This weekend I ended up a two new shirts, a new purse, a new dress and a cute pair of Jessica Simpson heels. Sounds like a went on a shopping spree, right? Actually it was all free thanks to a clothing swap! A friend of mine organized the event as a way to clean out her own closets while getting a few “new” things in her own wardrobe at the same time. It’s a great way to update your clothing assortment while not spending any money. And the stuff I got was great– the J. Crew dress still had tags attached and the shoes had never been worn. If this sounds good to you, here are a few tips for organizing a clothes swap.

Clean Out Your Closets

You need to have plenty of “merchandise” to share. Clean out your closets and drawers. You may even want to go through your accessories like purses, jewelry and shoes. Collect it all and wash anything that needs it.

Invite Others

Send out a free invite via Facebook. Tell your friends to clean out their closets, too and bring everything to your place for a clothes swap. You may want to ask them to bring some snacks or drinks, so that it’s a festive night of fun.

Offer Hanging Space

My friend cleared off her dining room table so we could pile on clothes that were up for grabs. She also installed temporary hanging racks in her doorways so it was easier to look through items. Have a separate space set aside for accessories and shoes.

Set Out a Mirror

Make sure there’s a mirror nearby for checking out clothing selections. Have a place prepared so that guests can try items on if needed.

Have a Plan for Extras

Offer to take clothing that wasn’t chosen to the Goodwill or another charity drop-off. That way guests don’t have to worry about lugging their leftovers back home.