The Great Clothing Swap
THIS WEEKEND!
Saturday, February 2nd
4PM at the Pulse Studios
Admission: $5

Register today! (All pre-registrants are in a drawing for a year’s supply of treats from Cache Bake Shoppe!)

This is the perfect opportunity to kick off a night out with your girlfriends… shop for free, eat some munchies, sign up for thousands of dollars in door prizes, and go home with a smile on your face!  This is going to be a blast!!!

Here are some tips that may be helpful as you plan to join us:

Let’s start with a quick refresher of why a clothing swap is a super way to spend a couple hours of your time: it’s a great opportunity to update your wardrobe – for free! And at the same time, it’s the kick in the rear you need to do some editing in your closet, find the things you don’t wear anymore, and set them free to acquire a new life in someone else’s wardrobe.  How do you prepare?

What to bring:  

You should bring at least 3 and no more than 8 clothing items to swap.

• You can bring an unlimited amount of accessories, purses, shoes, scarves.
• All items must be clean and in good condition, and if possible hung on your own hangers.
• This is not an actual item-for-item ‘swap’ so it’s possible you could bring 5 items and go home with 1 – there are no guarantees.  
• Anything that is left over at the end of the swap will be donated to a local charity!
• Most importantly, you want to bring clothes that are clean and in good shape… no pilling, no tears, etc. As a rule of thumb, you don’t want to be embarrassed to claim ownership of the items you contribute.

What to wear: Of course you can come as you are. However, just like when going on a big shopping trip, it’s a good idea to “dress for changing,” which means wearing clothes that are easy to take off and put on, and that provide neutral backdrops for separates you try on. For example, jeans work well as a basic bottom, and a black or other neutral camisole can be super helpful for layering when trying on all kinds of tops and dresses.

How to pick and choose: Most swaps are organized as a “free for all,” where all the clothes that are contributed get displayed immediately and all participants can freely pick things to try on and take home (a typical — and very sensible — rule is that you don’t get to take home things you haven’t tried on.) You can’t be too shy and you do have to signal your interest in something by picking it up, trying it on pretty quickly, and setting it aside if you decide to take it. And if it doesn’t work out for you, just put it back right away so someone else can have a turn.

Focusing and filtering: When I see all the goodies displayed, I try and get a sense for what I want to look at and try on first. This is partially determined by what I’m most interested in (e.g., am I hoping to find a fun skirt, or a fancy top?) and partially by what’s available. For example, if my pants size doesn’t seem to be represented very well, I might either just forgo bottoms altogether, or try on the few that I see right away as they might not be available anymore after the first rush. And if you find that your size is just not well represented, then focus on shoes or accessories while everyone else is digging through clothes.

Taking advantage of the crowd: If you want it — ask for feedback! It can be super helpful to have so many other women around who can give honest feedback on how an item looks on you. However, don’t feel like you need to involve others in your decision making process. If you just want to try things on and settle on what to keep by yourself, you will be left in peace.

Trying something new: I think the biggest benefit of a clothes swap is that it lets you experiment with an item you might not have purchased in a store, but that somehow intrigues you and that you take home because it’s new and different and it’s completely free. Be open to this, and enjoy trying on a piece of clothing you might not be really sure about but that somehow draws you in. You might discover a whole new side of yourself and your style!

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email [email protected] or call the Pulse Studio at (515) 987-9995.  See you soon!