February 6th, 2009
Clothes swap parties are great, but unless there are items in your size and to your liking, you will come home empty handed. Ideally you need to find a person or group of people with a compatible style and size (or size they used to be). The forum members found just that and in the spirit of saving money and the environment by repurposing current wardrobe orphans, they started successfully swapping clothes, footwear, handbags and accessories with each other for free.
It all started when forum member Tanya received a pair of jeans in the wrong rinse and offered to send them to forum member Maya. Maya ended up paying Tanya for this particular swap because the jeans were brand new. But the incident sparked a recycling trend in the forum that is gathering momentum.
Our YLF gathering in Manhattan was no exception. Here are some of the swaps we did:
- Tanya had several ill-fitting blouses that she brought for Maya.
- Maya brought Swann Flats for me because they were too large and fell off her feet when she walked. I’ve been trying to triplicate these but my size was sold out, so I really scored.
- Laura brought a jacket for Tanya (it was too tight on her) and a coral sweater for Maya. She also brought me a pretty black skirt that will fit well when I’ve had it altered at the side seams.
- I brought Tanya a scarf that worked better with her skin tone than mine. I brought Maya a vegan yellow sling bag and my first white watch. I also passed along a funky necklace to Laura because I’m a pearl gal at heart.
It was a stylish, cost saving and win-win situation for all. Not to mention fabulous fun. Laura wore her “new” necklace that evening and on the plane back home (I love it). Tanya sported her scarf next work day. Maya instantly used her yellow tote and wore her white watch on the way out of the restaurant. It’ll be a while before I can go sockless and wear ballet flats, but I’ve been prancing around in my new peds at home.
Give clothes swapping a try with friends and family. Alternatively, post your items on the forum and it won’t be long before you’ll have takers and receive treasures in return.
Swapping in Manhattan. Sign up to the forum today to start participating in the fun online.
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21 Replies
Posted on Friday, February 6th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Is there no end to the fun you had at the NYC gathering? 
You all scored beautiful items.
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 8:35 am
What fun! Looks like everyone came away with some beautiful items. Your gathering also illustrates how, when maybe people have different clothing sizes or tastes, an accessory swap could work really well.
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Spot on, Rosie. It actually just occurred to me that the pictures show accessories, and not clothing. Swapping is brilliant from that point of view too.
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 9:38 am
What fun! Looks like you all really scored.
For Seattle YLF fans, we’re hosting a swap on Feb 21. See here for more info:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-on-feb-21
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 9:52 am
This was so much fun indeed! I love the scarf i got from Angie and I already wore the black jacket I got from Laura. Plus, I was so happy to find a home for my unworn yet practically new tops. The swap is such a great thing – everyone wins!
I wish I could come to Seattle …
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I am co-hosting a swap party for my gal pals in the East Bay (California) this weekend. I had a preliminary event last month and I scored a beautiful pair of silver earrings and handbag. I send invitation by Evite (which is a great way to know who is coming) and we list our sizes and items that we are looking for on the invitation as well. There is a minimal charge from each participant ($5) as we provide table to “display” their items, hangers, a “fitting room” with full length mirror and light refreshments. For those items that aren’t swapped and can be donated, I volunteer to take to local women’s shelter..and putting this together does take work!
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Next time you gals get together in NYC please let me know!! I would love to meet up for fun times like this!
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Me too Tanya 
Maybe you and the other Boston YLFabbers should have a swap. I think I would definitely get myself on a bus for that, hehe.
I do love the swap items I received though. I wear Angie’s watch every day, and I just wore the red buttondown shirt Tanya gave me with my teal BR cardigan yesterday. I want to wear the R&S jeans so badly but it just keeps snowing so all I can wear are my skinnies! Grr.
Tomorrow I’ll be bringing all of my swap items to the post office in Angie’s yellow tote to mail off.
Angie, did you manage to get your hands on some Goo Gone yet? I’m sorry to put you through the trouble. I know a bit of the shoe came off with the heel grips as well I can’t believe how sticky those things are!
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
It’s such fun to find a new home for items you haven’t worn in a while – and it seems so appropriate to swap rather than buy in this economy.
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Clothes swapping is not something I have thought of before, but it looks like a lot of fun! And it makes a lot of sense now that people are trying harder to save money. Glad to hear that you all scored!
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Sounds like fun. I don’t know a lot of people that wear the same size as me, but an accessory swap sounds like a great way to find new homes for lots of my unused jewelry and find some new pieces.
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
This week’s posts have been such a treat to read. Tanya and Maya, you did an excellent job giving us your perspective. Angie, to you ever get out to the Heartland? I think I’ve noticed a few mentions of Kansas City and Omaha on the blog from members. That would be a dream come true even if shopping can’t compare with New York!
Posted on February 6th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
That is just awesome! It is such a great feeling to be part of this group of clever, thoughtful and resourceful women. I have to admit I was disappointed when my swap items were not successful. I am surprised there are not more size 10 people out there. But I now have some size 8’s and more tops from my closet sweep. I’ll need to start posting the nicer pieces on my swap thread.
Maya, I am trying to think who in Boston has similar sizes–but I can’t even think of two possibilities. It would have to be an accessory swap too.
Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Awesome! I’ve been wanting to host a clothing swap party for a while but was too busy to do it. Thanks for today’s blog and Antje’s post about the Seattle swap party, I finally sent out the invitation to my friends. It would be fun!
Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I’m going to a clothing swap this weekend and I’m so excited. I hosted one a few months ago and we all had a blast. I also came home with a bunch of great stuff. Granted, I did take some things that didn’t quite work but I’m taking those pieces tomorrow for someone else to try! I think they’ll find a great home. (My last clothing swap was pre-ylf. I’m hoping I do I have a more discerning eye for things that work for me this time around.) It’s also been so much fun when I see my girlfriends and I’m wearing some of their stuff or vice versa. We say, “Oh, you look so great in my [insert item here].” Fun, fun, fun!
Posted on February 7th, 2009 at 10:26 am
[...] Clothes swapping can be frugal and fun | youlookfab [...]
Posted on February 8th, 2009 at 3:53 am
All of you look so pleased with your swap items! I think it’s a wonderful idea and I hope many more forum swaps and swap parties will take place.
And I hope we’ll get to see pictures soon of you guys sporting your new treasures!-)
And Maya, Tanya and Angie, thank you again for sharing your NY outing with us this week. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 4:10 am
Wow, what a great idea… Now I can find a home for all the wonderful pieces I couldn’t bear to part with, from the time I was a chunky 22 now I am a svelte 12. Sounds like you ladies had a wonderful time.
Posted on February 9th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
[...] an effort to repurpose and recycle our wardrobes, it gives me great pleasure to officially invite all youlookfabbers to our first official Seattle [...]
Posted on February 16th, 2009 at 8:23 am
[...] some of you have already experienced, clothes swapping can be frugal and fun. JuliJuli, Marianne and I put this to the test last Sunday when we hosted the first Seattle YLF [...]
Posted on February 24th, 2009 at 8:07 am
For those who have reservations about clothes swapping either because they are a bit shy or worried they won’t get a good swap, clothes swapping websites are a great idea. There is no need to swap unless you are completely happy with the item you are swapping for. Also great if you don’t have much time as you can swap from the comfort of you on home.
Posted on March 23rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
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