Fashion swap party
Nov. 3rd, 2011 11:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mekyriaI have never been to a clothing swap party before, and as I was running to the train on the dreary Wednesday morning, trying to hold onto my bag with badminton gear and two bags of clothes I was thinking to myself that attending a swap party tonight was probably a bad idea. First of all, I don't need new clothes as I just went through my wardrobe with a tooth comb in order to declutter. Second, the girls would probably not be my size, and third, I doubted that they'd share my love for bold prints. However, I was one my way and set to try it at least once before passing up on the concept of swapping clothes with total strangers.
A long day at work ensued, and afterwards I was beat. As an afterthought, someone form Communication & Marketing called me to ask if they could do an interview with me on Monday about a workshop I was following on Thursday (today Thursday). Oh, and by the way, they needed me to come in for a picture too. Argh, I had to come up with a good outfit within 14 hours! Okay, I realize that all the other people they were going to interview and have their picture taken would probably wear their everyday clothes and I was overreacting, but I want to look good in pictures, especially if the picture is printed 2.000 times and handed out to every employee of the University. I'm obsessive like that.
I went to Amsterdam anyway, got on a bus with a bus driver typical to Amsterdam. Unresponsive, listening to his iPod and closing the doors while elderly disabled people tried to get out. Frantic searching took place after I got out at he bus stop, as all the flats look alike in the increasing darkness. Barbara's flat was located in a huge dark red complex and a man walked out her door as I arrived, telling me 'B. lives here'and walking off. Slightly weird, but I got in and greeted B. One other girl had already arrived and she was standing in the living room, putting clothes up on hangers on three huge clothing racks. The moment I saw those, I wondered if I should have brought more. I felt that the two bags that I had been dragging around all day suddenly felt like they were not big enough! B. assured me that it was, as most of the stuff came from her wardrobe.
We got ourselves some mint tea and put the food out (bread and humus) as the other girls arrived. There were five of us in total, and we made an interesting bunch. B, me and a attractive woman with amazing curly hair were about the same size, though I was 15 cm taller. The other two girls were in the same range too, being well endowed and coincidentally both with auburn hair.
After a eating and talking, we started rummaging through the racks, encouraged by B. who had been looking forward to the party for weeks. The clothes were sorted on color (great system!) and naturally I dived in with the red and purple items first. I found a cute purple skirt with a red border and a red short sleeved top. I promised myself that I would not go overboard, thinking about the three reasons Why I Don't Need Clothes.
Those thoughts were quickly cast aside as the evening progressed. B. had a couple of cute dresses in my size that she hadn't worn, and they fitted me like a glove. Score! Being in the enabler mode, B. dove back into her bedroom and handed me a string of fake metallic blue pearls and a blue handbag to complete the outfit. By that time, we were all warming up to each other, commenting on outfits and picking stuff from the rack for one another. We agreed that the blue dress was a winner, and that I would wear it to work the next day for the photo shoot. Phew!
With the stress lifted, I continued looking and the loner I looked, the more I liked. By the end of the night I had a looming pile of clothes that I tried on and that worked for me. Being a body double of B. certainly helped. I got everything into four bags and walked to the bus stop together with one of the girls, who also scored well. She took a purple dress with her that I brought to the party, that worked especially well with her ample bosom. Overall we all walked out the door happy and with way too many clothes. Turns out B. was the biggest contributor of clothes for the evening and she was happy to see her stuff being put to good use. I fully intent to put all the clothes to good use and wear them on a regular base, and I sort of felt guilty for finding all these great items and having nothing in return.
I got home at 00.15 , put my clothes for Thursday out and went to bed. I went through the extra trouble the next morning to get dressed, added foundation to my daily make-up routine, and got to work. My co-worker who I share a room with was impressed, as was the new business consultant who told me 'you work it girl!'. And since such great compliments need to be illustrated with a picture, I give you the first outfit picture of the blue dress, worn with glittery tights, white pumps and a black tank top underneath. When I get the picture from the photo shoot, I'll share it too :-) I'll post more outfit pictures later when I get to wear them to work.
Overall I'd say this party was a big success, and I look forward to returning the favor to B. sometime by hosting a party too. I had a great night, walked away with amazing clothes and it was really nice to be there with the five of us and helping each other.
A long day at work ensued, and afterwards I was beat. As an afterthought, someone form Communication & Marketing called me to ask if they could do an interview with me on Monday about a workshop I was following on Thursday (today Thursday). Oh, and by the way, they needed me to come in for a picture too. Argh, I had to come up with a good outfit within 14 hours! Okay, I realize that all the other people they were going to interview and have their picture taken would probably wear their everyday clothes and I was overreacting, but I want to look good in pictures, especially if the picture is printed 2.000 times and handed out to every employee of the University. I'm obsessive like that.
I went to Amsterdam anyway, got on a bus with a bus driver typical to Amsterdam. Unresponsive, listening to his iPod and closing the doors while elderly disabled people tried to get out. Frantic searching took place after I got out at he bus stop, as all the flats look alike in the increasing darkness. Barbara's flat was located in a huge dark red complex and a man walked out her door as I arrived, telling me 'B. lives here'and walking off. Slightly weird, but I got in and greeted B. One other girl had already arrived and she was standing in the living room, putting clothes up on hangers on three huge clothing racks. The moment I saw those, I wondered if I should have brought more. I felt that the two bags that I had been dragging around all day suddenly felt like they were not big enough! B. assured me that it was, as most of the stuff came from her wardrobe.
We got ourselves some mint tea and put the food out (bread and humus) as the other girls arrived. There were five of us in total, and we made an interesting bunch. B, me and a attractive woman with amazing curly hair were about the same size, though I was 15 cm taller. The other two girls were in the same range too, being well endowed and coincidentally both with auburn hair.
After a eating and talking, we started rummaging through the racks, encouraged by B. who had been looking forward to the party for weeks. The clothes were sorted on color (great system!) and naturally I dived in with the red and purple items first. I found a cute purple skirt with a red border and a red short sleeved top. I promised myself that I would not go overboard, thinking about the three reasons Why I Don't Need Clothes.
Those thoughts were quickly cast aside as the evening progressed. B. had a couple of cute dresses in my size that she hadn't worn, and they fitted me like a glove. Score! Being in the enabler mode, B. dove back into her bedroom and handed me a string of fake metallic blue pearls and a blue handbag to complete the outfit. By that time, we were all warming up to each other, commenting on outfits and picking stuff from the rack for one another. We agreed that the blue dress was a winner, and that I would wear it to work the next day for the photo shoot. Phew!
With the stress lifted, I continued looking and the loner I looked, the more I liked. By the end of the night I had a looming pile of clothes that I tried on and that worked for me. Being a body double of B. certainly helped. I got everything into four bags and walked to the bus stop together with one of the girls, who also scored well. She took a purple dress with her that I brought to the party, that worked especially well with her ample bosom. Overall we all walked out the door happy and with way too many clothes. Turns out B. was the biggest contributor of clothes for the evening and she was happy to see her stuff being put to good use. I fully intent to put all the clothes to good use and wear them on a regular base, and I sort of felt guilty for finding all these great items and having nothing in return.
I got home at 00.15 , put my clothes for Thursday out and went to bed. I went through the extra trouble the next morning to get dressed, added foundation to my daily make-up routine, and got to work. My co-worker who I share a room with was impressed, as was the new business consultant who told me 'you work it girl!'. And since such great compliments need to be illustrated with a picture, I give you the first outfit picture of the blue dress, worn with glittery tights, white pumps and a black tank top underneath. When I get the picture from the photo shoot, I'll share it too :-) I'll post more outfit pictures later when I get to wear them to work.
Overall I'd say this party was a big success, and I look forward to returning the favor to B. sometime by hosting a party too. I had a great night, walked away with amazing clothes and it was really nice to be there with the five of us and helping each other.
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no subject
Date: 2011-11-03 11:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 10:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 06:27 am (UTC)I wish I had any clothing to swap- today I am wearing an approx. 20 year old blouse (my mom made it when I started highschool) over an old pair of jeans - both are not 'fashionably old' (retro) but just 'nothing else in my wardrobe fits'-old. :(
no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 10:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 07:54 am (UTC)