One of the latest trends in shopping seems to be not shopping at all. In her newsletter, Gwyneth writes about shopping in her closet; in cities nationwide, trading duds is the latest girls’ night out; and across the pond, swishing (read, clothes swapping) events are all the rage.
Of course, clothing exchanges are nothing new, but let’s face it– the economy has made even the most fashion conscious of ladies open to second-hand goods of the *non-officially-vintage* variety. And why not? We all know we’ve got things in the closet that really don’t fit, are the wrong color or silhouette– or are just plain wrong in general. Now is just the right time to share the wealth. Plus, it’s the “green” thing to do 
Here are some GGG tips I’ve come across for a fun, successful event:
- Do make it festive. Serve champagne and cupcakes. Send out an evite. Have a theme (Date-Night-Tops Redux?). Think “party” more than closet-clean-out.
- Do bring nice stuff! It goes without saying that you want to bring freshly-cleaned, minimally-worn items, that are in excellent condition. But also, be willing to part with something that you still like, but maybe your friend from yoga class will like that much better. It gets the good karma flowing.
- Do get organized. Turn your living room into a boutique with rolling clothing racks and a couple full-length mirrors. Also, consider handing out numbers if you’re expecting a big turnout.
- Don’t forget the accessories. So maybe you’re not so into Kate Spade anymore, but your neighbor might be!
