trend, which went viral during lockdown, when she posted a photo of herself in a gown while working from home at the start of lockdown.

From then on, thousands of other New Zealanders responded every week with photos of their formal outfits on Fridays.

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View this post on Instagram

If there’s one thing this lockdown has revealed it’s that I’m a bit of a hoarder. This #formalfriday I’m wearing the outfit my mum made me for my 21st and University graduation in 1990. I only narrowly managed to zip it up today so I can barely breathe. For those wondering, the tiara is a special Covid-19 addition.

A post shared by Hilary Barry (@hilary.barry) on Apr 16, 2020 at 3:10pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Psychologists say, if you can, find a bubble within your bubble to have some time out from other people during lockdown. That’s great advice. And it’s also the reason I’ve decided to go glamping in the backyard. #formalfriday #leavemealone #makeyourownbloodylunch

A post shared by Hilary Barry (@hilary.barry) on Apr 9, 2020 at 2:55pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

This is the dress I wore to my school ball in 1987. Today I’m wearing it as a tribute to all the students who will miss their balls because of the lockdown. We feel for you. Remember your sacrifice right now is saving people’s lives. If you’d still like to get dressed up I’d love to see your pictures. #formalfriday #bubbleball

A post shared by Hilary Barry (@hilary.barry) on Apr 2, 2020 at 2:22pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

In case you missed it it’s #formalfriday - tiaras optional.

A post shared by Hilary Barry (@hilary.barry) on Mar 26, 2020 at 1:52pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Working from home? How about making a bloody effort on today’s video call instead of sitting there in your pj’s. Full tips for working from home on my Facebook page.

A post shared by Hilary Barry (@hilary.barry) on Mar 24, 2020 at 12:37pm PDT

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

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