Swap Til You Drop
May 29th, 2007 by Katie
The Biore Style Swap is founded on the idea that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. If you think about it, it is true that your favorite tee came from a thrift store… and those hoop earrings you came to hate are now your little sister’s faves. Fortunately, Cosmopolitan and Biore recently teamed up to bring you the first national Biore Style Swap tour. It’s the largest clothing swap to date, which will travel to 10 major cities in the U.S. I just so happened to be on hand for the tour’s NYC kick-off at an indescript loft in the Garment District.
I exited a rickety elevator that opened to a hip space and beheld a D.J. spinning, caterers offering snacks and a gaggle of trendy 20-somethings ready and willing to drop it like it’s hot — for once not in the hoochie club way. They checked in their gently worn clothes, then proceeded to eat, drink, mingle, get an astrology reading and enter sweepstakes, including the chance to win a Coach bracelet to die for. When all the clothes were seperated onto their respective racks (tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories) it was time for all interested parties to bring their A-game.
Surprisingly, the swapping was less like the cliche onslaught of a big-city sample sale and more like a Victoria’s Secret biannual sale, at which women shopped, happily knowing the values they would receive at such an exclusive event. Women of every size tried on garments and walked out of draped dressing rooms to check out their new looks. “That was mine!” shouts were greeted with “Thank you!” responses — rather than the typical sample sale response of “Step off, skank.”
The attendees stopped to compliment other shoppers, and the no-nonsense stylists were the icing on the cake. Bringing women garments and noting, “This is so you,” as well as hashing out honest doses of “Let’s try something more flattering” when approproate.
The crowd appeared surprised with how fortunate they had been in their hunt. A little spring cleaning made room for a new spring wardrobe. To follow in suit, as they say, RSVP to one of the remaining five events or download your own kit. It’s easier than swiping you debit card for a new summer wardrobe — and guilt free too.
May 29: Denver, CO
June 5: Los Angeles, CA
June 7: San Francisco, CA
June 12: Seattle, WA
June 20: Minneapolis, MN
June 26: Chicago, IL