My girlfriends somewhat regularly gather for what are known as Clothes Swaps. All the ladies gather, usually involving a little food and drink, and bring all the clothes languishing at the back of their closets, or in the pile destined for the second-hand shop. All clothes are dumped in a mound in the middle of the room and it is a free for all! Grabbing, trading, trying on, passing, commenting, laughing, complimenting. It is a very good time. Sometimes it is chaos. But, always fun chaos.
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| Infinitely kind and beautiful Chelsey. |
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| The leftovers that no one wanted. (Proof that we all have too many clothes!) |
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| Genoa handing Steph something from the pile. |
The swaps are great for a variety of reasons. I enjoy spending time in the company of so many women all at once, something I don't have real often in my life. Everyone ends up with some swell new clothing. Clothing that needs a new home finds it. And best of all there is no money exchanged by anyone. It is quite literally a free for all. And whatever is leftover at the end is still sent to the thrift shop. It seems like a perfect cycle to me. Well, at least for people who haven't completely broken free from the periodic consumerist desire for new clothes.
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| Steph, Larry (Genoa's husband), Genoa, Jen, Me, and Chelsey. There were a number of others, but they must have left before I thought to take a group photo. |
This particular swap also made me feel that I've turned a corner in my desire for new clothes. I feel I have just about everything I need and want in my wardrobe and have become very particular when it comes to new additions. So, though I did leave the party with a large bag of clothes, nearly all of it was just white stuff to tie-dye (another perk of the swap for our home based tie-dye business: free clothes to dye and sell). I did score a plain, light colored denim dress (with pockets!) that I am currently pretty stoked about. I would like to wear dresses more (and skirts less), but only own three (all acquired for free). I'll build up a collection of free dresses yet...one swap at a time. Or you never know what could happen over the winter....maybe I will get crazy and make some for myself!
Awesome beth! This is cool, I will have to check out more stuff on this link!~Chelsey
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you were able to make it. Heck, I am glad I was able to make it as I've missed the last several! Any time I can see you though just makes the occasion all the sweeter. You are just so sunny and positive! I will see you again real soon!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea and you have fun doing it. Tick, Tick.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rhonda! I certainly cannot claim to have come up with the idea, but I sure do enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a ton of fun!! Sadly, my friends and I are all drastically different sizes. I'm petite (short, thin, small chest), and my closest friends are tall -- legs for days & big chests. So I'll stick to the store :-/
ReplyDeleteMaybe you and your friends could come up with a spin-off version. Like hats, gloves, purses, shoes, jewelery etc. I got an awesome hat at the last clothes swap. There had never been hats before. I was pretty excited.
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