Ok, it's 50-50 for the pink chandelier, below - one resounding no, one yes (I think) ... and both from pretty stylish gents. Get yer votes in so the Grunge-Queen can end this wishy-washy hell!!No, this pic isn't a style experiment - it's my set up for my clothing swap tonight! In a few hours I'll have 15 chicks in my one bedroom apt!! I've been doing potlucks forever - before they became hip - and sometimes I combine one with a clothing swap. It's heaps of fun - we eat well, drink well, and laugh like mad as we try clothing on and visit. An added bonus: we clean out our closets (that sometimes, for me, contain the odd thrift store mistake) and take home a few new things to refresh our wardrobes. Whatever's left (there's always a ton) is donated to a charity of our choice.
TIPS:1). WHO: It helps that most of my pals and me are the same size. If you have a swap where there's a few people who aren't the same size, make sure you include housewares, jewellery and accessories, even makeup in the swap - one of my pals is a teacher and she gets hoards of new makeup from her kids that she's never opened! In other words, make sure there's something for everyone.
2). WHAT: Anything goes except undies and used makeup, I think. The first time I hosted one I thought some of my stuff was too junky - but the gals loved it! I go through my closet the afternoon of the swap and am pretty ruthless: if I haven't worn it for a year, chances are I'll never wear it again, so into the pile it goes. And that undie thing? It can be stretched slightly. Last year I picked up a lovely cotton spaghetti strap nightie by Robin Kay, a Canadian knitwear designer. I joked with its owner that she better not have done anything dirty in it, then I washed it and my beau at the time loved it!
3). HOW 1: Displaying masses of clothing can be hard, especially if in a small apartment like me. I'm lucky to have a brass bed: scarves hang over the head bars, pants over the lower bars, and sweaters and tops go on the main portion. I ask people to bring extra hangers and hang dresses, jackets, and nice tops across the shower bar in the bathroom - if there's room that's where we hang peoples' coats too, except you need a clear dividing line so people don't swap each others' coats by accident!!
4). HOW 2: Wine, women and clothing: you can see how things may get out of hand fast. You want every one to walk away with at least one good find, and you want it to be fair, yet fun. Since I'm having 15 gals in tonight, my plan is to let everyone sift through items as people arrive, have drinks, and visit. Once every one gets a chance to get a good gander, we'll draw numbers and have every one pick two things they want. After that, let the games begin: it'll be a free-for-all! I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
NOTE ON FAIRNESS: I'm not too hung up about who brings what, so long as every one contributes something in the form of food or drink and clothing. The point, natch, is to have fun, and that's exactly what we do!!
5). HOW 3: I get tons of big store bags in press kits (ok, and from my shopping column) so I store them up so the gals can take their new duds home in a nice bag.
Gotta go make meatloaf! If I've missed anything you'll find out tomorrow, and Lamp and Lighting Week starts Monday!
