Has anyone held one of those clothes swapping party thingies?

[lavenderbongo]

I was just moaning about my current lack of money to buy new clothes and thinking about all the items I have in my wardrobe that have barely been warn. So I think I remeber watching something a few years ago about people having parties where everyone brings along items of clothing and shoes that they no longer want or have never been warn and swap them with other people.

I think this sounds like a really good idea so I just wondered if anyone on here has ever held one of these parties or been to one and what you thought.

How do you make sure that there are enough people of different shapes and sizes so that everyone can find stuff to swap?

Are there any set rules - so you just put all the clothes in a pile and let people help themselves or do you each show each other what you have brought first.

I assume wine and nibbles are obligatory!

Any advice would be great.

[bellavita]

Oooh I went to a couple of these - a good few years ago now. They were excellent and I picked up some fab clothes.

From what I can remember there were a variety of people there (ie all shapes and sizes) who had donated lots of clothes. Clothes are donated before the day so everything can be priced.

The hostess set up those hanging rails and clothes were displayed in sections..

dresses
skirts
tops
trousers
baby/toddler clothes

and yes, wine and nibbles are just as much part of the evening as the clothes are

[lavenderbongo]

Things have to be priced? I didnt realise money would be involved - I thought it would just be like a genuine swap or give away thing. I also dont have any hanging rails!

How many people came? I was just thinking of having a few of my mates round (about 10 max) and having a bit of fun swapping clothes but I suppose people might prefer to make a bit of money out of it. It just makes it a bit more complicated than I had hoped.

Thanks for your advice bellavita I am glad you found it good fun.

[Clary]

A friend of mine was going to have one but found everyone was unkeen.

I was up for it actually but I think some people were worried their tat cast-offs might not be up to standard.

Also I think one or two were concerned about sizes.

In the end we all went to the pub instead

Maybe it's better if it's bigger with folk you don't know??

[paisleyleaf]

I've done it with a couple of friends, sister and SIL.
People who we sometimes pass stuff onto to each other anyway - just that we'll sometimes make an evening of it.
It's never occurred to us to involve money.

[nickschick]

I think sometimes if you have a friend who you are similar sizes with you can kind of 'swap' things .....my friend desperately wanted my tankini I was quite willing to give it her but she insisted on swapping me a ......dvd?

[nickschick]

Try ebay? you could sell your stuff then have cash to buy whatever you fancied - the supermarkets are doing some lovely stuff lately.

[bellavita]

Sorry, I should have explained myself a little better....

They priced the clothes and (not a huge amount honestly - maybe say £3.00 for the dress I got) - half went to charity and the other half to the seller.

[Fliight]

We nearly did one last autumn with one of my friends and her friends, but we didn't get round to it. I think it's a good idea though.

Have always swapped clothes with my sister. Usually what she is chucking out I really like and sometimes vice versa!

she lives miles away now and I miss it.

I wouldn't want to do it for money though, too complicated.

Ebaying old clothes is a bit of a farce imo - you might get 99p if you're lucky unless it's a current ebay 'buzzword' like those Celia Birtwell dresses a few years back, which went for loads.

[mitfordsisters]

I did one of these - it was really good fun. Yes to wine and nibbles. We didn't have a rail, so it was more of a rummagey sort of thing - excellent.