The Clothes Club When good friends meet, they swap secrets, stories, food, books, and more. Why not clothes?
I learned the value of swapping clothes when I did my usual cleaning and decided I wanted to get rid of a sweater that didn't quite fit and a skirt that I was bored with. My friend said she'd take a look. She adored them. Well, I didn't get anything back that day, but later I found some nice tops waiting for me. What a nice surprise!
Organizing a clothes swap is easy. Just tell your friends to set aside what they would normally give away. Decide on a number so everyone feels it's fair (one for one, two for really nice and expensive things).
Make it a date. This gives everyone the time to set things aside, and you can meet at leisure. Set aside a few hours, if not half a day, to swap, try things on, and decide for each person.
Make some rules. They don't have to be rigid, but if you say each person should bring at least 2 items, it will be more fair. Decide on numbers and what kinds of clothes you'll accept. Try not to be too rigid, or you won't enjoy yourselves. But do let everyone know that all swaps are final, but negotiable - do you want a friend who hates you because you took her favorite jeans?
How should you swap? Well, that's up to you. But some ideas include drawing numbers. The person who draws #1 gets to go first and swap 1 item for anything they see, and so on. You can also add a twist: the next person can steal it away (like holiday gifts!), or you can only trade one item twice, etc.
Make it a party. If you're the host, have refreshments on hand. Drinks, chips, or make it a potluck! It will help make it fun.
Choose carefully. Be careful what you swap. An item someone swaps may be precious to him or her, so treat it well. Let others tell you if it looks good on, but decide for yourself if it really is something you will enjoy (don't be pressured into it). Don't take something just because you have to take something, and if you really don't want to give something away, DON'T! You'll just be envious seeing your friend wear it. Remember that worn clothes are subject to wear and tear, so don't swap your pristine cashmere sweater for a worn out, stained tshirt or vice versa.
Don't take it too seriously. On the other hand, remember, you can always swap what you get or give it back or give it away. It's all among friends, so have fun with it!