Things You'll Need:
- Gently used clothing
- Group of friends
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Step 1
Rally the troops! Gauge people’s interest in a swap meet – which is essentially just an excuse for a big party! Attendees bring clothing or other items that are still in good condition but that have been outgrown or have gotten boring, and everyone gets the chance to shop their stuff for free. Everybody loves new clothes, but if you’re not getting enough positive reactions, just remind your friends that a swap meet is also a great reason to clean out their closets, and that they’re under no obligation to take anyone else’s items home with them.
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Step 2
Create an online invitation and send it out, so your party looks more official. You can create an online invite for free at Evite.com, or you can use social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to let people know when and where you’re having the party. You’ll save phone and printer costs by getting the word out online instead of texting, calling or snail mailing everyone.
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Step 3
Plan for a crowd! You’ll want a room that’s big enough for several people to be trying on clothes at the same time – if you just do one item at a time, your swap meet will take ALL DAY! If you think your friends might be embarrassed about trying clothes on in front of each other, curtain off a private space in the room and allow people to change in that area. Make the atmosphere more social by providing the drinks, snacks and music, or by asking attendees to bring something nibble-y to share.
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Step 4
When your guests arrive, if they haven’t already done so, ask them to separate the items they brought to swap into ‘clothing’ and ‘other items.’ Each guest will have the chance to hold up the clothing items they brought, describe them, and ask if there’s anyone who wants to try them on. ‘Other items,’ including makeup, jewelry, books, kitchenware, shoes, purses, DVDs, etc. can all be placed in a communal pile to be looked at by everyone after the clothing has been swapped.
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Step 5
Once your guests are settled, make any introductions and remind everyone that clothing sizes vary widely depending on their designer…a Mossimo size 10 may be a Miu Miu size 14, which may be a Banana Republic size 12 or an Old Navy size 8. If someone likes an item and wants to try it on, be encouraging and tell them to go for it!
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Step 6
After your guests have gone, organize any leftover items into boxes to be donated. Make sure all items donated are in good, sell-able condition.
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Step 7
Gloat over your new free stuff, throw a fashion show for your family, and enjoy your new wardrobe!
