FAQs

Q: What is the process for hiring a costume from Desiree?
At Desiree Costume Hire, we love helping you find the perfect look! When you visit us, one of our friendly and knowledgeable team members will bring a range of costume options out to you, helping you find the perfect fit and style. If you've got a specific look in mind, feel free to show us some reference images and we'll do our best to bring your vision to life with our extensive costume collection.

Just a heads-up: we do require a form of photo ID, and full payment is needed before the costume leaves the store.

Q: How much does it cost to hire a costume?
The average hire cost is around $69 but it depends on the specific items you choose, with accessories priced separately from the base costume. You can find approximate pricing guides for each theme at the top of the category pages. Alternatively, feel free to contact us for a quick quote — we’re happy to help! All prices include GST.

Q: Do you require a bond?
Yes, we do ask for a bond of $50 to $150 per costume. It’s fully refundable when the costume is returned on time and in good condition.

Bonds will be refunded in the same way they were paid. If you pay your bond by card, we’ll need to use the same card to process the refund. Just a note — if bonds aren’t collected within a month after return, they’ll be forfeited.

Q: How long is the hire for?
Our standard hire period gives you up to four nights with your costume.

Q: What if I want to hire the costume for longer?
You can extend your hire for just $10 per night, per costume. If you’re hiring for a production or theatre group, let us know — we offer special rates for those too.

Q: Can I book a costume?
Absolutely! If there’s something you’ve got your eye on, we recommend booking in advance to avoid missing out. Bookings can be made up to one month before your event date. We’ll just need a $25 deposit to secure it, which goes toward your total hire cost. Please note, the deposit is non-refundable if the costume is cancelled or not collected.

Q: Can I hire a costume from you if I can’t come into the store?
Yes! We are happy to find costumes for you from our collection. This includes measuring options depending on the sizes required and sending you photos for your approval. Please note there is a minimum service fee of $30/hour to arrange bookings of three or more costumes remotely. The service fee goes towards your total hire cost but is non-refundable if you do not go ahead with the order. This is in addition to the booking deposit.

Q: Can you courier the costume to me?
We can courier your costume if there's enough time to do so as we send them out a week in advance. There’s an extra charge for the courier and handling fees, on top of the hire and bond. If you're in Auckland and need it sooner, just get in touch — we might be able to arrange an urgent delivery.

Q: Can I return a costume via courier?
Yes, you can! Just make sure it’s a tracked courier service, and please send us the tracking details once it's on its way back to us.

Q: Do you have plus size costumes?
We sure do! We’ve got a great selection of plus-size costumes in a variety of styles and themes — we’d love to help you find the right one.

Q: Can I come and try costumes on?
Definitely! We always encourage trying on costumes in-store. No appointment needed — just pop in and our friendly team will be happy to help with sizing and styling.

Q: Are shoes and wigs included with the costumes?
Shoes and wigs aren’t included in the base hire, but we do have them available to hire separately if you need them.

Q: I can’t find the costume I’m looking for on your website. Do you have others?
Yes, we do! The costumes on our website are just a glimpse of what we have in-store. We’ve got thousands of costumes, so feel free to contact us or drop by for a chat — we’d love to help you find what you’re after.

Q: Do I have to hire a full costume or can I just take the parts I need?
You can absolutely just take the parts you need! We’ll price your hire based on what you choose. Just a note: even if you’re only hiring accessories, a bond will still apply.

Q: Do I have to wash the costume?
Nope — leave that to us! Many of our costumes are delicate and require special care, so we handle all the cleaning once they’re returned.

Q: What happens if I am late returning the costume?
If you return your costume late without prior arrangement, we charge a late fee of $15 per night, per costume. If you think you’ll be running behind, just get in touch — we’re happy to help if we can.

Q: Can I get someone else to return my costume for me?
Sure! Just keep in mind that if you paid by card, we’ll need the same card to process your bond refund.

Q: Can I return the costume out of hours?
Unfortunately not — for security reasons, we don’t have an after-hours drop-off option. Costumes need to be returned during our opening hours.

Q: I have lost or damaged all or part of the costume. What happens next?
If something is damaged or missing, we’ll deduct the cost of repairs, cleaning, or replacement from your bond. If the cost is more than the bond, you’ll just need to pay the difference.

Q: Can I buy the costumes?
Most of our costumes are for hire only — but keep an eye on our social media! We occasionally hold garage sales where we sell retired/excess costume pieces.