The Big Shwop*

See, here’s the thing:
In the last two years I’ve lost a bit of weight. Quite a bit. About 20 kilos kind of a bit.
I’ve dropped … a few dress sizes**. Which in turn means I have a wardrobe – and boxes in my “office” – full of clothes which are really quite nice, barely worn, and just too damn big for me now.

I’ve been trying to psych myself up to sell them on TradeMe but it is just so much work for not-very-much of a payout.
Why sell a dress for the price of a cup of coffee or two, when you can exchange it for … a shirt! Or maybe another dress!

Enter: The Big Shwop



Sunday July 25
Venue: The St James Theatre, Courtenay Place, Wellington
Time: 10 am - 2.30 pm
Tickets: $20 from their website: www.thebigshwop.co.nz, or just turn up on the day
R 18 event as alcohol (woo!) is being served
Bring up to 20 items of clothing. Shwop.

You bring along 20 of your best quality no-longer-wanted items of clothing/shoes/handbags and exchange them for vouchers which you then get to use to "buy" items brought along by other Shwoppers!

Don't bother bringing items that, should your taste be different, you still wouldn't wear. Nothing ripped or stained or worn-beyond-recognition. The shwop is for good quality clothing. No Supré here***.

The only catch is, perhaps, that you don't get your clothing back if it doesn't make the cut, and you likewise get nothing if you don't use all your vouchers. All clothing which doesn't make the cut or is leftover at the end of the day is donated to charity.

It sounds marvellous. Even if I only come away with one or two items for my $20-and-donated-clothing, I'm looking forward to spending the day with a couple of my favourite ladies, free wine, and Trilogy goodies.

You should come along too!



* Yes the spelling bugs me. But I’m rising above.
** I’m now wearing a size I last wore when I was 18 and depressed and Craig lived in Auckland and I barely ate. Only this time, I eat. In fact I just finished a chocolate bar. But in general, eating better food, and less of it (I no longer let Craig serve me) teamed with more exercise is how I’ve done it. Boring, I know.
*** I'm already planning what I'm going to bring. A Karen Millen top and jacket, a bright fuchsia coat from H&M, a fancy frock from Portmans, a bag by United Colours of Benetton, all things which are still wonderful but no longer Me.