Hastings isolation idea goes global and reaches 12,000 people

Susan Simms was Bevali Francis's lodger in Hastings for two years, in which time they became best friends.

Just before lockdown, Susan moved into her own flat but on Friday nights the two would dress up and get ready for the weekend.

Bevali said getting ready for the weekend and choosing outfits became a 'bit of a tradition' between them.

They decided isolation would not stop them as they created the idea 'Frock Up Friday' where each Friday they would share a photo to one another of what they had chosen to wear.

Susan and Bevali then had the same idea at the same time; they would invite their friends on Facebook to do it too, as a way to stay connected.

In the first day, to their surprise, they had 500 other like-minded people were wanting to share their Friday Frock Up.

Bevali said: "It wasn’t just frocks but a joyous mixture of all kinds of clothes people loved to go out in.

"It had a surprising side effect too. It is a page of celebration and positivity. Without any prompting contributors started to compliment one another on their photos and outfits.

"It’s been an all-inclusive page of pure joy from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The participants are now a global community with 7,500 hundred people all over the world getting dressed up for a night in.

"Amazing things have happened. Friendships have been made and we’ve even had a couple who frocked up and proposed on their pretend home restaurant. We’ve had lots of key workers join and if they can’t do Fridays they’ve frocked up on other days. It means everyone has been able to join in."

Susan and Bevali said they have been 'absolutely wowed by the whole thing' and love the fact so many people have found Frock Up Friday brings them a little bit of joy in a very lonely and difficult time.

Frock Up Friday is still continuing each Friday - including tomorrow, where this week's theme is 1940's in celebration of VE Day.

Frockupfriday.com is now up to nearly 12,000 people.

For more information, including pictures, visit the Frock Up Friday page on Instagram.