I wanted to share with y’all something FUN that happened this weekend… I attended my first fashion swap party! First of all, what’s a fashion swap? It’s when friends (and friends of friends, which is how I got invited) get together and bring gently worn clothes that no longer fit them/their lifestyle/whatever to then swap out with each other. Such a great way to shop for items “new to you” without having to suffer from sticker shock. And best of all, it was for a good cause, as all the leftover items were donated to Dress for Success Oregon and Goodwill. The fashion swap event is still on the Dress for Success Oregon site and still accepting donations!
Click to learn more about Dress for Success and donation options
The more informal event was so well-organized; we drew numbers and had a couple of time-limited rounds to find a single item, and then it was a free-for-all. No cat-fighting, no grabbing, no glimmer of stereotypical girl-shopping media portrayals. On the contrary, the vibe was very supportive, with genuine compliments and lots of “Ooh, you should try this on!” kinds of encouragement. What a fantastic afternoon!
Even though I’ve pared my closet way down the last few years, I still was able to bring quite a few items from my wardrobe, including some accessories, a couple of pairs of shoes, and tops and jackets that I haven’t worn in the past year or two due to their need to be ironed (I’ve just got to face it — I won’t iron stuff unless I have to). So almost nothing I brought to the swap has been showcased on this blog, and that’s ok — I’m glad those clothes went to a good home!
And here’s what I brought back to our home:
Helloooooo, gorgeous!
This silver-and-white sequined tank from LOFT was my first-round pick. A *perfect* top for date night! I’m envisioning this top paired with a black blazer, jeans, and silver strappy sandals.
This sheer navy-blue blouse was my second-round pick. When I first saw it, I instantly thought “Princess Kate,” as this top echoes one of my favorite looks on her US/Canada tour back in 2011.
I also picked up a few other tops, like this basic striped top from the Gap (right), this sweet, sheer floral top perfect for layering (middle), and this navy, beribboned top from Po Pori. Here’s a close-up on the ribbon detailing:
I also picked out four skirts, all of which are a-line (which I only realized once I got home). I guess I really know what silhouettes I like best! 
The grey-and-black striped skirt (on the left) is United Colors of Benetton, and the white skirt (right) is Banana Republic. I wasn’t able to fully capture the gorgeousness of its winter white shade, the heft of its fabric, or its lovely detailing. Even my husband exclaimed, “Wow!” when I brought out that beauty.
These skirts are more casual. The brightly patterned skirt (right) is from LOFT, and in a lightweight cotton. You can’t really tell from the pic, but it’s pleated, with stitched-down pleats along the top (much like my other cotton pleated skirt seen here). And this denim skirt (the tag reads Royal Robbins) wasn’t even on my radar until someone else recommended I try it on! The denim, which is SUPER soft, has this cool, greyish tone, and also features these fun buttons:
How cool and funky are these buttons?! I love that this special detail is extra-special because these buttons are essentially hidden from regular view.
And last, but not least, a few accessories that I picked up:
This wide, stretchy belt is quite similar to my tan-and-cream belt seen here, and I was also super-excited to snag this metallic plum skinny belt! The scarf (the tag says it’s handmade from a company called “Into Africa”) has the perfect mixture of fall colors, and I like the hint of animal print.
So, all in all, I had so much fun at my first fashion swap experience, and feel so lucky to give these items a warm, loving home in my wardrobe — I’m sure you’ll be seeing all these pieces again soon!
Have you ever been to a fashion swap? If so, let me know and please leave a comment!
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