30 Apr 2009 18:00
Venue: The Glyn Clydach Hotel, Neath
This swish is to raise funds for Chloe’s World - an organisation set up to raise money for equipment and adaptations for a local 10 year old girl. Chloe is a beautiful little girl despite being blind, have learning and physical disabilities, and complex health needs she is a very happy, and brings joy to everyone around her
Email: sal3legs@hotmail.co.uk
25 Apr 2009 20:00
Venue: Greenmount, Bury, Lancashire
Want something new to wear without breaking the bank? Then come swishing with Bury & Rossendale NCT. Entry by ticket only - £3.
Every lady must bring along at least two good quality clean items of clothing or accessories (no underwear!) that she would be proud to hand on. Maternity clothes very welcome.
Tel: 0844 2436067 for tickets
5p per minute from a BT line
All proceeds to Bury & Rossendale NCT, The National Childbirth Trust, Registered Charity No 801395.
23 Apr 2009 19:00
Venue: Cartwright Hotel, 1-5 Croughton Road, Aynho, Nr Banbury, Oxon
This is a credit busting way of getting your children a new wardrobe. Enjoy a night out with the girls, a glass of wine, nibbles and some swishing fun.
Entry fee is £10. Please bring a minimum of 3 items of childrens clothes and/or accessories and a maximum of 10 items.
Clothes to be delivered between 7.00-7.30pm, browsing to start at 7.30pm and swishing begins at 8.30pm.
Clothes accepted from 0-10yrs. Please bring clothes you are proud to pass on, that are clean and presented on a hanger.
Email: swish-kids@live.com
If you are desparate to get swapping and can’t wait until the launch of Posh Swaps on 20th April, then why not pop along to a great big clothes swap or swishing event organised by UK Aware at the London Olympia Two on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April.
If there are any clothes left over at the end of the event they will be donated to trade.org.uk, a charity working to protect the environment and fight global poverty through its clothes recycling, educational and campaigning activities in the UK.
The swap is likely to be the biggest ever Swish in the UK with over 10,000 visitors. There will be a variety of green and ethical exhibitors at the event including Greenpeace, the Soil Association, the Recycle Warehouse and Pants to Poverty.
Lupe Castro, ethical stylist will also be there styling models with clothes from the swap.
There are many good things about being short or petite. One being that you don’t have to duck your head as you walk through doorways (I should know, I am only 5ft 2). There are equally some disadvantages when looking for clothes that suit or fit you. There are some very good petite ranges in certain shops but sometimes you don’t want to just buy from these ranges and need to look for key items of clothing that will look great on you. You will need to look for clothes that elongate your body and legs and avoid anything that creates horizontal lines that will make you look shorter. Generally fitted clothes will look best on petites.
Try swapping
Oversized clothes
large patterns
high waisted trousers
cropped trousers
mid calf length dresses or skirts
Very tight fitting trousers
for
Fitted clothes
small patterns or plain clothes
floor skimming wide legged trousers or flares
dresses tunics to wear with trousers
empire line dresses
three quarter length or long line jackets and coats
just below knee skirts and dresses
We at Posh Swaps are convinced that swapping is the new shopping. People are starting to realise the benefits of swapping clothes in terms of saving money, minimising environmental impact, having fun and finding a great new look. Press coverage and articles about second hand clothing, swishing and clothes swapping have helped to spread the word. Here is some of the most recent press coverage;
April 2009 - UK Aware the UK’s biggest ever swish?
March 2009 - BBC Radio 4 - why clothes swapping parties are gaining in popularity
February 2009 - Reuters - Fashionistas: Swap ’til you drop at a “swishing do”
February 2009 - Daisy Green - to swish or not to swish
December 2008 - CNN - London Women Swish for their fashions
November 2008 - GMTV - Swishing with Mark
October 2008 - Sky News - swish swapping is new shopping
September 2008 - The Daily Mail - recycle your way to a ’swish new wardrobe’
August 2008 - BBC - For women who love to swap
Here are a few tips on how to become a top swapper by swapping your second hand and vintage clothes online. A top swapper will get great swaps and also a great feedback score helping them to get even more great swaps.
1. Always be truthful and give as much information about the item that you would like to swap as possible. Be honest about any damage as well as giving information on material, washing instructions, the make and measurements where relevant.
2. If you are looking for specific items in exchange make sure that you list them on your wish list. If you do not have specific requirements give details on any preferences that you may have including your style, colours that suit you and designers that you love.
3. Always ask lots of questions before you swap to make sure that the item is exactly what you are looking for.
4. Get your item to be swapped found on the search engines. Make sure you enter a specific title for your item. For example instead of black dress, try black mini sixties cocktail dress. Also try and write at least 200 words in the description, the more you write, the more likely your item will be to show up on the search engine. Also fill in as many of the category details as possible ie size, designer, style, material. You can mention these details again in the description if you like
5. Sell your item in the description. Rather than just the facts, you can say a bit about why you like the item, what it would look good with or how it fits in with the seasons trends e.g the dress is made from beautifully soft material that skims rather than clinging, making it very flattering. It looks great with a pair of sandals on the beach or heels for an evening out. This dress is a great version of this seasons greek goddess style one shouldered dresses.
6. Include the best photos that you can. If the item of clothing fits and looks good on you, try modelling it in one of the photos. Take close up pictures of any interesting detail or designer labels and different angles if relevant.
7. Always send your items by recorded delivery with adequate insurance and keep details of all postage, payments etc.
8. After the swap, message your swapper to let them know that you were happy with the item and check they were happy with theres. Also remind them to leave feedback. Don’t forget to leave feedback for your swapper.
9. Get more exposure for your items by sending us your pictures of your second hand style. If featured, you will get a link to you profile and items listing from our Posh Swaps blog.
10. Help to get your items found on search engines by linking to them from your blog if you have one. A link using the item title would be ideal.
Picture from The Sartorialist - A great place for style inspiration
Are you fed up with the credit crunch and recession? Are you broke but want to look stylish and trendy? The word frugal seems to have become a regular part of my vocabulary and I am now practicing frugality in most areas of my life. But is still possible to look stylish and be frugal. Here are my top ten tips to style on a budget.
Swishing is the name given to a party where people swap clothes. It can be a small gathering among friends or a much larger event. Each person should take along one clean piece of clothing that they no longer want but some one else would be delighted to have. All of the clothes are put out on display for everyone to browse before the swish commences. People can browse, socialise and have a drink or two. There is a warning 5 minutes before the beginning of the swish. Once the swish begins, everyone can grab what they want. They can take home as many items as they can grab.
Swishing is huge in the US and is now becoming popular in the UK. Economic factors and a greater awareness of the impact of both the manufacture and disposal of fast fashion on the environment are both contributing to the growth of swishing. But another key reason for the popularity of swishing is that it is fun.
If you are arranging a swishing party and would like a mention on this blog, please contact us.
picture from http://news.sky.com
It’s a great idea to swap used quality clothes. You can get a whole new outfit without spending any money. You reduce the amount of waste that is disposed of in landfill and reduce the environmental impact of clothes manufacture. But most importantly, it is fun, you can create some gorgeous and stylish outfits and feel great about yourself at the same time.
