The Power Of Female Friendship

How a love of dressing up inspired 14,000 people to come together and support each other through fashion

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After a busy week, best friends Bevali Francis and Susan Simms always looked forward to getting glammed up on a Friday night. Sue was Bev's lodger in Hastings until lockdown hit in 2020, and so when "going out" meant "staying in", they invited a small group of friends to get dressed up to the nines and swap pictures on Facebook.

Sue grew up in North Northumberland and says she spent many a year at the back of the crowd.

"I was the quiet, chubby one with very little confidence and a pretty bland wardrobe," she admits. "I moved to Hastings six years ago because it was so vibrant and has a great music scene. Perfect for me, because I'm a rhythm and blues singer."

Bev is a milliner and she's always loved clothes.

"I spent my childhood making my dolls clothes and hats," she explains.

"At the age of nine I was obsessed with watching Hollywood films, never really following the plot but just gazing at the clothes and thinking, when I grow up, I'm gonna wear that!"

"So when Sue moved in, every Friday was dress-up night; she would be going out to sing and I'd be going out for fun," remembers Bev.