Second Hand Clothes

Swishing is the name given to clothes swapping parties, which are the latest craze to hit the UK. With the official government announcement that the country is now in a recession, swishing looks to become even more popular as people try to cut back on their expenditure. There are a number of reasons why people swish, when you combine all of them, you have the ultimate guilt free alternative to shopping.

Swishing is Frugal - What better way to get rid of items that you no longer want. You can something in return and save money by not buying yourself new clothes. Next time you overspend on a beautiful item of designer clothing or make a mistake and buy something that really doesn't suit you, it doesn't matter as you can always swap it at a swishing party at a later date.You will get something new without spending any more money. Swishing is a great way to refresh your wardrobe without spending any money.

Swishing Eco Friendly - There has been a lot of press recently about the environmental impact caused by the manufacture of textiles and clothing. With the fast fashion of today, clothes are only worn a few times before being thrown away which also has a negative impact on the environment. Clothes swapping minimises the impact of both the manufacture and disposal of clothing making it a great way to do your bit for the environment.

Swishing is fun - Swishing parties are a great way to meet friends and refresh your wardrobe at the same time. As with shopping, swishing is an ideal time to get an honest friends opinion on what looks good on you. It is a great way to try out new looks and styles and experiment with what you wear. It is also a great way to chat, relax and socialise.

If you can't find any swishing parties in your local area and don't have time to organise your own, you could try swapping your clothes online at a clothes swapping website.

You may in the past have turned up your nose at second hand clothes even if they are in the latest women styles in favour of the new fashion from the high street. Perhaps it is the idea of rummaging through stacks of old musty clothes at a car boot sale, jumble sale or charity shop that has put you off. But second hand clothes are now right on trend and there are plenty of good reasons to buy them.

Buying new clothes all of the time to satisfy your desire for a constantly changing selection of clothes in your wardrobe can be very damaging for the environment. Buying second hand clothes is a good way to get your fashion fix but also do your bit for the environment at the same time.

'But second clothes are not as nice as new stuff', I hear you muttering. Well that is where you are wrong. It may take a little while to find it but there are plenty of very lovely second hand clothes around some of them hardly worn. Just recently I got myself a very nice Burberry Prorsum safari style top for just £4. It was in perfect condition, it did not smell and it was a lot better quality than anything that I could have bought new for ten times this price. I was delighted to see that the sleeves were lined, the seams finished with bias binding. I quite often wander around the high street shops to have a look and am constantly amazed at the low quality of some of the clothes that I find. Perhaps once in my teenage years I could have got away with poorly made clothes in bad quality materials but I have found as I have got a little older that quality clothes look so much better.

'But second hand clothes are all out of fashion and frumpy' is another objection that you may hear to buying second hand clothes. Well I don't think that is the case at all. Firstly because the same fashions tend to come round and round again season after season. Take floral prints, nautical style clothes and sixties style mini dresses. All of these trends have been seen on the catwalks numerous times of the last 10 years. Even my safari style Burberry Prorsum top happens to be right on trend as safari was listed by the top fashion magazines as a key trend this year.

When getting dressed I prefer to be stylish than fashionable anyway. In the words of the late Yves St Laurent ' fashion fades, only style remains'. By buying second hand clothes I can afford to buy really good quality classic clothes that never really go out of fashion and that can perhaps be accessorized with a few of the seasons accessories although I prefer a few quirky and different second hand accessories myself.

Trends and fashions change constantly but wearing the latest fashion does not mean that you look good. Woman seem to have found a new confidence in the clothes that they wear lately and are daring to be individual and wear what really suits them. Second hand clothes are great for experimenting with new looks and finding great quality at the fraction of the price it would cost new.

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 or swishing 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.