How to Get a Stylish New Wardrobe For Free - Clothes Swapping

Keeping up with the latest fashions can be an expensive business. Most people buy clothes and then get bored of them or decide that they never even liked them in the first place. If you are constantly wanting new clothes and feel the need to update, your wardrobe, but don't have enough money, there is a way to get yourself a whole new wardrobe for free. Not only is it ideal for those on a budget but it is also incredibly eco-friendly, so you can feel really virtuous.
Clothes swapping is a great way to refresh, update and renew your wardrobe for free. Your first step in getting your stylish new wardrobe is to sort through your existing wardrobe and find some clothes that you no longer want. It is really important to have a good clear out and be ruthless in getting rid of clothes that you don't wear. This will make space in your wardrobe for your new goodies and also provide you with some good quality swapping items that will ensure you a good swap in return.

A good policy to employ when clearing out your wardrobe is asking the question 'have I worn this outfit in the last season?' if the answer is no, you will probably not wear it in the next season either or the one after that, so why not swap it for something that you will wear. Prime candidates for swapping are clothes that no longer fit, clothes that are not suitable for your lifestyle (if you hardly ever go to parties perhaps just keep one or two party dresses), clothes that you bought for a one off occasion e.g a wedding, bridesmaid or prom dress and clothes that you do not feel one hundred percent happy and confident wearing.
Once you have a pile of clothes to swap. You will need to make sure that they are clean, repaired (no missing buttons etc) and pressed. You can then begin to photograph them and list them on a clothes swapping website.
To create a really stylish wardrobe, think carefully about what items you would like to swap for. Look for quality well made pieces in styles that flatter your body shape and colours that flatter your skin tone. Do a bit of research, try on different styles of clothes to see what looks best and read magazines and fashion blogs to get some ideas. Also think carefully about what sorts of clothes you actually need. If you spend most of your time at work where the dress code is smart, it is no good swapping your clothes for hoodies and jeans. Work out how much time you spend in each different type of clothes and aim to swap for a proportionate number of items of each type of clothes.

Finally, stick to your list of must have items most of the time, but occasionally try something a bit different. You might even find a new style of clothes that you really love. This will also keep your look fresh and interesting.

This article was written by Ceri Heathcote for posh-swaps.com, a website for swapping, buying and selling second hand and vintage clothing.