One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure--and we’re not talking your friend’s sloppy boyfriend seconds, but the clothing they’ve decided no longer deserves a place in their closet.  It may become the ‘must-have-seasonal-piece’ in yours!

So what is a Clothing Swap, and why should you host one?  It is the ideal wardrobe renovation - your friends'  gently worn clothes and accessories in the hands of a new doting owner, for free!

Sounds great, right? So how do you organize your swap and ensure the most agile, sharp-elbowed participant doesn’t walk away with the best loot?

Setting up your Swap

* Invite 15-20 women to participate in the Clothing Swap.  Any less and the selection may be sparse; any more,and it just gets too crowded and overwhelming.

* Arrange to have it at a location with a big dining room table, king-sized bed or empty floor space where clothing can be laid out.

* Ask women to bring clothing items they no longer want but believe someone would actually wear – gym shorts from ninth grade or a little-black-dress with bleach stains likely won’t be coveted items.

* Encourage accessories – they allow for ‘one-size-fits-all’ options at the Swap.

* Counter the free-for-all vibe by donating all leftover items to a local women’s shelter or Goodwill, or set the Swap up as a fundraiser for your charity of choice and have each woman donate a small amount to participate.

Preventing a Catfight

We’ve all heard about clothing sample sales gone awry when women trample, lie or steal for the items they want. We hope that won’t happen with your group of girls; however in my experience, things can get frantic! How will you keep your Swap fracas free?

* Wait until every guest arrives before people start picking out clothing.

* Depending on the amount of clothing, hold up each item and have women raise their hand if they want it – first hand up gets to try it on first. This is a great way to swap memorable stories about the items up for grabs.

* Alternatively, let each woman grab 3 picks to start. They try them on, decide if they want them and then may pick three more. It prevents hoarding by those with especially quick hands!

Walking away with a New Wardrobe

* Do encourage everyone to try the pieces on – we’ve all bought something we end up never wearing, simply because it was such a great deal. Just imagine when things are free...

* Really consider the pieces you are trying on, and treat them as if you are purchasing. A full closet is nice, but a closet of clothing that doesn’t fit properly, or is out of style, doesn’t help your wardrobe at all.

* Ask your friends for their opinion, and provide honest ones to them. Have a little fashion show to show off everyone's finds!

Clothing swaps are truly so much fun! Not only do you get a night with your girlfriends, you score great new pieces for free.  Consider making it an annual event. My girlfriends and I have one every year, and one green satin cocktail dress has been passed on to almost every girl! There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing that dress you bought on impulse and wore once now on a friend who feels like she just found her piece for the season.

Happy Swapping!

by Megan Matthews
image by Nikkie To