Posh Swaps Blog

Christmas can be an expensive time of year so today we have put together a list of some of the best offers and discounts out there to give you a little helping hand with your Christmas preparations. These offers won’t last for long so if you like them, don’t delay and use today!

25% off Per Una, Classic and Kidswear at Marks and Spencers

20% off everything at Urban Outfitters today with discount code JINGLE

30% Off Party Wear at Monsoon

30% off all Coats, Boots, hats, gloves and scarves at Debenhams

30% off at La Redoute with code 8346 

10% off plus free delivery at Boden with discount code AF02.

My Wardrobe

20% off accessories with code NOVACC2 

20% off womens dresses with code NOVDRESS2 

20% off coats and jackets with code NOVOUT2 

20% off mens footwear, coats and jackets with code NOVMEN2 

25% off all full price items at Coast with code novtreat

Up to 50% off at Simply Be

Enjoy!

Image - Rafe dress at Monsoon

9th January is the  first ever International Day of Swishing as announced by Futerra Communications, a UK sustainability communications agency on swishing.org. ‘Swishing’ is the term coined by Futerra Communications to describe clothes swap parties a phenomena that has become hugely popular all over the world. The dictionary definition of swishing is ‘to rustle as silk’ but the futerra definition is ‘to rustle clothes from friends’.

2010 looks likely to be a year where swishing will increase in popularity. It is a greay way to refresh your wardrobe without racking up debt on your credit card. It is also a great sustainable alternative to shopping, reducing the textile waste in landfill and the environmental impact of clothing manufacture.

To celebrate they will be throwing an eco-fabulous ‘Red Carpet Swish’ at London’s Swanky Andaz Hotel in Liverpool Street, London. At Posh Swaps, we will be celebrating the International Day of Swishing by hosting our own online swap party or swish. There is no exclusive guest list everyone is welcome to list and swap as many clothes as they like for free. We will also be inviting our favourite Fashion Bloggers to come along and join in the swap.

We thought we would put together some ideas on how to be thrifty and do some good for the environment. Here are our fifteen best ideas on how to look stylish, save money and even make a bit of money.

1. Of course clothes swapping is at number one. Apart from being great fun, it also doesn’t cost any money and is a great way to reduce waste.

2. Selling your old clothes, just like clothes swapping this is a great way to reduce waste and make money from something that you no longer want.

3. Buying second hand clothes. So much cheaper than new clothes, you get a lot more quality for your money by buying second hand clothes.

4. Selling refashioned or customised clothes. This is another one of our favourites, why not make old clothes into something unique and more valuable. If you are clever enough, you will be able to sell them for more than the original piece of clothing.

5. Accessorise - the cheapest way to get a new look is to accessorise some clothes that you already have. It is not about what you wear, more how you wear it.

6. Borrow clothes - if you have  one off event to go to and you need something specific to wear, why buy something new if you can borrow off a friend. Remember to always return borrowed clothes in immaculate condition.

7. Buy quality clothes that will last. If you buy quality clothes they will wash better and last longer. They don’t neccesarily cost much more than poor quality clothes.

8. Develop your own individual sense of style - you will be less dependant on following trends and so your clothes will last longer.

9. Look after you clothes - the better they are looked after, the longer they will last. Don’t let the moths get to your cashmere, your clothes lose their shape by being hung on the wrong hanger. Always follow the instructions on the label.

10. Mend your clothes - instead of throwing your clothes away if they get damaged try mending them. If they are irrepairable, you can recycle them by making them into something else.

11. Shop in the sales- look for classic clothes that will not be out of fashion next year and you could find some great bargains at a fraction of their original prices.

12. Compare prices - if you are looking for a specific item of clothing, shop around a bit. You may be able to find it somewhere else a bit cheaper.

13. Use shopping discount vouchers - there are plenty of websites with discount vouchers that will give you the opportunity for some money off.

14. Plan carefully. If you are going shopping, think beforehand about what you really need, set yourself a budget and stick to it. Thinking in advance will help to avoid those impulse buys that turn out to be a big mistake.

15. Watch out for extras associated with going shopping, like car park charges and delivery fees. If you are only buying something small these can add on a large percentage to your shop. Try shopping less often so you don’t pay out too many unnecessary charges.

picture from www.treehugger.com

The cost of eco fashion has always been something that has concerned me a bit and put me off buying organic or other eco fashion. But since the credit crunch, I have started to think about the whole fashion / Eco / frugality thing in a new light. It has dawned on me that not only is it possible to be eco concious and frugal at the same time but the two actually go hand in hand.

I read an interesting post the other day about low cost fashion and whether it is possible to produce low cost clothes ethically. I think it is difficult and clothes produced with little regard for ethical issues are often also produced with little regard for the environment. But whilst these clothes at first sight might seem like a frugal buy, in the long run they are not. I usually find that they don’t look that great and so they don’t get worn much, to me  they look like cheap clothes. Perhaps it is an age thing and fast fashion that would have been fine in my teens is a lot less forgiving now.

For me cheap badly made clothes look just that cheap and badly made. To buy them is a false economy and I would much rather save up and buy something that is well made. If I do get fed up with it I can be frugal and eco friendly by selling it second hand or swapping it. 

Buying second hand clothes is the perfect solution to both Eco and frugal fashion. Quality second hand clothes are cheaper than their new counterparts and help to reduce waste, landfill, pollution and carbon footprint associated with the manufacture of clothes.

The launch of Posh-Swaps.com is now only weeks away. The official launch date is 2nd of April but for very keen swappers it may well be available a few weeks before.

Posh Swaps will be a place to swap, buy and sell second hand, vintage and restyled, recycled clothes, accessories and shoes for men, women and children. It will be completely free to register, swap, buy and sell (the only charge will be a standard paypal fee).

We are really excited about this opportunity to promote sustainable style through second hand clothing and help to reduce landfill, the carbon footprint associated with clothing manufacture and the pollution and impacts of harmful chemicals used in the cultivation and manufacture of textiles.

We also hope that this site will be a great resource for the recessionista who wants to look stylish on a budget and for those looking to develop their own unique and individual style. An easy and convenient alternative to swishing.

Do you always find yourself reverting to the same types of clothing? Do you find it difficult to wear something different? Do you feel bored with your look but don’t have the confidence of budget to change it?

Well now is your chance. Have a good clear out of your wardrobe. Work out which of your clothes don’t do you any favours and also which clothes you haven’t worn for  a year. All of these clothes can be either swapped or sold. High street shops tend to stock lots of similar styles of clothes and tend to only follow the fashion for that season. By looking for second hand clothes, you will find a much greater variety of styles, making it easier to find something that looks amazing and that you really love.

When swapping clothes, you can afford take a few more risks than you normally might as you aren’t actually spending any money. Try going for a completely different look or if you are not that brave just try changing a small part of your look to start with. Perhaps some gorgeous accessories to brighten things up or a fabulous top that you can wear with your jeans. Try layering different items of clothing, mixing patterns and clashing colours, contrasting different styles and playing with different proportions. If you don’t feel one hundred percent comfortable wearing a skirt, start off by wearing a skirt over leggings or  a mini dress with trousers.

Just remember that variety is the spice of life so have fun!