Ladies Formal Friday Lunch with Hilary Barry – Tickets now closed!

Join us for an elegant and empowering afternoon at the Ladies Formal Friday Lunch with Hilary Barry at Allely Estate. Inspired by Hilary Barry’s famous Formal Friday initiative, this event celebrates fashion, fun, and philanthropy, with proceeds supporting Dress for Success Auckland.

Hilary Barry started the famous Formal Friday during COVID, where she urged people to have fun with their wardrobe. In 2022, Hilary interviewed with the Woman’s Weekly and said:

“I think probably for most of my career, I’ve been like this Champagne bottle with all these bubbles inside of me,” she explains. “And now the cork is out, and I can’t put it back in.”

Hilary admitted she is finally able to just be herself.

“You get to an age where you just go, ‘You know what? This is me, unprompted.’ Sometimes I’ll get the giggles, sometimes I’ll have a cry, but this is who I really am.”

Hilary confesses she loves to see there are a growing number of young women who are living their lives like this from the beginning of their career, and she thinks that’s fantastic.

“I feel Seven Sharp has been such a great gift at this stage of my career because it is all about feel-good stories. It is great New Zealanders, beautiful pictures, all of that.”

But part of that process has involved dealing with viewers who might like Hilary’s authentic personality but didn’t like what she wore. She’s been criticised for showing too much flesh and has hit back on social media, defending a woman’s right to wear what she wants.

“I think essentially, whether it’s in the workplace or any other part of women’s lives, we have, certainly in this day and age, been empowered to dress the way we like, and we should.”

Which is why she was keen to join the charity Dress for Success as an ambassador 15 years ago.

“Their values absolutely align with mine, particularly in terms of empowering women,” she enthuses. “Women often don’t have the disposable income to get an outfit for a job interview because they spend it all on their families. They’re the last ones to spend money on themselves.”

Allely Estate aligns its values with Dress for Success. At Allely Estate, we love being able to contribute to the community, as we did to support Muriwai. Robyn Moore, Executive Manager of Auckland, a local Riverhead Resident, saw one of the owners of Allely Estate put up a post on a Ladies Facebook Network Group to see if other ladies would be open to networking and wearing the very outfits they loved. She reached out, and over several conversations, this lunch was born with Hilary jumping on board.

Dress for Success Auckland is not government-funded and relies on funding and donations to keep our services running. On average, it can cost from $250.00 to provide the basics that support one woman. Your donation means a lot!

Hilary told Woman’s Weekly:

“So, to support an organisation which gives lovely outfits, shoes, even make-up to a woman to go off to a job interview makes sense. Maybe she’s had time out from the workplace, maybe it’s her first job interview.”

But there are also other women Dress for Success helps, and some of them have more harrowing stories to tell.

“I’ve had my eyes opened to the stories of women who have left abusive relationships and simply walked out of a home and had to leave everything behind. They’ve gone to a refuge, but they can’t go back, so they need clothes and things to restart their lives.”

This lunch is an opportunity for women to uplift other women, meet other ladies for networking with a love for fashion, food, and wine, as well as clear out some of your wardrobe to donate at this lunch. We all have a wardrobe bursting at the seams. Clear out to help another, and you have room to purchase more.

This Ladies Formal Long Lunch with Hilary Barry and Dress for Success will be a great way to send winter off with a hoorah! So dress up, get booked, and come and meet with Hilary, who will also have a Tiara to give away to one lucky lady!

Event Schedule:

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM:

• Welcome with a complimentary glass of champagne or white wine
• Mix and mingle with fellow attendees

12:30 PM – 12:45 PM:

• Welcome address by Catherine
• Introduction of Robyn Moore, Executive Manager of Dress for Success Auckland
• Antipasto platters served to tables

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM:

• Keynote by Hilary Barry: “John from Rangiora and that Dress | Why I Support Dress for Success | Formal Friday”

1:20 PM – 2:00 PM:

• Euro Buffet (shared lunch to tables)
  • Market Fish, Shellfish Oil, Mussels, Champagne Beurre Blanc, Wilted Spinach
  • Lamb Backstrap, Roasted Beetroot, Spiced Labneh, Gremolata
  • Vegan Lasagne, Spiced Tomato Sauce
  • Triple Cooked Rosemary Potato
  • Seasonal Garden Salad, Orange Dressing

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM:

• Hear inspiring success stories from Dress for Success. Share your outfits and accessories for donation to Dress for Success.

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM:

• Mix and mingle with more drinks

Included in your ticket:

• Antipasto platter, lunch, and a welcome drink (House Wine, House Bubbles, Fizzy drink (no redbull) or Juice). 

Cost: $105 per person (incl. GST)

Additional drinks available for purchase via eftpos/credit card or cash.

Special Highlights:

• Fashion and Networking: Meet like-minded women who love fashion, food, and wine.
• Empower Women: Donate outfits and accessories to Dress for Success and help empower other women in need.
• Tiara Giveaway: Hilary Barry will be giving away a tiara to one lucky attendee!
• Support a Great Cause: Your donated outfits and accessories will provide opportunity for another woman’s brighter future. Net 20% of sales from personalised New Zealand NV Methode Traditionelle bubbles will go towards Dress for Success Auckland.
• Dress Code: Let’s dress up – time to wear that outfit you love!

Purchase one bottle or a case of 6 Personalised New Zealand NV Methode Traditionelle Bubbles to help fundraise for this event for Dress for Success:

(Photo of personalised label below)

Reserve yours & others spot today and be part of an unforgettable afternoon that celebrates women, fashion, and the power of giving back.

We look forward to welcoming you to this fabulous event at Allely Estate!

Advise us of dietary requirements by emailing us at info@allelyestate.co.nz with the subject line “Dress for Success Dietaries”.

*Menu is subject to change without notice should external factors cause an increase or shortage.

Wine Description:

NZ Bubbly – NV Methode Traditionelle:

POP * FIZZ * CLINK …Cheers fellow kiwis!
This delightful NZ made bubbly is fresh, fun ‘n’ fruity and is from the famous region of Hawkes Bay.  Sure to put a smile in someone’s day 🙂

Allely Estate In-House Events Terms and Conditions:

– Tickets are not refundable but we do reserve the right to transfer to other Allely Estate Events at our discretion, which may incur a $20 booking fee per ticket and subject to availability.
– Purchased tickets cannot be automatically transferred and any transfer is at Allely Estate’s sole discretion which may incur a $20 booking fee per ticket. Tickets cannot be onsold.
– Should an extreme situation outside of Allely Estate’s control occur, ie natural disaster, then we will rebook an alternate date.
– Only tickets purchased from Allely Estate or via their Eventbrite listed event are legitimate. Tickets purchased 2nd hand or by others claiming to be selling on behalf of Allely Estate are not valid.
– Transfer requests made within 7 days of an event may not be able to have dietary requests met.
– Allely Estate reserves the right to change our Terms and Conditions without notice.

Have a browse through some of our other events we have had at Allely Estate by clicking on the link below.

Weddings, Corporate & Events Articles: Auckland : Allely Estate