MAKE IT CUTE

A clothing swap is an awesome way to ditch your old duds for new-to-you rags that you can rock around school, on the weekends and to those fab holiday parties you’re invited to.

Choosing your crew

This is a great chance for friends from your old school, your travel soccer team and your neighborhood to get to know each other. Plus, when you gather a group of far-flung gals, no one will have seen the clothes you walk away with on that girl a few lockers down.

Awesome invites

Grab some cardstock, scrap fabric (or a ragged t-shirt), hot glue, fabric pens or paint and a pair of scissors. Cut small hanger shapes out of the cardstock and t-shirt shapes out the scrap fabric. Use the fabric pens to write the essential swap info on the mini-tee and then hot glue it to the hanger. Add glitter, faux rhinestones, feathers—whatever you like!

Getting ready

Not everyone is keen on changing in an open room—and sometimes the element of surprise is a must—so set up some changing areas. Tidy up bathrooms and walk-in closets, and ask your parents and your sibs if you can take over their bedrooms for the afternoon, too. Don’t forget to show your guests all the options!

Arrange the offerings

Ask your girls to bring over whatever they’ve outgrown or just don’t wear anymore. Before the party gets underway, lay out everything—use the couches, beds, whatever you like. Organize by type—shirts in one place, skirts in another.

Decide on the rules

There are a few ways to hold a clothing swap, but no matter how you decide to do it, you must set some ground rules. Decide if it will be a free-for-all—one girl could take home lots of things and another very few—or if you’ll barter—as in, I’ll give you this top for that dress.

Work up an appetite

Every good get-together needs some tasty snacks. For a clothing swap, ditch the messy foods—like cheese puffs and chocolates—for neater nibbles (think pretzels and trail mix).

Strike a pose

What’s a clothing swap without a fashion show? Dedicate a long hallway or staircase to a parade finale so that you and your buds can show off your newly acquired apparel.

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016