Clothing swaps: A how-to from former ‘Bachelorette’ Jen Schefft

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There’s not much to a traditional clothing swap -- bring a bag of clothes you wouldn’t mind trading, drink a little vino and, well, swap away.

Or so I thought. According to Jen Schefft, a former contestant on ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette,’ there’s a lot more to hosting a clothing swap than Merlot-fueled good vibes.

The reality star has teamed up with Little Black Dress Wines for ‘Closet Swap,’ a list of tips for hosting a killer clothing exchange that ultimately gives any unwanted items away to charity.
‘A Closet Swap is a great way to get together with your girlfriends, pick up some new fashion finds and give back in the process,’ Schefft said via e-mail. ‘Most women would agree that we have lots of things in our closets we often buy but rarely, if ever, use that would be considered a fashion ‘find’ by a sister, neighbor or girlfriend.’

The list of tips in its entirety can be found here, but here are some highlights:
* Encourage the little black dress code: The always-classic little black dress is the perfect closet staple to pair with a variety of accessories to transform your look. Encourage your guests to don their favorite LBD to ‘try on’ and ‘model’ the various Closet Swap items.

*Create a stylish space: Pick a place in your home where you’ll ‘set up shop’ for the Closet Swap. Coordinate an empty area or clear off a table where guests can display their accessories available for ‘swapping.’ Don’t forget to have a full length mirror on hand for guests to try on and admire their gal pals’ accessories.

* Prepare some pizzazz: A fashionable party should be delicious too! Prepare some fun small plates to set out during the party for guests to nibble on. Cheese and veggie trays, hummus, dips and fun finger foods are always easy and affordable options.

* Swap and shop in an orderly fashion: To easily keep track of the number of accessories each person donates, give each guest one poker chip for every item they bring. Before the swapping begins, draw numbers to determine the order in which guests will make their selection. When it’s time to get ‘swapping,’ guests can select one item during round one and go in order; during the second round, guests should select two items and reverse the order of who picks first; the third round, guests select three items and so on.
-- Emili Vesilind

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