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Home / Entertainment

Hilary Barry brings back Formal Friday for lockdown: 'Time to find your sparkle'

NZ Herald
19 Aug, 2021 08:56 PM3 mins to read

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Seven Sharp host Hilary Barry is bringing back Formal Friday for lockdown. Photo / @Hilary_Barry

Seven Sharp host Hilary Barry is bringing back Formal Friday for lockdown. Photo / @Hilary_Barry

Last year Seven Sharp host Hilary Barry kept the country entertained during lockdown with her Formal Friday posts - and now she's brought it back amid the level 4 lockdown.

Barry shared a snap of herself wearing a sparkly silver gown, tiara and festive red lipstick on her social media channels encouraging Kiwis to dress up and celebrate even though we're stuck at home.

The photo shows her posing with a whisk and a bowl of lemons, leaving fans to wonder what baked delight she was whipping up in the kitchen this time.

"Happy #formalfriday darlings!" she wrote. "Hope I don't spark a fire in the kitchen this morning.

"Found my sparkle. Now it's time to find yours."

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Barry launched the "Formal Friday" trend last year, which went viral when she posted a photo of herself in a gown while working from home at the start of the first level 4 lockdown in March 2020.

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

Across social media, New Zealanders thanked Barry for getting them out of their trackpants.

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In August 2020, she added a baking tutorial to the mix, hosting a baking live on her Facebook page to entertain followers with her skills.

Happy #formalfriday darlings!!!! pic.twitter.com/9PdkMDWWD9

— Hilary Barry (@Hilary_Barry) August 19, 2021

"I know it's only level 3 lockdown, but it feels like lockdown, so why not bring back formal Friday?" she said.

The dress she wore was what she had planned to wear to the Sol3 Mio concert at Spark Arena, which had been postponed.

Breaking out my first ever #FormalFriday in honour of the mighty Level 4. 6th form ball outfit (minus purple crushed velvet cape, sadly at mum’s) - black crushed velvet spaghetti strap dress frm Sportsgirl Sydney bought on a choir trip, & family jade. Wedding coat. Paris shoes. pic.twitter.com/rCTYLK57lX

— Tze Ming Mok (@tzemingdynasty) August 19, 2021

Quarantine and chill but make it #formalfriday pic.twitter.com/p5YsYfQ95p

— Sally-ann (@SallyannMoffat) August 19, 2021

#formalfriday is a big deal in our home. pic.twitter.com/ZjwacOh2Kb

— Sally-ann (@SallyannMoffat) August 20, 2021

We're ready! #formalfriday @Hilary_Barry pic.twitter.com/6fyfCCQXj3

— Tanya Major (@geeketics) August 19, 2021

When @Hilary_Barry decrees that it is #formalfriday, one makes an effort. Scone, ma'am? #lockdownnz #stayhomesavelives #motherofthenation pic.twitter.com/eT8NfOHHKN

— Martin Bridges (he/him/his) (@mgbridges) August 19, 2021

Barry said the "baking malarkey" seemed to cheer a lot of people up.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hilary Barry (@hilary.barry)

"And you know what? It gives me something to do too."

She showed her followers how to make "the epitome of comfort eating", a version of a caramel slice. Great choice Hil Baz.

"It's going straight to the hips, but who cares, because as far as I'm concerned lockdown is all about the comfort eating."

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