Below are a few more fun photos from World Swap Day I wanted to share with you. Look at all the bags of clothes these ladies hauled away. Thanks to all the volunteers, The Swapaholics and Susie for closing her shop for the day to make this swap possible. Susie and I are already planning for the next swap in April. Be sure to get your tickets early.
Don’t be tardy to the Swap Party ladies 
A little over a year ago I attended my first clothing swap as part of National Swap Day. It was organized by Anika Alexander and held in Silver Spring, MD. There were approximately 25 women who attended. I had so much fun I decided to forego my plans the next day and attend another swap the next afternoon at Nana’s in Mt. Pleasant DC where there were at least 50-60 women in attendance. I never would have guessed a year later I would have attended at least 13 swaps, stopped buying clothes for a year and hosted three swaps of my own. Wow what a difference a little inspiration makes.
Last summer I partnered with Susie of Black Eyed Susie after acquiring the Greater Washington DC Clothing Swap on Meet Up. At that time there were just over 300 members and we have grown to 377 with new members joining everyday. It has been challenging yet fun every step of the way.
Each Swap Til You Drop event Susie and I have organized takes on its own look and feel. Each one has its own unique outcome and they just continue to get better and better. Friday nights swap was no different. First and foremost it was in the evening. This was the first time we tried an after work swap and surprisingly about 55 women showed up. We sold out almost two weeks ago. They were all so positive, brought great items and had such a great time.
Thanks to the lovely ladies, Melissa Massello and Amy Chase of the Swapaholics out of Boston for their encouragement and the inspiration of World Swap Day. They sent us some cool goodies to go inside the tote bags they provided which added to the energy and excitement of the evening.
Diehard Swapnistas braving the DC cold to find some fabulous treasures
The Swapnista’s began to arrive to Black Eyed Susie around 5:30pm. Dropping of their items and, picking up their drink tickets and chatting with one another. Most went over to the Getaway to get their free glass of wine and have some appetizers and about 6 others stayed behind to volunteer. Thanks to you guys we were able to get the clothes up on the rack in record time with moments to spare.
Susie checking in attendees for the swap
The clothes are just beginning to pile up
Even though is was a little frigid outside you never heard anyone complaining and when 7pm rolled around we were ready to let the swapping begin. Click below to see all the happy swappers coming into the store.
And in they come!
Once inside the swappers headed to their own special area. Clothing was separated by small, medium and large. Shoes were on the shelves and purses were hung on the wall. We had so many accessories we had to use the table and the counter.
Let the swapping begin
So many clothes we had to bring out extra clothing racks and hangers just to get everything hung up.
Shoes and boots galore
Racks and racks filled with dresses, skirts and more
In the end these fabulous Swapnista’s walked away with some pretty great items.
Black beaded Betsy Johnson dress. another fabulous treasure
what a cute dress!
A woman after my own heart. Karen wants to refashion this in our next Refashioning Class. How exciting!
She found a two piece pin stripped suit, like new!
This lucky girl found some PJ's
she found a fabulous dress
Many other swappers left with heaping bags of clothes, shoes and accessories.
After the swap. She made out with some great stuff
More smiling faces after the swap
Another one of our fabulous volunteers. she stayed until the very end
One of our volunteers!! Thanks so much!
Susie and I just can’t wait to do this again. Keep your eyes peeled for our next swap coming in April. You can begin cleaning out those closets now in preparation for spring cleaning. Springtime swaps are always so much fun! See you then.
Susie and I after the swap. WHEW!! See you in a few months
Join Sew Frugal and Fashionable and Black Eyed Susie for
Swap Til You Drop Part 3 in Celebration of World Swap Day!
Get your ticket today Click here!
Since January of 2011 I have attended at least one or two swaps a month. As a result I’ve pretty much revamped up my wardrobe. I’ve added pieces that I would have never purchased from the store. Either I wouldn’t have purchased them because I thought they were too trendy and not worth the $$’s or just flat-out couldn’t afford it.
Jackets, Suits and shoes have been some of my greatest finds. The best treasures are ones that are versatile and flexible for work or play. Below are some of my favorite Swap Treasures of 2011. I’m looking forward to 2012 upcoming swaps and sharing those great finds with you. Speaking of……. Join me for Swap til you Drop Part 3 with me and Black Eyed Susie on January 20th at 6pm. Our first evening swap. Click the link for tickets. Jen & Susie Swap!
#1 This black velvet blazer by H&M is one that I just adore. Its machine washable, comfortable and stretchy. It goes well with jeans and skirts.
#2 Not the best photo but these purple pants I'm holding were brand new with the tags on them in my size. What a find. The funny thing is I don't like purple which made it even better. I broke outside my comfort zone and these pants went home with me.
#3 I'm always searching for work clothes. Me and Jackie from Nana's in Mt. Pleasant. I found this Tahari two piece suit and I was uber excited. This was my second swap ever attended and I was clearly hooked.
#4 I might have picked up these Joan & David leather ankle boots out of season but they have been right on time this winter. These boots were hardly worn and I love em'
#5 I'm not a fan of red either but this red dress caught my eye and I reworked it a bit with a jacket. It wasn't so bad after all.
#6 This suit from Bloomingdale's was given to me during a swap in the spring by my friend Lily. I just Love love Love it.
#7 Here I am again appearing very excited by yet another fantastic Tahari find. I cannot tell you how much Tahari I have acquired. From coats to shoes to dresses. Just call me the Tahari Hound
#8 This dress I picked up at Dew Drop DC Swap and it too was brand new with the tags on it. Yet another great swap find to add to the collection.
#9 This dress is from the Macy's collection. Still had the tags on it. Whoohoo!
#10 Mos def in the all time top ten. This Soia & Kyo Jacket remains in my regular rotation
Re-blogging this blog post gives me great pleasure. I can’t wait to share with you the outcome in 2012. It took a while but I finally got it finished and I’m hoping to take some photos of myself in the next couple weeks wearing my new creation. In the meantime enjoy the before pics.
Re-blog from May 25th, 2011
As I peruse the items at clothing swaps and merchandise at my local Goodwill and thrift stores I’m usually focused on finding a few new additions to my wardrobe. In recent visits I put more consideration into what can I refashion or restyle into something new and more creative. I usually choose items which don’t require a great deal of additional work but during a February swap I felt the desire to take on a bigger challenge.
Right now I’m prepping for my own personal “Sew In” over the Memorial Day weekend. The goal is to complete at least 3 sewing projects. None of them from scratch and all of them from recent Goodwill or Swap finds.
Below you will see several skirts I picked up at that swap back in February. All were size 22. You might say, Jen what are you thinking picking up size 22 skirts? Well, what caught my attention was the quality of the fabric, mostly wool, the colors and the interesting stitching and pleats. And wouldn’t you know it they are all from Talbots. I thought to myself what can I make from these beautiful skirts. Not a skirt for myself but definitely some beautiful jacket, top or tunic. I’m SEW excited about the treasures I’ve found. I can’t wait to take them apart and put them back together to create something unique and fun. Of course I will not wear any of these creations until the fall but knowing they will be there waiting for me is half the fun.
You will see my step by step progress over the next several weeks. I’m sew pumped about this sewing project!
Photo: Tobey Ward/The Feast
On Sunday, Columbia Heights second-hand boutique Black Eyed Susiehosted a clothing swap that packed the tiny shop to capacity. We caught up with event organizers Susie Saadian and Jennifer Mason as they sorted clothing before the madness began.
“We had our first swap in May,” Saadian told us, “and it went so well, we decided to try to do them quarterly. It’s a really great, inexpensive way for people to get new clothing.” And judging from the mountains of clothing strewn around the shop, swappers were eager to clean out their closets for the event.
Of this swap’s selection, Mason said, “I’ve noticed a lot of brand new items with the tags still on and some fabulous accessories. Someone brought 15 amazing leather purses.”
Click through to see the crowd and the goods at D.C.’s latest swapping extravaganza.
I can’t begin to tell you how exciting Thursday night was at the DC Sip & Swap with the Swapaholics from Boston, MA.
Around 5:15pm we could already feel the energy in the Clarendon Ballroom in Arlington, VA. Ladies were steadily dropping off bags and bags of clothes and picking up their complimentary bag for the swap. Some stayed around and relaxed on the sofas and others went to the bar.
Check-in table
Swappers lounging in the waiting area
Silver Spring Sewing Sisters showed up for the DC Sip & Swap
Silver Spring Sewing Sisters, Kanisa, Xtine and Hadiya turned Swappers for a night
My girlfriends and I came a bit early to assist with the sorting. This process is no joke. We had to make sure only the best and most current clothing items were to go on the swap floor. Thanks to Lily and a few others for doing such a great job.
Lisa and Lily sorting clothes before the swap
Lily was very focused on sorting clothing. Eventually she had to remove her shoes for more comfort
By 6:30pm we were in full swing. The bar and the waiting area was buzzing with anxious women who couldn’t wait to get their hands in some fabulous clothes. Many were ordering appetizers and making new friends
Ladies waiting patiently
At the bar sipping before the swap
We were slowly but surely getting things sorted and put out on tables. Such helpful volunteers who were focused and dedicated.
Almost done. We're getting there
The jeans table was beginning to grow
More dresses
At 7:30pm the intensity was up by ten times and most were sitting on the edge of their seat or standing near the curtain. I was concerned folks might get trampled on the way in. It sorta reminded me of the Running of the Brides at Filene’s Basement. Total craziness!!!!
About 15 minutes before the curtain gets pulled back
One last look at the room before the swappers come in. Everything looks good and we are just about ready.
Moved the tables closer to give swappers more room
At 1 minute to 8:00pm as I sent my final tweet before the swap Melissa from the Swapaholics went on the other side of the curtain to say a few words and set the ground rules. Then the curtain opened and that was all she wrote.
Posing for the camera before entry
This is the only pic I have from the mad dash. See the full video later in another blog post
By 8:05pm the women were already pulling accessories from the stage and finding plenty of clothing on the tables. The selection was endless.
These ladies were going to town
Even I was getting in the mix of things. I picked up a couple of tank tops. That was all I managed to grab
Controlled chaos is what we like to call it Photo from The Swapaholics
17 minutes later the racks were empty, the tables were almost cleared off and most of the shoes and purses had been stashed in the ladies bags. Whew! I was worn out just watching them.
Empty Racks
Empty hangers in 15 minutes
All that was left of the shoes. Completely wiped out
Toward the end of the swap the women were taking pictures
in their fabulous finds and most were all smiles.
This swapnista looks fabulous in her new halter dress
Lily after putting in all that work found some great items
These ladies were so happy with their finds
One of Silver Spring Sewing Sisters walked away with this stylish coat
Pretty blue dress
My friend Georgiana found this great designer skirt
In the end nothing but table clothes and a few miscellaneous pieces
After the swap ended the Swapaholics moved on to the raffle. Four participants won great giveaways
Melissa getting ready to pull for the raffle but always prepared for a photo op.
Overall it was a good time had by all and we can’t wait to do it again. The next Sew Frugal and Black Eyed Susie Swap will be in mid-September. We will be announcing the date very soon and we hope to see you all there.
From left to right: Yours Truly Jen from Sew Frugal and Fashionable; Melissa and Amy from the Swapaholics, Lisa Rowan of QuarterLife; Amy; Shanna Gadwani of Goodwill of Greater Washington; and KT Boyle, Speaker of the Blouse at the Washington Post.
Fun Swap Stuff
Enjoy the rest of pics!
Me on the phone around 5:20 on a conference call from work. Don't they know I have serious fashion business to deal with JK it was important
These ladies were going to town
No pushing or shoving. Everyone swapped peacefully
After a few minutes there was no more chattering. All you could hear were feet going pitter patter on the hardwood floors
Me and Lily
Swappers going through the short sleeve shirts
Clothes going to Goodwill
All done.....After all that it was sad to see everyone gone
The Goodwill truck came to pick up the left over clothing
Kaarin having a little fun with the balloons
Kaarin trying to keep balloons steady for the word SAP
PAWS - Made me miss my dog, who by the way has been at home waiting patiently for me to come home. I think I should leave now
Eventually we had to say goodbye to all the SWAP balloons 
Can't leave until me and the organizers take one last picture
I’ve been waiting for almost 6 months for this Shoe Swap to take place. I must say it was well worth the wait.
Shoe S(he) Swap by Anika Alexander, Fashion Night Out Swap. Most of you know I have given up buying any new clothes for one year and this includes shoes. Yes shoes!! I can’t remember the last time I bought a pair of shoes. Shoes are my weakness and that’s been the most difficult part of the 365 days of not shopping department and specialty stores. Right now my running shoes need replacing along with my bike shoes and those are the exception to the rule. I get a little weirded out about wearing athletic clothing and footwear knowing someone else had their sweaty body in it. Yuck! Some things you just can’t thrift or swap, but that’s for a later discussion.
Saturday night me and my girlfriends hauled our “bag o shoes” over to the Civic Center in Silver Spring for an awesome shoe swap. There were over 100 pairs of shoes and a little over 30 participants. That meant at the very least 3 pair of shoes per person at the mere price of $10 admission. What a deal!
I walked away with 6 pairs of shoes and a pair of boots. I was so happy and excited I could hardly contain myself. Anika is not planning another shoe swap until December but I might try to twist her arm a bit and see if she could do it in the fall instead. C’mon Anika this was way to much fun and helpful to the wardrobe!
Anika knows how to do a shoe swap up right. She had food catered in and we had games, prizes and a raffle. The ladies laughed and had so much fun. Definitely good food for the “sole”.
See below pics from the event:
Hey folks The Swapaholics are coming, The Swapaholics are coming!!!! Ladies don’t be tardy to the party!! Come one come all to a fabulous swapping event!!
Get your tickets today. Click the link and use SEWFRUGAL for a 25% discount on admission
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
Clarendon Ballroom
Arlington, VA 22201
Clothing Drop-Off:
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Pre-Swap Mix & Mingle Reception:
6 to 9 pm
Swap:
8 pm SHARP!
Join The Swapaholics, America’s favorite swap hostesses,
for a fun night of summer swapping & socializing
at the historic and uber chic Clarendon Ballroom.
We’re coming to the Beltway for the first time, bringing together swappers from far & wide
for a fun night of retail therapy and recycling — and everything left over at the end of the night
goes to support Goodwill of Greater Washington, to be sold in their shops to raise money for
their important education & employment programs.
Bring a Bag, Get a Bag:
Bring a bag full of all those like-new and gently worn clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry just taking up space in your closet and trade them in for a new bag full of finds from fellow DC fashionistas — all for just the cost of admission!
Show Off Your Swap Style:
Take pictures with your friends and all your new favorite scores in our Swap Style Photo Booth. Pose with swap finds then tag yourself on Facebook to share your swap scores with your friends & post them to Twitter with the hashtag #DCSWAP to @Swap or @TheSwapaholics, or both!
Feel Good & Do Good:
All the clothing left over at the end of the swap will be donated to Goodwill of Greater Washington,helping to support their mission of transforming lives & communities through the power of education & employment.
SPONSORS:
Don’t be tardy to the party ladies!!!
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
Clarendon Ballroom
Arlington, VA 22201
Clothing Drop-Off:
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Pre-Swap Reception
6 to 9 pm
Swap:
8 pm SHARP!
Join The Swapaholics, America’s favorite swap hostesses,
for a fun night of summer swapping & socializing
at the historic and uber chic Clarendon Ballroom.
We’re coming to the Beltway for the first time, bringing together swappers from far & wide
for a fun night of retail therapy and recycling — and everything left over at the end of the night
goes to support Goodwill of Greater Washington, to be sold in their shops to raise money for
their important education & employment programs.
Bring a Bag, Get a Bag:
Bring a bag full of all those like-new and gently worn clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry just taking up space in your closet and trade them in for a new bag full of finds from fellow DC fashionistas — all for just the cost of admission!
Show Off Your Swap Style:
Take pictures with your friends and all your new favorite scores in our Swap Style Photo Booth. Pose with swap finds then tag yourself on Facebook to share your swap scores with your friends & post them to Twitter with the hashtag #DCSWAP to @Swap or @TheSwapaholics, or both!
Feel Good & Do Good:
All the clothing left over at the end of the swap will be donated to Goodwill of Greater Washington,helping to support their mission of transforming lives & communities through the power of education & employment.
As I peruse the items at clothing swaps and merchandise at my local Goodwill and thrift stores I’m usually focused on finding a few new additions to my wardrobe. In recent visits I put more consideration into what can I refashion or restyle into something new and more creative. I usually choose items which don’t require a great deal of additional work but during a February swap I felt the desire to take on a bigger challenge.
Right now I’m prepping for my own personal “Sew In” over the Memorial Day weekend. The goal is to complete at least 3 sewing projects. None of them from scratch and all of them from recent Goodwill or Swap finds.
Below you will see several skirts I picked up at that swap back in February. All were size 22. You might say, Jen what are you thinking picking up size 22 skirts? Well, what caught my attention was the quality of the fabric, mostly wool, the colors and the interesting stitching and pleats. And wouldn’t you know it they are all from Talbots. I thought to myself what can I make from these beautiful skirts. Not a skirt for myself but definitely some beautiful jacket, top or tunic. I’m SEW excited about the treasures I’ve found. I can’t wait to take them apart and put them back together to create something unique and fun. Of course I will not wear any of these creations until the fall but knowing they will be there waiting for me is half the fun.
You will see my step by step progress over the next several weeks. I’m sew pumped about this sewing project!
My emotional response is absolutely not! My logical answer is “of course not” besides how does one define “too many” :-)
After my 30 day challenge I gave away about 7 pairs of shoes that hurt. I loved these shoes, they were fabulous but two hours into my day my feet were screaming for relief. I decided no more band aids, no more blisters, no more limping and no more having to bring slippers to work in order to give my feet relief. Off to Goodwill and Swaps go my painful shoes .
Since shoes are such an essential aspect of the wardrobe one should always take them into careful consideration. A good pair of shoes can be worn for many years if you take good care of them.
A few tips for caring for your shoes:
1. Keep them shined, buffed and/or cleaned
2. Keep the heels repaired
3. Don’t wear your good shoes while driving
4. Keep them in a box or shoe rack when they are not being worn. Not on the closet floor
5. It’s a good idea to keep a spare pair of walking shoes in your purse, bag, at work or under your car seat, especially if you are someone who walks a lot.
6. Try to refrain from spending too much time walking on the concrete in your good shoes. This really wears out the soles and heels.
7. Invest in good insoles. Over time while you pound the pavement, literally, even the insides of your shoes can take a beating. Insoles keep your feet happy and lengthen the time you can wear your favorite pair.
Back in February I acquired these pewter flats with a buckle from Goodwill in Annandale, VA for $4-5. They are extremely comfortable and I keep them in my car under the seat. Mainly they serve as my driving shoes but they are comfortable and cute enough that I occasionally wear them with a pair of slacks or in the rare instance I don’t feel up to wearing heels. Yes it does happen…
These cute little numbers below I swapped with a friend at a Clothing Swap back in March. They are Ann Taylor suede flats and are just perfect for the transitioning months.
Buying Shoes at Thrift and Consignment Stores:
When it comes to buying shoes at a thrift stores I tend to be pretty selective. I always look for shoes that have either never been worn or have very little wear. The idea of wearing a shoe with a run over heel that’s scratched up is quite unappealing.
When shopping for shoes at a thrift or consignment store it’s important to remember a few preliminary points:
1. Pre-worn shoes are not for everyone. If you are squeamish about wearing another persons shoes I would say thrift store footwear is not for you.
2. Pre-worn shoes can be more comfortable for some people because they have already been broken in.
3. Always bring a pair of socks or knee-hi hosiery when shopping. You probably don’t want to try on shoes in your bare feet. Especially not running or tennis shoes.
4. Pay close attention to the soles of the shoes. I you can still see/feel the no-slip ridges then you are most likely in good shape however a lot depends on the brand.
5. Examine the shoes throughly. Check the connection between the fabric of the shoe and the sole
6. Always use a deodorizer and clean the shoes before wearing them. Febreeze, Lysol, Alcohol wipes, baby wipes or a cloth. If you buy tennis or running shoes and decide to throw them in the wash add a little vinegar to the wash cycle. This helps remove odor.
7. General rule of them “check the brand”. The better the brand of shoe the longer it will tend to last you. Leather shoes and boots tend to last a bit longer than the man-made uppers.
8. Lastly, If the shoes hurt or feel too small in the store you will most likely be in even more pain after an 8 hour work day. Leave them in the store and keep it moving.
Below is some of my shoe collection. Most of what you see here has been acquired through swaps and Goodwill shopping. The selection process is tedious and time-consuming but worth it when I find shoes barely worn for $4-10 that would have normally cost be minimum of $50-80 in the store.
In July I will be attending a Show Swap in Silver Spring, MD. I will post information in the coming weeks.
After several months of attending swaps everywhere from DC to VA to NYC and beyond I had the awesome opportunity of co-hosting Swap ‘Til You Drop with Susie Saadian the owner of Black Eyed Susie earlier this month. I’ve been encouraging my friends to adopt this frugal way of shopping and expanding their wardrobe. Many of them are catching on but a few remain skeptical. Unfortunately my friend Serena was unable to attend the swap earlier this month however she was game to swing by the Frugal Fashionista clothing Swap in Alexandria the following weekend. This is where she found these great pair of shoes. With a little encouragement to seize the moment Serena quickly moved toward the shoe table and nabbed these cute little numbers. She wore them to work last week and I wanted to show off her great swap finds!
Well, I have officially stocked up!
Among the many lessons learned during my wardrobe challenge was how important it is to take stock of what you have in your closet. When meeting with my test client I explained, this eliminates having excess clothing you don’t wear and that feeling of ”I have nothing to wear”. Personally I have no excuse. I did however recognize my lack of shirts and blouses along with the fact my wardrobe was somewhat devoid of sufficient color. I’ve given away so many shirts at swaps and to Goodwill over the past few months I really needed to restock. One of my recommendations for adding a little color in a more conservative wardrobe is to couple those brown, black, blue and gray business suits with a nice blouse or shirt that really pops. I am incorporating some oranges, greens, purple, light blue and even pink into the mix. Check out some of my great finds!
