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Refresh Your Wardrobe, Without the Mall

Blog | November 9th, 2011

In a closet full of clothes, not all are justly represented. They don’t all receive even playing time. That cashmere sweater gets more than its share of attention, flaunting itself in public at least once a week. However, the same can’t be said for that leather jacket. It’s not that the jacket isn’t great, because it is. It just doesn’t quite fit the way it seemed to in the store, causing it to hang, unloved, in the depths of the closet.

The situation is all too common. If this sounds familiar, you probably have rarely used clothes that you don’t know what to do with. You also most likely want to revamp your wardrobe, but know better than to pull out your credit card. 

You are not alone. There is a community of people just like you, frugal fashionistas searching for a way to keep their styles in constant change without emptying their accounts. There’s a way to work together, satisfying your thirst for fashion as well as your wallets by sharing styles, ideas and closets with these like-minded people in a fashion swap.

A fashion swap is where a group of people gets together, bringing clothes, jewelry and accessories that they no longer wear. Then let the swapping begin! Exchange in any way you like with the other swap-mates, getting rid of your own unworn items in return for new additions to your outfit selection, all the while saving money! 

The more people that show up to the fashion swap, the better the selection will be. The most effective method to ensure a solid turnout is by hosting a swap yourself and making an anticipated evening of it. Set up a location, maybe your own living room, and invite all of your friends. Have everyone bring a snack, dessert or bottle of wine for the evening. (It may help if you delegate who brings what.) Make the event whatever you want it to be! What music will you play? Will you send out creative invitations? The more excited people are for the event, the more likely they will be to show up and bring a variety of potential additions to you and your other friends’ wardrobes.

Remember, the higher quality and quantity of items you bring, the more value you have to trade. Make sure to remind your guests of this before the event!

A fashion swap is a great way to give your closet a makeover without spending a dollar. There’s no buying or selling, only trading between friends. It finds happy homes for your unused clothes, while giving you new apparel.

Have any fashion swap stories or ideas to host a great one? Tell us!