Clothing swaps are a great way to spend an afternoon with friends and enhance your wardrobe at the same time.
I’ve heard these parties also referred to as “naked lady parties”, but men can play along, too. I’ve attended swaps that were just for the ladies and swaps that were co-ed. Do what works for you and your group of friends.
Swapping is easy and eco-friendly
How to host a clothing swap:
- Find a venue– If you’re hosting a small event for friends or family, the living room is fine. If you want to make it bigger, church basements or community rec centers are usually an option.
- Decide who to invite– Do you want it to be all women or co-ed? Close friends or a big group? Will your party have a theme like a prom dress swap or a mother/daughter swap?
- Send out the invites– Give people ample notice before the swap. You’ll want them to have the time to gather up their items.
- Set the ground rules for what can be traded– Decide what you want people to bring. Everything should be clean and in good condition. You might want to nix donations of used undergarments & swimsuits, for example.
- Gather supplies– You’ll want some type of bags for people to take the clothes home, sharpie markers & masking tape for making labels, and a full length mirror if possible. To make the event more festive and party-like, you may want to put out some light snacks in a separate room from where the actual swap is happening.
- Collect clothing– Ask people to drop off their donations a few days in advance so you have time to set up and organize. People will probably still bring some items on the day of the event but if you can do a bit of the organizing beforehand that will cut down on some of the chaos.
- Get your swap on! Sort clothes into groups based on type– a separate heap for shirts, t-shirts, pants, sweaters, jackets, etc.
- Donate any leftovers– When the trading is over take the leftovers to Goodwill or the charity of your choice. Always good to have a couple of volunteers on hand to assist as the job can be overwhelming for one person.
Final thought– a clothing swap is an easy way to enhance your wardrobe without spending a dime. Photo attached shows me wearing a $5 Jean jacket!
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