Posh Swaps Blog

Most people will probably admit to enjoying spending money but it is not the only way to have fun. In fact there are so many ways of having fun that do not involve spending money. Those who find themselves spending money to feel happy are likely to spend more than they have and end up in debt. The happiness caused by spending money is an empty sort of happiness and not really very fulfilling.

There are so many fulfilling ways to enjoy yourself without spending money. Spending time with family and friends is one of the best things in life. Having a chat over a cup of tea costs next to nothing and is likely to give you an instantly happy feeling (depending on who you are chatting with). A clothes swapping party with friends is a great way to refresh your wardrobe for free. You get just as much of a buzz from swapping something lovely that looks great on you if not more because you have no credit card to pay off afterwards.

The recession has caused so many people to rediscover the simple things in life and reconsider their consumerism due to lack of money. Perhaps some people will find that by spending less money, they can afford to work less hours, spend more time with the people that they love and lead a less stressful life.

If you fancy going along to a swishing or clothes swapping party, here are just a few of those going on over the UK in July

POLAR FORD SWISHING PARTY

08 Jul 2009 19:00

Venue: POLAR FORD NEW CAR SHOWROOM

Ladies,Bring your clothes, jewellery, handbags and shoes and exchange the same amount for the same again! Nibbles and wine will be served and proceeds will to Help The Aged Charity. £5.00 entry fee

Email: maureen.mcevoy@polar-motor.co.uk

Come SWishing

08 Jul 2009 20:00

Venue: Harrison’s Bar, 15 - 17 Bedford Hill, Balham, SW12

Come SWishing!

SWish is back on 8th July at Harrison’s Bar, 15 - 19 Bedford Hill…and this time we’re upping our game! This SWish is all about those lovely items that you fell massively in love with…but just haven’t worn since, ooh, we last had a decent summer!

Step 1: Bring along 5 items of clean, stylish summer clothing, shoes or accessories that you no longer wear but you think another woman would love. Serioulsy…respect your fellow SWishers and bring along some fabulous gear!

Step 2: We get the items ready for you whilst you have a drink and wait for browsing time to begin…then the swapping starts!

Step 3: We SWish in rounds and raffle items that more than one person wants to claim

Balham Bou wowed us at the last SWish with the most amazing dress, which went to a lucky lass who had a wedding that very weekend…result!

Please bring your items at 8pm, the SWishing will begin at 8.30 pm. Entry is £5 on the door.

For more details and to book your place email jo at comeswishing@yahoo.co.uk

Clothes Swap for FUN

11 Jul 2009 11:30

Venue: The Royal School, 65 Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead

*BRING - good quality items you no longer love and SWAP - for items you will adore forever*

Look good on the outside and feel great on the inside knowing that you have supported FUN, a charity that has been helping disadvantaged children in London for over 25 years.

Advanced entry donation £5, on the door £6.
To book: email amy@friendsunitednetwork.org.uk or
call: 0207450900

On the day: sale of fantastic high-street designer clothing, cakes, refreshments and raffle.

Email: amy@friendsunitednetwork.org.uk

Clothes Swap Party

11 Jul 2009 19:30

Venue: The Nightjar, Mead Vale, Weston super Mare

This is our first swishing event, and we’re hoping it will go with a swing! If anyone in the area would like to donate clothes rails, or can offer to help with organising swishers on the night, please email.

Email: partridgebazaar@tiscali.co.uk

Swansea Summer Swish

17 Jul 2009 17:30

Venue: St. Phillips Community Hall, Bathurst Street, Swansea,

Need something new for the Summer but feeling the pinch of the credit crunch? Is your wardrobe bulging with clothes that you don’t wear and want to see go to a good home? Looking good doesn’t have to cost the earth!

Come to the second Swishing party hosted by SCRAP, as part of Swansea’s ‘Wise up to Waste Week’, for your chance to make your unwanted items another person’s treasure and take home some new delights for your own collection.

Attendees must bring at least one item of clothing, jewellery, shoes or accessories. You will be able to take home as many items as you can get your hands on. But remember, This isn’t an excuse for you to dump your ripped, stained, unwearable clothes but an opportunity to really clear out your wardrobe of all those things that don’t quite suit you or no longer fit and exchange them for something that you will truely value.

The evening will go as follows:

5pm - 6.00 Guests arrive and place their items on the appropriate rails/tables

6.00 - 6.30 Time to browse through and try the items on (but no claiming until the Swish begins)

7.00 - 7.30 The Big Swish begins, run for your favourite item (with dignity & respect please. Remember ladies, no scratching, spitting or snatching)

Please bring your clothes on hangers and lots of your friend to join in with the fun.

Entry is just £4 and all guests will be treated to a glass of wine and other refreshments. All proceeds will be donated to the Environment Centre and any items left over will be evenlyu donated to the MOre Green Project & RSPCA Llys-Nini.

We look forward to seeing you there. For more information or to volunteer to help out please e-mail.

Email: info@scrap-partnership.org.uk

Swish North East

23 Jul 2009 18:00

Venue: Thistle Hotel, Fry Street, Middlesbrough

have the ultimate girls night out in Middlesbrough, chance to go out with friends and family and get a new outfit into the bargain. Not only loads of clothes, shoes and accessories to pick from but a wide range of local retailers including hairdressers, Style and Colour Consultants, Massage, nails, shoes, bags etc etc.

Email: pauline.osborne2@ntlworld.com

If you haven’t yet joined in with the frugal, environmentally friendly and highly addictive (in a good way) trend for clothes swapping. What is to stop you? With parties for those who like social shopping and clothes swap websites for those who prefer to browse online, there is something for everyone. Here are 10 great reason to get swapping:

1. You can ensure that you have a balanced wardrobe with the right amount of different types of clothes to suit your lifestyle.

2. You can ensure that you have a wardrobe full of clothes that you really love.

3. You never need to get bored with your clothes, you can swap them as often as you like.

4. You can try out new looks that you never would have tried before.

5. You can help to reduce the amount of clothes and textiles going into landfill each year by recycling or swapping your clothes.

6. You can reduce environmental impact associated with the manufacture of new clothes by swapping instead of buying new clothes.

7. What better excuse for a spot of socialising than a clothes swap or swishing party.

8. You can save yourself lots if money by swapping instead of buying new.

9. You can feel happy that the expensive suit you bought last year for a wedding will get loved by someone as much as you loved it.

10.  You can avoid getting a cluttered and over crowded wardrobe by always removing an item before replacing with something new.

We have already established that clothes swapping is a great idea because it is environmentally friendly, frugal and fun, we have also discussed how to arrange a clothes swap. If you have already had a go at clothes swapping and enjoyed it, here are some ideas for clothes swaps with a difference.

1. A children/ baby clothes swap - this is a great way to recycle childrens clothes as they grow out of them. As baby clothes are only worn for a short amount of time they are often in really good condition. If you arrange a ticket system where everyone brings a bag of clothes and gets a number of tickets in return, it will allow people to swap clothes for the right size for their children.

2. A clothes swap and customising competition - not only can you get some new clothes but you could also get a completely unique and individual outfit that no one else has. You can ask frinds to bring along a sewing kit and any old buttons, trims, beads etc that they have. Once you have swapped, you can then spend the evening embellishing your clothes over a glass of wine or two. At the end, you can show off the clothes in a fashion show and award a small prize to the best creation.

3. Vintage clothes swap - If you and your friends love vintage clothes, why not arrange a vintage clothes swapping party. This is a great way to refresh your wardrobes.

4. Themed Clothes Swaps - for a bit of fun why not arrange a themed clothes swap. Perhaps try a flowers theme or  choose a particular colour which everyone should bring clothes in. In the run up to christmas, you could arrange a sparkly clothes swap with sparkly or evening clothes.

5. Accessories swap - you could arrange an accesories swap for accessories in general or for one particular type of accessories such as shoes, hand bags or jewellery.

Let us know your fun ideas for clothes swapping.

11 Jun 2009 06:30

Venue: INC space, Holborn WC2

Launching our new Daisy bra and modelled by Amazon, Galdiator from SKY TV, our swishing evening will kick off at 6.30. As well as the swish, it will feature an ethical styling demonstration by Lupe Castro, music from top green band, The Phoenix Rose, burlesque dancing and shopping opportunities from ethical fashion brands including Bochica, Makepiece, Bourgeois Boheme, and natural beauty company, Green People.

Advanced tickets are £10.00 availble from nicola@daisygreenmagazine.co.uk

09 Jun 2009 17:30

Venue: Borough Bar, 10-19 London Bridge Street, SE1 9SG

Buy a ticket for the London Frock Exchange and be in with a chance of winning an LK Bennett handbag, a magnum of champagne and more! Tickets are just £10 and include a glass of bubbly on arrival. Buy yours today at www.londonfrockexchange.org.uk.

Confirmed: Pat McNulty and Kat Webster from InStyle.co.uk will be at the London Frock Exchange giving fashion advice and helping you put your new outfits together!

The London Frock Exchange is in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society

05 Jun 2009 19:00

Venue: Charing Cross Hotel, London

“Shoe Spectacular” is a party for all those women who just love shoes. There is an accessories swap (swap up to 5 of your unwanted items), a mini fashion show, live music, shoe artists exhibitors, shopping opportunities and beauticians onsite. All guests will receive a goody bag.
Tickets are on sale for £8 (advance). To buy tickets or find out more, please visit http://www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk/

Email: theresa@lagenevenorth.co.uk

02 Jun 2009 20:00

Venue: Pink Bar, 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane

The East London Craft Guerrilla are back in the Pink Bar at 93 Feet East holding the second of their monthly clothes swap on Tuesday 2nd June. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, fling open your drawers and bring all those clothes, shoes and accessories that you don’t wear anymore (although please make sure they’re clean and in good condition) and swap them for new ones! The Craft Guerrilla tutors will be available to help you pimp your new clothes with vintage buttons and other trimmings.

As with all our DIY Craft Nights, please feel free to bring your own projects. Foxed by a knitting pattern? Got your garter tangled with your stocking stitches? Running stitch run away with you? Want to learn how to darn / knit / crochet? Ask our tutors to help you out!

£5 cover charge if you’re taking part in the clothes swap or free entry if you’re bringing your own projects.

Please get there with your clothes by 8PM as the first hour will be spent hanging them up and eyeing up your potential swaps. Please bring at least one item to swap per person with a maximum of five items in total. The amount you bring is the amount you can take home.

Craft Guerrilla DJs: Masonic Boom / Anna / Dawn Chorus / Handsome Twins will provide some crafty beats while you knit, sew and pose in your new clothes.

For more information and to download the flyer click the image below or visit the events page at www.craftguerrilla.com.

Clothes swapping is the latest craze hit the UK. It first became popular in the US, where groups of friends joined together to swap clothes and accessories that they no longer wanted. Clothes swapping events have now become big news with both large and small scale events being organised all over the UK.

Clothes swapping is probably the ultimate guilt free alternative to shopping. It helps to reduce waste and the environmental impact of manufacturing new clothes. Clothes swapping comes at a time when consumers are becoming more aware of the ethical and environmental credentials of their fashion. People are also keen to recycle and reuse in an attempt to reduce consumerism and its damaging effect on the planet.

Clothes swapping parties have also become really popular as they are a great way to get some new clothes, catch up with friends and have fun. Sustainable Communications consultancy  Futterra Communications have given clothes swapping parties the name ’swishing’, after the sound made by silk. Their website www.swishing.org gives loads of information on how to hold a swishing parties and even has invitations to download.

Basically, it is quite simple to organise a clothes swap. Invite your friends along. Each should bring one lovely piece of clothing that they no longer want and would like to swap. The clothing should be in great condition and something that someone else  would love to have.

At the beginning of the clothing swap, all the clothes should be laid out for everyone to browse and the rules explained. This is also a good time to serve drinks and nibbles and for everyone to have a chat. You can then count down to the beginning of the swap. Once the swap begins, everyone can grab which ever pieces of clothing they want.

Futerra suggests a very simple set of rules:

• When the swish opens, whatever people take is theirs
• Everybody must bring at least one item but can leave with as many as they like
• No one can claim items before the Opening of the Swish

You could try adding a bit more interest to your swap by adding a sewing machine for an crafty friends to alter or customise clothes- a great way to get some unique and individual clothes.

You could also try swapping your clothes online at www.posh-swaps

picture of Rag&Beau clothes swap, 23/04/09 from www.swishing.org

A little message from La Luminata

Come and see me discuss eco fashion at on behalf of ‘Brighton Frocks’ at The Clarence Suite of the Brighton Hilton Metropole about my ethos of ‘Forever Fashion’.

This will take place on the 24th May as part of the Brighton Festival. Because we all need to have fun too, I am also organising a fashion swapping party for this event so let me know if you’d like to come!