Clothing Swap Hysteria

Alot of people ask me why I wanted to start clothing swap events. Truth is, I have been swapping for years! Between friends and family, we are always bouncing clothes back and forth between each other; borrowing from each other, giving and then asking for it back! (Oh is that just me that gives something away to someone I know and then falls in love with it again after I see them wearing it?!!)

After becoming a stylist I found that almost all women have the “I still love this and I feel bad just giving it away to a generic charity, but I keep holding onto it and never wearing it” dilemma. A big part of what I do during clients closet analysis’s is help them determine what to edit out of their wardrobes- what pieces should be replaced, let go of because they are outdated, or no longer fit their lifestyles or body types. Perhaps they got a new office job and now they have 30 pairs of jeans that they never have a need to wear anymore. Or maybe they are entering their upper 20’s and 30’s, yet still have clothes from college in their wardrobes. All us can relate, clothes that are almost still new, in great condition that you hold onto because nothing appears to be wrong with them, but really they are doing you no good and taking up space. Each time I would work with a client and see their donate or consign pile it would remind me of another client I had that would love these clothes and really benefit from them. If only these clients weren’t strangers, but friends or neighbors so they could pass on each others (now referred to as) swappables…

Fast forward a year and I hear of two incredible women who came together to start the Swapaholics. They hold major swap events that bring in up to 450 swappers! The Swapaholics really helped to introduce swapping hysteria to the Massachusetts market and make it a little bit more mainstream. I was blown away! Wow people really are into this swap movement! I would love to be able to bring all of my family, friends and clients together and have one big swapping party. I know they would all love it, and I know they would all benefit because I know all of their styles! Added it to the “to-do” list….

A few months later after working with one of my fabulous regular clients, she emailed me with an idea. After studying her “edit” pile that we had pulled from her wardrobe she wondered if any of my other clients would like any of those items. She suggested I do some sort of clothing swap for all my clients who feel guilty just giving things away to people and charities they don’t know. That was the last straw; the last push I really needed to get my own swap events going…so I did!

My vision was for an intimate crowd of women to get dressed up, come out and enjoy cocktails, networking and talking fashion with new found friends. I wanted to set up a swap boutique with the swap items, where garments were actually merchandised in an appealing fashion. Rather than digging through bins of clothes in a frantic rush, I wanted swappers to be able to browse the selections and choose pieces that they truly loved, as if they really were in a retail shop. I envisioned women truly swapping style, “what do you think of this on me?”, “how would I wear this?”, “can I pair this with this?”, and me there assisting and giving advice…and all of that is exactly what happened! It is truly so rewarding to see someone pick up a garment that you’ve donated and completely fall in love with it! It confirms that you initially made a god investment when you purchased it, and even though its time is up with you, you can still give it a loving home! I am of course supportive of all charities, and the convenient bins left in parking lots to make donating super convenient. But there is just something about actually being able to put a face and a personality with someone you have truly and fashionably helped out! And all leftover clothing is then donated to Rosies Place, Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Seeing my vision actually come to life and expanding into another branch of helping women style themselves and shop has been overwhelmingly rewarding and exciting. Join Trust in Tricia for the next Style Swap to experience it all for yourself!

Ways to Swap:

*Trust in Tricia’s Style Swaps out and about town each season.

* Trust in Tricia also holds ladies night in house swap parties for smaller groups of you and your friends

For more pictures from Style Swap events visit the webpage or facebook page