Mass Queenstown costume hire sell-off

Going, going, gone! It’s been an integral part of entertainment, film, and fashion for 30-plus years, but the final gong is sounding for those who want to snap up an iconic slice of local history and a bargain at the same time.

Queenstown Costume Hire owner for the past 16 years Allie Blair-Hourston tried hard to sell the business in May but unfortunately a lack of storage space for the thousands of items put any prospective buyers off.

Despite dropping the price to $25,000 just to try and keep the rare collection together, it hasn’t sold, so Blair-Hourston has been forced to sell it off piece by piece in a huge sale being held in Arrowtown.

It runs from tomorrow, Friday, 20 October, until next Friday, 27 October.

Any items not sold will be offered to local second-hand clothing stores, or sent to landfill as a very last resort, she says. “It’s really devastating as I know how rare this collection is and which accessories go with which outfit."

Blair-Hourston is moving to Great Barrier Island so decided to have a massive sale in the historic Arrowtown cottage beside the Fork and Tap.

“I’ve collected up about 5000 items over the years, including hundreds of different hats and a box of some 500 ties alone,” she says. Masses of fashion jewellery from throughout the decades, belts, roller skates, they’re all in there, even face masks for Queen Elizabeth, John F. Kennedy, and Madonna. “It’s the little details like a special collar that I know works with a particular outfit that will end up in the landfill, those little bits and pieces that may seem irrelevant to people."

Blair-Hourston and previous owners before her have put their heart and soul into the popular business, a local ‘go to’ for anyone heading to a fancy-dress party, for conference group functions, and the film industry needing extra costuming.

She’s hoping the many vintage clothing items will be popular with young people who are particularly keen on pre-loved fashion from the 1970s and 80s. “I have some gorgeous 80s ball dresses and vintage gear.” She’s had plenty of requests during her years with the hire business to buy 1950s and 1970s men’s shirts and tops in her collection so now is the chance.

Prices will range from $1 to $1000 for a prized 1970s leather airman’s flying jacket up for grabs, but most items will sell for the usual hire price, about $30 to $40.