Swap Thing

It's time to get creative in a harsh economy. What's a girl to do? We are in a time when women are encouraged to shop in their own closets to create a new wardrobe by adding great new accessories to past fashion favorites or refashioning their last season garments with a snip here and a tuck there. Well, a new trend is emerging that sounds like lots of fun! If you are so over shopping in your own closet, why not shop in your friends closet instead? Swap your stuff for hers and then make it your own. It's all about creativity and accessorizing. Take her gently worn dress, top, whatever and sew on a perfectly placed rosette to a shoulder or at the waist. Maybe glue on some chunky XL stones, old jewelry or layers of chains at the neckline for a fashion forward stunner. If you are not a clever seamstress or refuse to get glue on your hands then maybe you should just organize a swap party for your friends who are tired of their designer pieces and want to trade for yours. The May issue of Real Simple features an article called The Ultimate Swap Party. "Reduce, reuse, recycle" are words to live by. Now there can be a reason to socialize, too. Gather some friends - along with their excess stuff - for a thrifty trade fest. It's like an upscale yard sale among friends. You can swap anything really, from clothes and accessories to housewares, to books and CDs. Set up tables for each swapper and make sure the swap rules are clear: everyone brings good stuff, everyone takes turns trading and everyone leaves with the same amount of stuff she brought - if you brought five things, you only get to take home five things. More tips for a happy swap: Be sure and send out emails or invite notices well in advance so your swappers have time to gather their treasures for swapping, serve some delicious snacks and tell your swappers to bring a tote to take their loot home in. This swap thing is also a fabulous prom idea. Swap with your girlfriends and remake what was theirs - last year's dress - into what is now yours. Be creative and crafty!

There's also Swapstyle. An online fashion swap party where you can swap clothes, shoes and accessories with people from all around the world. Imagine browsing at your leisure through an extensive international fashion wardrobe and choosing exactly what you want. It's convenient, saves time, and offers so much more variety. You could have a never ending supply of fashion! It is the perfect way to refresh and renew your wardrobe or closet.

Here's a tip for young girls who need a prom dress without a huge price tag: DonateMyDress.org is a national network of dress-drive organizations that collects and distributes special-occasion outfits for prom, Sweet Sixteens and quinceraneras. Often donors are celebrities that include Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato. MyPromStyle.com is another good source for finding that perfect donated dress.