Going glam in SJP's dress

If the hair, jewellery and stretch limo aren't enough to make you feel like a star at your school ball, what about a dress once owned by a Hollywood siren?

The Secret Wardrobe in Auckland's Parnell hires top-end designer gowns worn by the likes of Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker and Oscar winner Marlee Matlin.

A $16,000 Ralph Lauren dress worn by Parker to a fashion show last year is the most expensive, and even then available to hire only under special circumstances.

It costs about $350 - with a $350 bond to ensure its safety.

"It's not usually for school balls because it's so expensive, and I'd probably only give it to someone for that purpose on special conditions," said owner Carol Abernethy.

"I bought it from an auction in New York a while ago and it is my most expensive dress."

That's not the only fancy frock for hire.

A sequined 3.1 Phillip Lim dress, which retails for about $1900, is available for $175, with a $300 bond.

A $5700 Nicole Miller Couture gown worn by Matlin, who won the best actress Oscar for Children of a Lesser God, is $200 to hire with a $200 bond.

Two exclusive Hermes Birkin handbags, popular with such celebrities as Victoria Beckham, are also available - for $500 a week or $1000 a month.

The bags cost about $14,000 new and credit card details are taken as a bond when hiring. "We like to think we are the ultimate in fashion recycling," says Abernethy.