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Clothing swap parties are a fun new trend sweeping fashion and budget conscious communities everywhere.

Finances are tight all over, and often that means cutting out fashion budgets. No one wants to look frumpy wearing the same clothes month after month, year after year. What is a girl with limited resources to do? Have a clothing swap party! What Exactly is a Clothing Swap Party?

The premise is simple. Recruit a group of girlfriends, clean out your closets, then throw a party and swap your unwanted items for free things that are new to you. Score fabulous brand name items. Wait 1-6 months. Repeat.

Tips for Throwing a Hit Clothing Swap Party

*If you don't have a lot of local girlfriends to invite, form a free meeting group online and advertise it on free classified site to attract women in your area. With social networking sites popping up everywhere, finding local ladies to swap with should be easy!

*Decide which items are swappable. Stick to clothing only or include accessories or even home decor?

*Consider your party style. Do you want to implement a minimum number of items for each attendee to bring? Will your swap party be a free-for-all or controlled and turn based? Create a system as simple or complex as you like, just be prepared to explain and enforce it.

*Create a plan for item disputes. If two people want the same item, decide by having each lady try on the item and executing a blind vote, or create your own decider.

*Make it a real party: send out cute invitations, serve girly drinks and snacks or desserts.

*Set up dressing stations with mirrors. Be sure to include private changing areas for those who are shy about disrobing in front of others.

*Record the ground rules and include them on your invitations and post them at your party.

Clothing swap parties let women give new life to their old items and gain great new pieces at the same time, absolutely free! Not to mention scoring a fun girl's night out as well. Once you have had two or three successful clothing swaps, consider branching out into other themed swaps: Kid's clothes, home decor, shoes, jewelry, formal-only clothes, movies, books, gift cards, craft supplies, kid's toys, purses, cook books. You could even swap services buy writing down services offered and contact information on cards and then swapping the cards. The possibilities are endless! Start planning a swap party today!

Learn more about this author, Amber Murray.
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