THE LOOK
How to Host a
Clothing
Swap BY HE ATHE R BAVE R
Imagine your closet and dresser filled exclusively with pieces you love to wear. You don’t have to be a decluttering enthusiast to have fun and to achieve an enhanced wardrobe. Get your friends together for a swap party. Trade items that aren’t working for you and welcome new pieces for free.
GetSorting. Get started by examining your closet and dresser drawers. Don’t forget any seasonal items you may have tucked away. “Pull it all out onto your bed and go through the items one by one,” says Vali G. Heist, certified professional organizer and owner of The Clutter Crew. “Give yourself an hour (set your alarm) and if you get tired at the end, quit. If you are on a roll and want to keep going, then do it!” As you look over each item, Heist recommends asking yourself these questions: “Does it fit you now? When was the last time you wore it? Does it make you feel good? Do you love it? Do you choose it before you choose other pieces?” 20
SEPTEMBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com
Once you know you don’t want an item, decide if you’d like to include it in the swap. Berks resident Vanessa Starr advises that if you would “give the item to a friend with pleasure,” then it is a good choice for a swap. Quality pieces that are in good shape, too-long pants you don’t want to get tailored, items that are new or almost new — these are naturals for a swap. Let that top with the tags on it go to a new home and let go of any guilt. Besides being fun, swap parties offer a perfect incentive to clean out your closet. “If I am not wearing it, I am more likely to get rid of my clothes if I know my friends are going to take them!” says Starr. “If we have the next party booked, I have a time frame in which I need to clean out my closets or cupboards.”
