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You are here: Home / Fundamentals / How To Host a Style Swap: A Fun, Frugal Way to Get New Clothes

by Jessica Smartt  11 Comments

How To Host a Style Swap: A Fun, Frugal Way to Get New Clothes

style swap

A lot of things have fallen by the wayside since entering the world of Motherhood. I have no idea what songs are in, what shows are on…and I certainly don’t have time or money to keep up with every random fashion. Generally, I’m fine with these things. I knew what I signed up for. But every once in a while, a girl looks in her closet, and just wishes for some new clothes.  Can I get an “amen”? Enter: The Style Swap.

I didn’t invent the clothing swap, obviously…I just like to think I perfected it. 🙂 Kidding. But my friends and I have had two so far, and it has been so popular that I’m sure it’s an annual tradition. Our last swap had over 20 attendants, and everyone took home tons of “new” clothes!

swap 6

Here’s how we did it:

  • Pick a good time. We’ve done the spring and fall, and I think those are great times for a style swap. People start itching for some fresh outfits at the change of the seasons. I like to send out a “save the date” and an invite (both online, obviously) so people know to hold onto anything good they can swap.
  • Find a co-host. There’s a million reasons that cohosting a style swap is a good idea, but here’s my top 3. One, you don’t have to lug all the leftovers to Goodwill all by yourself. Two, chances are your friend has some different friends which means more styles and more sizes. Three, the more the merrier, is what I say!
  • In your invitation, ask guests to drop off their clothing a week ahead of time. This will give you time to organize it and make sure there are no items with stain, holes, excessive wear, etc. before the swap. The first time I hosted, I didn’t do this, and it was difficult to organize it all during the style swap. 
  • Be considerate of varying body types. If you’ve got a friend who’s six feet tall, you may want to invite some other tall women. A pregnant friend? Round up some maternity clothes, etc.
  • Set a limit on items. We suggested guests bring 5-10 items in good condition that they didn’t like or fit in anymore. You might want to outlaw underwear and panty hose if it grosses you out.
  • Organize the clothes. This might take a while…I was so glad I had a helper! A few hours before the style swap, we hung, folded, and displayed the clothes in several rooms across her house. It was helpful to divide it by style, then size… (small pants, here, etc. etc.)
  • Create a system for “shopping” once the swap begins. My friend had a great idea. Between the two of us, we rounded up 200 clothespins or so. (You can buy them cheaply at the dollar store, or ask guests to bring them.) As guests arrived, we wrote their initials on the clothespins. If a guest brought five items, she got five clothespins.
swap 1

  • Go shopping! If a girl liked an item, she put a pin on it. We allowed up to three people to “pin” the same item. Once an item had three clothespins, we took it out of commission to a separate room.

Towards the end we had a “lottery” for the most-wanted pieces. One of us would hold up the item, the other would draw a pin out of the hat. Whoever had their initials on the pin won that item!

  • Supply food. Is it just me, or is it not a party if there’s not food? We asked a few friends for help, and my co-host and I made a few (like these Mostly Whole-Foods Appetizers).
  • Divide up the clothes. Towards the end, my friend and I went through the clothes and put each girl’s items in a shopping bag. Yes, you could make your friends do this…but I think our guests really enjoyed just being able to grab their bags and head home!
swap 4

  • When the night ends, take the leftovers to Goodwill or a crisis pregnancy center.

Shopping for free? With friends? And food?? I know, I know…sounds too good to be true!

Have you ever attended a clothing swap? Did you enjoy it as much as I did?

style swap

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About Jessica Smartt

Jessica Smartt is a former teacher who lives in beautiful North Carolina. She blogs at www.smarttereachday.com where she pokes fun at the everyday challenges of motherhood, shares all her amazing allergy-friendly recipes, and rejoices that God still loves her no matter what phobia she has recently developed. She is blessed beyond belief with two Smartt little boys and a husband who can fix anything.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the content above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comment Policy: I love reading your thoughts and input on what you read here. I'm sure we'll disagree sometimes and that's okay! In those cases, do what's right for you and yours. As with any form of communication, only post comments that move the discussion in a positive direction.

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Comments

  1. Stacy Hardin says

    November 21, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Another way to do this is an “accessory” swap (for those concerned they don’t have enough friends of matching clothing sizes). You can have people bring jewelry, purses, wallets, scarves, etc., they no longer want instead.

    Reply
  2. kmamatx says

    September 3, 2013 at 12:23 am

    This sounds SO FUN! I just wish I had more friends close to my size!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 3, 2013 at 6:13 am

      Ask around! I’m sure you could find a lot of people who would be willing!

      Reply
  3. Judith says

    August 29, 2013 at 9:15 am

    What a great idea!! I used to go to a clothing swap at a church and it was a great way to find children’s clothes let alone ones for me 🙂 Thanks for sharing this over at Live Called.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      August 30, 2013 at 7:46 am

      Well thank YOU for hosting. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Hannah J says

    August 23, 2013 at 1:24 am

    This sounds great, too bad I don’t have many friends near my size. None actually. I’m a 4-6(depending on how bloated I am that day…still nursing!) and all of my friends seem to be 8-12. Sad…. =(

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      August 23, 2013 at 6:41 am

      You could start the first women’s consignment sale in your area. 😉

      Reply
  5. Kristen says

    August 22, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    I’m organizing my second clothes swap now. They’re so fun! We’re doing ours as fundraisers for our adoption. If folks donate clothes ahead of time they pay $10 “admission fee” otherwise $20. Each person get to take home 10 items. Each additional piece was $1. Everyone had a blast! And we ended up a few steps closer to reaching our financial goal!

    Reply
    • Jessica Smartt says

      August 23, 2013 at 8:35 am

      This is a great idea, Kristen! And it’s funny – this year we’re also adding a service element to ours, as well…I’m thinking an admission fee which we’ll donate to our local crisis pregnancy?

      Reply
  6. Haley Millsap says

    August 22, 2013 at 8:54 am

    I love this! I am going to do this soon 🙂 Thanks for the great ideas! I’ve kind of been a loner since I got married/had a baby so this is a great way to meet new people and hang out with old friends as well.

    Reply
    • Jessica Smartt says

      August 23, 2013 at 8:38 am

      It would be a great way! I don’t know if you have a local MOPS or “The Mommies Network” near you, but those would be good places to advertise your swap! Good luck 🙂

      Reply


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