If, like me, you find yourself coming up empty more often than not during your early morning closet search for something that will make you feel cute, or your kids are growing like weeds and you can’t keep up with their need for new shoes every month, read on.

Leading the trend of “frugal’s the new black,” clothing swap parties are hot. Suzanne Agasi, Founder and DIrector of Clothing Swap, Inc. gets a lot of publicity for hosting pampering spa-like clothing swaps in major cities. But what’s a woman anywhere else to do  when she needs new clothes and is on a tight budget? Send out an email to all of her like-minded friends and fellow moms and have a clothing swap of her own!

There’s no better feeling than enjoying a shopping spree with friends, without spending a penny! In my local online mom’s group, we have a biannual kids clothing and gear swap. I really get into this, boxing up about a hundred pieces of gently worn items, I leave it with one of the coordinators, and on the appointed day (marked in a big red marker on my calendar) I’m one of the first in the door of a fellow member’s house that’s been transformed into a shopping center. It’s total mayhem, but with my credit for 100 items, I power shop for the coming year. Once I’m done, I catch up with the other women over a coffee and bagel.

For my own very picky fashion sense, I get together with a group of like-minded friends for a little potluck party a couple of times a year. Whoever is hosting sends out an email invite, setting an evening where we all bring a snack or beverage and as many items of “nice” clothing as we’d like to trade. Not the dowdy stuff, but the skinny jeans we honestly haven’t been able to wear for a year and the blouse that’s bursting at the buttons that we may have a hard time parting with; but we’re more willing because we know they’ll be appreciated by friends. What results is not only a fun (and funny, when everybody’s fighting over those great designer jeans) night out with a bunch of friends, it’s a major wardrobe overhaul for all of us.

Organize it any way you like – my friends and I just put pants in a pile, sweaters in another, shoes in another, and one person is assigned to hold up one piece at a time, describe it with help from the woman who brought it, and whoever wants it  raises her hand. If more than two people want the same item and they can’t hash it out, or if it comes down to it, each one tries  it on, and the group votes for who it works better for. Even when that happens, it’s important that the vibe is friendly and fun, not competitive.

For both of these events, the leftover clothes are donated to a local charity. So nothing is wasted, nothing is spent, and everybody’s happy.

I also recently found out about an online swap site called swapstyle.com, where all swaps are free. There are really nice things on there too, from all over the world (I found a beautiful shift dress from Australia!). You simply search for what you want, and when you see an item you like, you email the person who posted it, and if they like any of your posted itms that are within the same value range, the two of you make a swap. If she’s not interested in any of the stuff you’ve posted but you just have to have that dress, or those boots, most swappers offer an option to buy as well (a reasonable second hand price, normally).

So if you’re feeling frumpy as the new season approaches, don’t let it get you down. Instead, throw a party and invite a bunch of well dressed friends, or jump online and check out what the world has to offer for free!