Woah what a swap

I am still on a high from Saturday, why? Well it was The Fe-line Frock Swap, which turned out to be the most enjoyable event that I have ever organised. It felt like the stars were aligned for this event and Fe-line finally got its place on the map. We had a fantastic turn out, everyone brought with them excellent items and everyone left really satisfied with what they got and had a great time. Oh and we raised £25 for the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre (OSARCC).

I have been banging on about clothes swapping for a while and knew that one day that I would be able to convince the lovely women of Oxford to come and try it out. On Saturday they were out in force, we had a queue forming from 11:50am, hungry swappers waiting for the doors to open at 12:00pm and this queue just kept coming. There were clothes everywhere and I was run off my feet, but oh my I loved every minute of it.

What I love so much about the swap is that it is such a great social event, people help each other out offering their own clothes to strangers saying: “I think this would look really good on you.” Shopping can be such a lonely affair but swapping is the opposite. The atmosphere on Saturday was electric as people hunted through the rails. I love seeing people finding something they love, especially when it was something of mine. A young girl took my old Rocha, John Rocha, red coat and obviously adored it because she wouldn’t take it off. All this coat cost was £2 and an old item of clothing!!

On a personal note I was incredibly proud that I managed to keep my head, I didn’t stress out. Once upon a time the sight of the queue, people waiting and the stacking up of clothes would have sent me over the edge and I wouldn’t have been able to cope. I am not going to lie by the end I was totally frazzled and I didn’t know what my name was but I have learnt an important lesson in life that not everything has to be perfect to be amazing.

I wasn’t the only one who thought it was amazing, I was overwhelmed by the comments that came flooding in on social media after the swap:

“Well Huzzah for Fe-Line… we had the best time ever AND I have come home with some fantastic new, unworn, fabbie things to wear. Looking forward to some more swishing in November xxx” – Sarah

“Ladies of Oxford! I’ve just been to a BRILLIANT clothes swap event at the Big Society. Get some clothes you don’t need any more and gooooo. You never need to buy new again!” -Verity

“AMAZING! Thank you!” – Sandra

“It was great fun can’t wait until the next one xxx” – Sarah

“You did amazingly well, and thanks sooo much for organising – i’m so pleased with what i got!” – Sophie

 “Loved it! Just tried on all the items and I’m so pleased with everything, particularly a bit of a wild-card choice that looks fab on! Can’t wait for next one. Thanks for organising.” – Caroline

“Thanks Jo Fe-line it was such fun. And met some lovely ladies in the loo too!” – Mazz

“Hands down best Frock Swap I’ve ever been to today – well done and thank you toFe-line for organising &The Big Society for hosting.” – Anais

If you fancy trying out the next Fe-line Frock Swap we are doing it all again at The Big Society on the 30th November, the perfect opportunity to get yourself a Christmas party outfit, all of the details are on the event page.

If you are one of the people that loved Saturday’s swap please help me to spread the word about the next event by inviting all your friends to the , as the more swappers we have, the more amazing clothes we get.

Love and frock swapping,

 

 

P.S I have to say a massive thank you to my partner, Mr. E for helping me out, to swappers Sarah and Claire who stepped in and helped me hang clothes and check people out, to Vivacious Mel Photography for taking these awesome pictures and to The Big Society for the space.