Swapaholics do Boston Fashion Week!

I read the blurb from Boston Fashion Week so I knew the basic details. Arrive at the Somerville Armory by 7:45pm, drop off your donations, pay $15, receive an official swap tote, and go to the end of the line and WAIT until the doors opened at 8pm.

Lots of waiting and wondering if it was going to rain.

But then what, was it going to be like one of the Filene's Basement bridal events, where we grab first, examine later? The answer? Yes. Exactly like that.

Fashion bloggers look down on us from above.

A few larger sizes and less stylish items left.

The doors finally opened onto 7,000 square feet of racks and racks and racks and it was —  overwhelming. No nice neat labels for shirts over on this rack and dresses over there. Just women grabbing and stuffing clothes into totes. And TV and photography crews filming and interviewing. Like a nearsighted sheep, I stayed close to the door, picking my way methodically from rack to rack. A mere fifteen minutes later, the racks were empty. By the time I got to the "accessories" table, it was bone dry. The shoe section? A scatter of rejects including one pair I'd brought. Ouch. My pride took a hit!

Shoe rejects. Don't ask me which are mine cause I ain't telling.

I laid out my spoils, which I took home and promptly put into bedbug quarantine (being a little paranoid, I know).

Two bags of stuff, plus jacket, shirt, and skirt!

While waiting in line for some complimentary chardonnay, some new friends show me their shoes. Fun, right? For that price?

Sorry to say this, but the fashion show was anti-climactic. Suddenly the space felt too large. I realized later that the models were the same fashion bloggers who'd been partying up on the balcony while we wrangled clothes off the hangers below. There had been no interaction until then (no live blogging or tweeting on the overhead projector) and we didn't know who they were or what their connection to the event was. The personal scale was lost. At least, for me.

Liked how the heels were silhouetted by my iPhone camera.

Even so, the event felt significant, a sign of the new shopper. The Swapaholics — Amy Chase and Melissa Massello — are riding the new frugality. In one of their video interviews, Amy Chase said that because of regular swaps with friends, she can go forever without buying any clothes! Each of the Swapaholics has their own distinctive online presence, and as a team, they seem to be whizzes at finding partnerships and sponsorships. I am definitely a fan and look forward to their next Boston event.