Now that spring is here, you might find yourself digging through your closet to clean out the clothes you do not wear anymore and make room for new ones. A clothing swap is a great way to do both at the same time. You can invite friends and family, or you can invite local people from your area to refresh their closets. If you are considering organizing a clothing swap, here are some tips to get you started:
Invite More Than One Person of Each Size
If you are going to do a clothing swap, make sure you get more than one person in the same size on the guest list. No one wants to feel left out, and if they get to the party only to realize that no one even remotely wears their size, they are probably going to be a little frustrated. The guest list to the swap should include a wide range of sizes or should all stay within the same size so that clothing swaps can be done with almost anyone.
Give Plenty of Room to Spread Out
If the guests have no space to spread out their clothes or to look through them, it is going to be harder for them to have a good time when they are spending their time digging through stuff. Make it comfortable for everybody to browse through the collections.
Make It Fun
Getting free clothes is fun by itself, but make it something to look forward to. Have a competition with who can make the best outfit from the clothes in the swap, and then have them model it at the end. This is a great way to keep people engaged and having a good time while finding great outfits and getting feedback.
Keep It Organized
Each person should have a space to display their clothes, and the hostess should either provide plastic bags or ask people to bring their own. Permanent markers will allow guests to mark their bags without worrying if they will get mixed up.
Be Clear About What It Is
When you are sending out an invite to something new, people who are confused by the intentions will be lost and will not come. Be clear about what will happen, such as if refreshments will be provided or expected, what they will need to bring, and what they can expect to leave with. This will help people in their decision to show up or not and guarantee a successful event.
Make It Convenient
Ask around the guests to see what would be a good time so you do not schedule an event during work hours or when people will not be able to make it. Generally, stay away from Sunday mornings and workday hours, unless you know that everyone will be able to show up anyway.
If you know someone else who would rather host, do not be afraid to ask them. A clothing swap should be something light and fun for people to clean out their closets of old clothes and bring in new ones, and you should not be frustrated while trying to put one together.
Image credit: Jeff Sheldon
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