April 23rd, 2012 
On Saturday, April 21, DewdropDC hosted their Spring Swap and Shop fashionista event at the Hilton Arlington. Not knowing what to expect, I arrived right at 1:30 pm to “swap” my 5 items before the shopping began. I was immediately greeted by the pop-up shops that were filled with beautiful silk dresses, designer handbags, and vintage accessories. Knowing that the pop-up shops would be there after the Swap and Shop, I opted to go in the Swap and Shop first.
Photo courtesy from Erin Haberman
The timing was perfect since the mad dash to the doors began precisely at 1:30 pm. Once I walked through the doors to the main Swap and Shop, I was impressed with the clear and organized rows of tables and racks marked with XS/S/M/L/XL and Plus sizes in each category of clothing. Even though there was a lot to take in, everything was so easy to find that it wasn’t a hassle. They even had someone re-folding the shirts after each swapper, making the tables nice and orderly.
Within five minutes, the tables lined with blouses, accessories, jeans, jackets, and dresses were nearly stripped bare. I managed to grab some great pieces and stuff them into my bag before other shoppers arrived. It was a mix of emotions- thrilling to run in and grab items; exciting to pull out a few gems to add to my closet; and hilarious watching women try on their new pieces right in the middle of the floor with nothing but their undergarments. My girlfriend and creator of Erin’s Currently Coveting blog, Erin Haberman, met up with me 15 minutes later and managed to snag a cute plaid dress and a LBD (little black dress) from H&M.
Photo courtesy from Erin Haberman
During the swapping session, I had the privilege of meeting Kristine Thomas, founder of DewdropDC. The Spring Swap and Shop is her brainchild, and she was so humble and sweet about its major success. I even got to pose for a picture with my new floral printed skirt for Kristine’s Twitter followers (you can follow her at @dewdropDC).
After we were done in the Swap and Shop, we went back to the main foyer with the pop-up shops to check out more chic items. Local designers and fashion companies included: Brown Sugar Designs, Charmed Boutique, Closet Junkie Boutique, Elan Renegade Vintage, Grace & Lux, Lola Ro Jewelry, Stella & Dot, Trendsetter Jewelry Designs, and my personal favorite, Snob Swap.
Photo Courtesy from Erin Haberman
Since all the left over clothing went to Goodwill of Greater Washington, not only was this a fun experience, but a great cause as well. I’ll definitely be looking forward to next year’s Spring Swap and Shop!
