Swapping parties are getting a facelift.  The new shopping craze phenomenon, swishing parties are growing ever popular and coming to a home near you.  High Fashion Swishing Parties are all the rave.

The coined term ‘swishing’ defines a group of women getting together socially.  Each woman brings a garment or accessory in good condition that she no longer wants but would be proud to give away.  The clothes and accessories are displayed for the women to review, the wine or beverage of choice is poured and the swishing commences.

Within hours everyone returns home with a new coat, jacket, dress, shoes, handbag or top and a guiltless glow.  No money changes hands at any time.  Swishing is all about swapping your clothes and accessories for someone else’s in a socially friendly environment with a few of your favorite friends. 

Fashionistas: Swap ’til you drop at a “swishing do”│By Andras Gergely │DUBLIN (Reuters Life!)

Like most parties, it tends to start with drinks, nibbles and casual conversation, until the guests suddenly start swapping clothes.

Invented before the credit crunch but becoming more popular as a free substitute for shopping and entertainment, welcome to swishing.

“Swishing dos” are parties where people swap second-hand clothes, following a few commonly agreed rules along the following lines:

Pick a date and venue, invite friends, prepare some food, let people browse the clothes they have brought while enjoying a glass of wine; at a previously agreed time, count down to the “Swish,” and start swapping.  Read the whole story.

For women who love to Swap│By Siobhan Courtney│BBC News

Women have swapped clothes for eons, and the success of eBay shows that women will happily bid for someone else’s cast-offs. But that costs, and swishing is free.  Read the whole story.

The swishing party idea has really taken off in the United Kingdom and is growing ever popular in the USA.  Swapping parties are not a new idea; this is just a new twist on a tested idea.  The timing and the economic climate  are perfect and the second-hand exchange idea is picking up momentum.   If you are having a Swishing Party and want a larger turnout, leave the details in your comments.