Dinner guests were given an apron upon arrival and were encouraged to reveal themselves "at their own pace". Photo / Supplied
Dinner guests were given an apron upon arrival and were encouraged to reveal themselves "at their own pace". Photo / Supplied
While many Aucklanders get dressed up to head out for dinner, a new event is asking attendees to dress down - in fact, take it all off - for their dining experience.
The Naked Dinner is taking place in Auckland's Grey Lynn for the first time, the founders having movedover from London early this year.
Lisa McMillan, who runs the show, markets it as a "supper club with a twist", that explores the idea of platonic nudity.
"Something that I really like is that everyone comes and quickly gets the realisation that everyone has the same bits, but looks completely different," she said.
Organiser Lisa McMillan said the events attracted those already running a nudist lifestyle, as well as others wanting to boost body positivity. Photo / Supplied
By the end of each event, McMillan said, the attendees had often forgotten they were naked and were having a "whale of a time".
She admitted this could partially be down to the alcohol - following the welcome drink the events were BYO wine, cider or beer.
McMillan, 30, kickstarted The Naked Dinner in London near the end of last year.
The Brit had been working as an account manager in London while running the events as a side gig. The plan had always been to bring the business to New Zealand, she said.
The first of the New Zealand events would take place next Friday, and McMillan said most spots had been filled. A second dinner would be held next month.
She described the dinners as a way of getting people out of their comfort zone. They also encouraged body positivity - which she feared many of us were lacking.
"Just generally chatting to friends, I was quite surprised by the lack of confidence I saw in some of them - just with themselves," she said.
"Maybe part of the reason is social media - we're now meant to look perfect."
McMillan is holding the events, which cost $70 to attend, at her home in Grey Lynn, where the interior was designed to cater for a party of 10.
She and her partner would sit with their eight guests on cushions around a low table. The cushions had removable covers, she said, which they would pop in the wash afterwards.
