Charity dress auction launched in aid of Princess Project

The dresses will be auctioned off from as little as R1. The auction started on Tuesday, 23 June on bidorbuy.co.za and runs until Wednesday, 8 July.

Set up in 1996 by the late Helga Leurs and Erica Pienaar, the Princess Project encourages, sources and facilitates the donation of pre-owned evening outfits, wedding dresses, ball gowns and matric dance dresses to the under-privileged... so that many girls get to feel like princesses for a night.

Amongst the dresses up for auction are a stunning pink evening gown made by designer Gert-Johan Coetzee and donated by SA-born, international model Katryn Kruger, two fabulous hot-off-the-runway dresses from Joburg based designer Joel Janse Van Vuuren and an evening dress worn by media entrepreneur Jo-Ann Strauss and designed by Gideon.

As well as raising money for the Princess Project, the auction has also been set up in conjunction with the release of the new local movie Hollywood in my Huis which opens in cinemas 26 June. Set against the backdrop of the 2004 matric dance, Hollywood in my Huis is a romantic comedy that focuses on an ordinary girl Jana van Tonder, who only knows life in a dysfunctional home in a poor neighbourhood.

When she witnesses Charlize Theron's iconic Oscar win at the 2004 Academy Awards, Jana is inspired to transform her upcoming matric dance into her very own Hollywood Red Carpet moment. The only problem is she has just 30 days to make her dress and find the perfect date to make her red-carpet dream, come true.

"When we were looking at unique ways to market Hollywood in my Huis, we came across The Princess Project and felt there was a great connection given the aim of the organisation and the backdrop of the film" says Charlie Frost of Coppermonkey Promotions who set up the auction. "In the movie the lead character of Jana longs to feel like the belle of the ball, even if it's just for one night, and it's young women like Jana that the project aims to help. The idea of setting up an auction was borne out of this and bidorbuy.co.za was the obvious partner to host it"

Two of the stars of the movie, presenter Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp and actress and author Leandie du Randt have also donated dresses to the auction along with the dress that features in the film itself.

To view all of the dresses and to bid go to, www.bidorbuy.co.za and visit www.princessproject.co.za

To find out more about Hollywood In My Huis, go to www.hollywoodinmyhuis.co.za.

For more info on Coppermonkey Promotions, go to www.coppermonkeypromotions.com