How to Host a Clothes Swap Party

I have trouble getting rid of stuff. Like Clothes. I don’t think it’s because I’m materialistic, or addicted to shopping, or someone who loves dressing up… I think it’s because it really bothers me to just throw stuff away. I imagine it clogging up our overcrowded landfills and choking our beautiful planet.

Participating in and perpetuating “fast fashion” in our consumer-driven economy is a subject for another blog post– and a good one. But now I’m talking about a mindset handed down to me through generations of frugal farmers and laborers: don’t be wasteful with objects that still hold some value.

To someone.

Anyone.

I admit I have a tendency to take this idea a little too far. I’m sure I’ve donated many things to Goodwill that needed to be thrown away. I only hope they have a ruthless volunteer sorting donations who is much better at discarding things than I am!

I’m a big believer in donating clothes to charity, and in second-hand shopping. I love finding a sweet deal at a thrift store! It not only saves your dollars and makes money for a good cause, it ensures that your closet doesn’t hold all the same stuff as everyone else’s, and it helps you avoid wearing much of the hyper-trendy clothing that will look silly to you in a few years. Generally, if you walk out of a thrift store with an item that is over-the-top and ridiculous, you’re probably doing it on purpose– as in “I look ridiculously good in this early-90’s green suede suit with huge shoulder pads!”

[Editor’s note: the aforementioned suit is not something I’ve ever found at a thrift store. But some other lucky gal probably did a few years back, because I had a suit just like that  in the early 90’s which I–sadly, in retrospect–decided to part with.]

I’m embarrassed to admit I was able to find a photo of that suit for those of you imagining its glory. And how about those smoking hot white boots!?

So, yep, I donate clothes. Recently, though, I gathered a few things that no longer fit me but seemed hard for me to let go of. They were nicer than a lot of my clothes but still probably not expensive enough to sell on consignment. What should I do with them?

Wow, that was a long, borderline-preachy way of introducing the idea of hosting a Clothing Swap Party.

(So you can just skip that part if you want and start here!)

These parties offer a chance to eat, drink, and visit with your friends, while getting rid of some of your clothes and picking up some different ones. Sounds like a win for everyone!

I decided to host one recently and I looked online for pointers and advice from others. Then I threw a party and now I have my own take on what worked and didn’t work. Here are my suggestions:

1) Invite as many people as you can. The more types and sizes of women you have the better it will work. (Unless you’re a Stepford Wife and all your robot friends are exactly the same size and wear the same style of clothes!) I hosted my party in August to gear up for a new season and Fall wardrobes, and due to summer schedules and travel there was a large percentage of people who had conflicts. So treat it like a numbers game– invite more than you think you can host in your house or apartment. I bet you’ll manage to fit everyone! If it’s crowded your party will just be more crazy and fun.

2) Explain the “rules” in your invitation. I sent Evites with everything spelled out in the “Message from your host” but it is surprising how many people don’t get around to clicking through and reading those details. I named the event “Clothing Swap Party” so if they did nothing but read the first screen they’d still have a general idea about the party. “Ladies’ Clothing Swap Party” would have been even more informative, because a few friends thought at first it was to trade kid’s clothes (another fun idea!) and one asked if husbands were invited.

I think next time I will send paper invitations. I know it’s old-school, and not an option for everyone, but it’s a nice way to invite and explain at the same time. This is a party that requires guests to do a bit of homework (cull through their closets) so a paper invite might help them plan for it and put it on their calendar.

3) Before the party, make a gameplan. Gather, borrow, or buy any of the following that you can: rolling garment racks, large or full-length mirrors, hangers, laundry baskets or shopping bags.

I borrowed two small garment racks, scoured my house for any extra hangers, and bought a five dollar full-length mirror and a dozen small white laundry baskets at Wal-Mart.

On the day of the party I cleared off my dining table and assembled the garment racks in the same area of the house. I decided to make the dining room the “clean” area for all the clothes and keep food and drinks in the kitchen and living room.

4) If possible, ask a friend to co-host, or at least direct traffic. One article I read suggested throwing a potluck clothes swap so you don’t have the financial burden of supplying all the refreshments. I did a Saturday morning brunch and was fine with preparing all the food– especially since my guests were already arriving laden with clothes to share. What I learned though, was that hosting the eating part of the party and hosting the activity part of the party breaks naturally into two jobs. It’s much easier if there are two people to do it.

Luckily for me (since I didn’t figure this out in advance) my two besties from high school were the first to show up, and they are comfortable enough in my kitchen that I could ask them to take purses and provide beverages to guests as they arrived. This freed me to guide guests to the clothing area, show them how to sort their things, and label a basket with their name on it.

I instructed guests to put folded, more casual tops and bottoms on the dining room table, hats and accessories on the entry table, dresses and skirts on one garment rack, and nicer hanging tops/blouses on the second rack. Shoes went on the floor by accessories. (Encouraging guests to include hats, shoes, and accessories or jewelry also helps make sure everyone can find something that fits, no matter what various sizes of friends you have.)

Instead of name tags, I wrote each person’s name on an index card and taped it to a mini-laundry basket. One suggestion I read was to set aside an area for each guest to store the items they want to try on or keep, so they don’t accidentally get claimed by another guest [awkward party moment!] I had the idea that little baskets would allow you to “shop” and take your stash with you anywhere in the house. And at 96 cents each I was happy to let people take them home loaded with clothes– a cheap and useful party favor!

5) Allow a little time for everyone to show up and display their clothes before the shopping frenzy begins. Have that buddy get guests settled in with beverages while people sort their offerings. It feels more fair and organized if everyone starts “shopping” at the same time… and talking about clothes is a great ice-breaker!

6) Give your guests options. Some of the people you’ve invited will probably feel comfortable stripping their clothes off in a bedroom around other women, but some may not. Make sure a bathroom or closet is readily available for anyone seeking a bit more privacy.

If you have a door-size mirror or one that’s not full length, setting it on a chair or ottoman leaned against the wall will make it easier for guests to assess clothes. I put one in the bedroom and another in a hall near the door where there was good natural light.

The party was a lot of fun and we all scored some cute new (to us) clothes. When I wore this little number I sent the above selfie to the friend I thought had brought it saying “Thanks for the cute shirt!”

She wrote back saying “Thanks, but that one wasn’t mine.” Oops! Things get a little crazy in the heat of free shopping- haha!

By the way, I just realized that I still have the scarf I had tied in my hair in that picture with the green suit. I just wore it the other day! Did I mention I sometimes have trouble getting rid of stuff?