The Paris Runway of Floyd
The burgundy shirt that hung on the post in front of Amy’s new apartment let me know I was at the right place. A Woman’s Clothing Exchange, a long time tradition in Floyd, was about to begin. “Late afternoon tea served, bring a simple snack or sweet to share. Leftover clothing given to Angel’s in the Attic” (thrift shop), the invitation in the October Museletter read.
I lugged 3 boxes of clothes I had lost interest in up the stairs. Inside, the scene was reminiscent of a Filene’s Basement sale in Boston. 
Piles of clothes were strewn all over the living room floor, or were stacked in cardboard boxes that a few women were rummaging through.
Soon, more clothing exchangers arrived, some with young children and babies. It wasn’t long before women in all manner of dress (or not) were walking on the piles of clothes and giving fashion show pirouettes. Someone shouted out, “Hey, keep a close eye on the clothes you came in with, otherwise they might end up with a new owner.”
Whimsical fake fur, all-weather stilettos, kaftans, saris, slinky tops, and even peacock feathers all turned up in the mix. Like backstage fashion show models, we checked ourselves out in the bathroom medicine cabinet mirror or used the reflection in the TV set to see what looked good. Women gave each other compliments and other comments and sometimes picked out clothes for each other. Most of us knew each other already, and if we hadn’t, we did by the end of this couple of hours spent together.
“Are you sure you want to give this up, Colleen?” Amy asked, flipping a shocking pink scarf from my give-away pile around her neck.
“I have one almost just like it at home. It’s yours!” I assured her.
The pink scarf reminded me of something. “Does anyone remember the pink silk skirt I got a few years back? I wore it to my son’s wedding this summer!” I announced.
Some remembered the pink silk skirt, my personal favorite clothing exchange success story. At one time it belonged to Karen. Some pieces make the rounds and end up back for a second or third clothing exchange. Most have a story that go with them and the women freely tell them.
At the height of the afternoon’s activity about a dozen women mingled, trying on clothes, sipping tea, and munching on nori rice snacks. Nobody had on the clothes they came in with and the outfits kept changing. 
Soon, the shy blogger in me, who up until this point had only taken pictures of piles of clothes and people’s feet, couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Come on over and pose in your new outfits,” I shouted from the kitchen, “but only if you don’t mind being blogged.” Most everyone was more than happy to become blogging celebrities, showing off their new styles.
A new take on recycling? Big girls playing dress up? “This is my kind of fun!” I exclaimed while the camera was snapping.
Photos: #3 standing: Randye, Alina, Colleen, Joy. sitting: Amy and Andrea. #4: Alina, April, Colleen, and Sarah. None of us in both photos are wearing the clothes we came to the clothing exchange in.
October 15th, 2006 11:45 am
I think that is one of the coolest ideas! I used to take clothes to work and we’d have my semi-annual clothing sale in my office. Mostly I gave it away but the girls liked it. They have been trying to get me to load up the car and come back just for a “trunk” sale.
I like your idea better!
October 15th, 2006 11:56 am
Great way to recycle and have a fun time! I think if I were ever to leave Botetourt, I’d have to take a hard look at Floyd. You folks seem to have a great way of living life.
October 15th, 2006 2:26 pm
What fun it would be to rumage through the piles of clothes. I’m sure everyone found something useful and/or pretty that felt like brand new.
Hey, it just dawned on me that that is why they use the term “ramage sale.”
p.s. Yes Colleen, you can borrow those pink pants I wore to the class reunion.
October 15th, 2006 5:08 pm
What a fantastic idea, Colleen and such fun! Darn….I should of stayed longer and participated in this!
I need to mention something like this to my female friends on the island….looks like a very enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
October 15th, 2006 5:54 pm
Great idea and the leftover clothes get good use by other who need them. Kudos.
October 15th, 2006 6:44 pm
I come from the land of the G
“Garage Sales”, but frankly this looks like a lot more fun.
Thanks for visiting my blog and I agree that you have some beautiful faces in these photos.
October 15th, 2006 6:47 pm
What a nice idea! Good for you. We try and give our clothes to Goodwill every season. I’m guilty of hanging on to things for WAY too long.
Here via michele!
October 15th, 2006 7:43 pm
I do love Filene’s Basement. Great idea. Sounds a lot like the bellydancers I hung out with in SLC. Playing Dress-up sounds perfect.
October 15th, 2006 10:06 pm
What fun I would have there! I am constantly going to used clothing stores and I get a blast when I score big! I give away a lot of my clothes to my sisters and friends and take the rest to the stores. A recent score was a pair of dark brown washable suede pants never worn for $20! They’re $170 in the real stores. And they were actually tje right length for my daddy-long legs!
You have such cool stuff going on down there!
October 16th, 2006 11:44 am
This is a nice twist on a consignment shop approach. I can think of other commodities that would work besides clothes.
Kids toys, yard tools, other tools, dishes, etc. We all have things that are in good condition, but we have grown tired of them and it is a wonderfully sustainable approach to leaving a smaller footprint on the planet!
October 16th, 2006 12:23 pm
That’s a fun swap event. Leaving the whole money equation out of it keeps people from getting clingy or tense I bet. Full release to the world without some bid-in minimum.
October 16th, 2006 1:38 pm
That looks like so much FUN!
Love the photos in the previous post!
October 16th, 2006 2:47 pm
I picked up a book at the exchange as well… Ram Dass’s “I’m Still Here.” So yes, the possiblities are endless.
October 16th, 2006 4:52 pm
lovely. and after looking through my pathetic bags of forlorn winter clothes i could really do with a day like that… hmm i may just have to get the gang on the phone. 🙂
October 16th, 2006 6:13 pm
Colleen, What a happy blog you have. I’ve just moved to Kingsport, TN and love the countryside, mountains, etc. Thanks for stopping by RazarMedia and leaving your comment. You’re a bright, lovely spirit!
October 16th, 2006 7:59 pm
Darn, I’m missing that by a few days! Actually I just went through all my stuff and gave away 3 big bags. I figured if I hadn’t worn it for 2 years it was going out Keep the weather good….I’ll see you Friday !
October 17th, 2006 1:04 am
What fun! I remember yard sales held by various Cambridge, MA, nonprofits, that were like movable feasts. You could buy books and clothing for maybe a quarter or a dime apiece, then donate what you no longer wanted to the next fundraiser, and so on.
October 17th, 2006 3:56 pm
We didn’t get as far south on our trip as Floyd, but we got as far as Lexington before I64 went on west to West Virginia. The foliage was fabulous, much more color than we have here yet.
This looks like way too much fun for one afternoon.