No cash? Need Clothes?

In my search to replenish my tiring wardrobe but without the need to really spend cash, I discovered the new trend that is the clothes swap!

It is the perfect way to revive your fashion collection and get rid of the stuff you no longer wear for absolutely NOTHING! Yes, you heard right, NOTHING!

I recall it starting in a shop in London earlier in the year, thinking ‘I cannot possibly take along anything with the same value as these wondrous designs and getting to London is an expense in itself’, therefore not ideal for the fact I had no money.

This must have been the case for many as since then, there has been a burst of activity online to help everyone across the world swap the items they no longer want for something they do! I was amazed at the amount of websites that provide this service (Why didn’t I think of creating this idea??!!)

It has been raved about by all the major media players, read what they had to say about the revelation;

Marie Claire; “It’s everything we want to be right now – ethical, environmentally friendly and fabulous!”

Cosmopolitan; “Swapping is the latest trend guaranteed to give you a shopping high without spending a cent.”

InStyle; “Trade that Dior saddle bag for a Stella McCartney corset.”

Vogue; “The idea is straight forward and simple – if one person doesn’t want a particular handbag, pair of shoes or trainers, in fact any garment – then I’m sure that someone somewhere in the world would be delighted to own the very same piece – giving it a complete new lease of life.”

The Guardian; “It brings together ethical shopping with bargain hunting, and fast fashion with vintage clothing with just a dash of MySpace-generation on-line networking added to whip up the waves a little bit more.”

New York Times; “Not just for young starving artists, hipster students and fashionistas-on-a-budget, but women – and men – of all ages and income levels.”

So, if you are interested in saving your wallet, saving the planet and gaining a new wardrobe for that which you do not want then take a look at these websites to match what you are looking for. If you have an item that cost you a fortune and your grip on it will struggle to let go, then do not fear you can bargain for cash also or a mixture of swap and cash. I cannot describe how excited I am – we all know what I will be doing this weekend!!

Bigwardrobe.com described as ‘The Worldwide Wardrobe’ is free and simple! Sign up for a free account, take photos of the clothes you no longer want – preferably on yourself or hung nicely so we know what it looks like and there you have it – just wait for the requests to pile in! Not only is it a swap area but you can sell your items too, making it easy to recycle your wardrobe.

The site is extremely comprehensive and offers links on all you need to know to get started, there is also a special area for vintage clothing. Let me know what you think I would love to hear about your own experiences with clothes swapping.

Whats Mine Is Yours.com is a similar concept, there appears to be more designer wear and vintage clothing here. It also offers the ability to swap other items like furniture. Again the site is free to use and works internationally. This website also has added feature treats such as a free personal shopper, a fashion focused magazine when you sign up and there is a boutique area for new up and coming designers.

These are the two main sites that provide a great swap experience, if you discover more swapping sites, please add to my list. I also saw a small swap blog in the fashion magazine; Look. There is huge potential to get what you really want from your wardrobe and your home by using swap sites and shops. I love it!