They came, they swapped, they drank champagne…

It’s all very well sharing clothes with your nearest and dearest if they are of a similar size and shape. But what if the motley crew you call friends don’t suit your style or tend to ruin everything you kindly pass their way?

Well, here’s an idea that could save you a fortune and help to avoid those embarrassing “you owe me $100” moments.

Swap My Style launched in Sydney last month and is set to send Melbourne into frenzy when the inaugural event is held on May 28. It is the brainchild of Shaughla Ahmad, who grew up with 2 sisters and, by default, an extended and varied wardrobe.

From an early age, the three girls worked out a mutually beneficial system where clothes were shared and traded, meaning they saved money and looked great in the process.

That led to an informal arrangement with various friends and colleagues, before Swap My Style was born and hosted its first commercial swap shop in February of 2008. The event attracted over 150 eager participants, who traded clothes while drinking champagne at a swanky city bar in Sydney.

UPCOMING SWAP DATES

SYDNEY
JUNE 12th THE LOFT, 3 Lime Street, King Street Wharf
JULY 23rd VIP NIGHT LAUNCH – Zeta Bar, Hilton Hotel, Level 4, 488 George Street
 
MELBOURNE
MAY 28th MELBOURNE LAUNCH EVENT  -The Longroom, 162 – 168 Collins Street
JULY 30th MELBOURNE VIP NIGHT LAUNCH  -The Longroom, 162 – 168 Collins Street

PERTH
AUGUST 20th PERTH LAUNCH EVENT – Luxe,  466 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

And here’s how it works:

1.Register to attend your nearest Swap My Style event by visiting www.swapmystyle.com.au. Purchase your discounted tickets online ($30) or register your interest and pay at the door on the night ($40).  (Due to limited capacity on the night, we cannot guarantee entry without a pre-paid ticket, so to avoid disappointment, we recommend buying your ticket online).

2.Check in will take place from 6 – 7pm on Wednesday May 28.  Arrive on time, bringing up to five new or pre-worn fashion items that you no longer wear or use.  These can be clothing items, handbags, shoes or accessories.
 
3.For each item you check in, you will receive a colour-coded token that you can use to pay for your new items once the swap floor opens. There are three levels of tokens issued on the night to ensure that your swap gives you back an item of equal or similar value.

Yellow – Items valued between $50 - $100
Green – Items valued between $100 - $200
Red – Items valued at $200 or more

Note that VIP events will have higher price brackets

4.Once you’ve checked in your items, you’re free to schmooze with your girlfriends, enjoying complimentary canapés, and having a cheeky drink or two.  You may also wish to do some stretching to ensure that you are nimble enough to get to the swap item you want before somebody else does.

5.The swap floor will open at 7.30pm. Browse through the racks and find some ‘new to you’ items to swap with your tokens.  Try them on in the change rooms if required to make sure you’ve got a good fit.  If you’re not sure – ask our resident international fashion stylist for advice!
 
6.Once you have selected your items, proceed to the check out and make your token purchase. VOILA!  Swap complete!
 
7.If you don’t manage to use up all your tokens, you can have peace of mind of knowing that all un-swapped items will be donated to charity. OR, you can choose to save your spare tokens for the next Swap My Style event that you attend.
 
 
RULES TO REMEMBER

You will only be allowed to check in a maximum of 5 items
 
Please do not be late. Check-in is between 6.00pm and 7.00pm and he Swap will run from 7.30pm until 10.00pm.
 
If you can’t bear to be without a particular fashion item, please do not bring it to a swap event. It can be a strange feeling watching someone else try on your old threads and it is important that you are detached and happy to see your fashion items go to a new home!
 
Remember, that Swap my Style is all about – you guessed it - STYLE!  We know that women have different and eclectic styles and tastes, so whether it’s a Witchery jacket, pair of Sass N Bide jeans or a glam dress from Lisa Ho – if you’re not wearing it, bring it to a Swap My Style event.  Our events are all about showcasing a great mix of finds.
 
That said, it is important that the sisterly “Spirit of the Swap” is embraced by all participants.  While Swap My Style provides funky finds in a range of price brackets, providing quality for one another is key.  This means items can be unworn or gently worn.  If your fashion item is deemed to be in too poor condition for “re-sale”, it may not be accepted into the swap. 
 
Please make sure items are cleaned and pressed. There is no need for items to be dry cleaned. 
 
Once a token has been exchanged, that is the end of the swap. Please choose carefully.

For more information visit www.swapmystyle.com.au