If you have ever looked in a wardrobe full of clothes and found nothing to wear, a new craze called "swishing" may be the answer.

The phenomenon, set to hit Oxford this weekend, sees people bringing in good quality clothes that they no longer wear, and swapping them rather than throwing them away.

Saturday's event, at St Aldate's Church from 7-9pm, is set to see up to 200 fashion-hungry women bringing in everything from designer dresses, to shoes jewellery and accessories - and going home with new outfits without having to pay a penny.

It is the brainchild of ethical fashion consultant Elizabeth Laskar.

She said: "This will be the first clothes swap party that Oxford has had on a large scale. The swishing party is all about redressing the issue of the nine million tons of unwanted fabrics that the UK puts in landfill every year."

But she was keen to get rid of the jumble sale image - only good quality, new or rarely worn items will be accepted and there will be a quality control system on the door.

She said: "We are in a society where we buy cheap fashion, going out every weekend buying something new, wear it a couple of times, then won't wear it again.

"We have all got something in our wardrobe we have not worn for over a year, and of course there will be someone else who would.

"We need to provide an avenue to find fun ways of getting together and exchanging and refreshing your wardrobes."

Among the items Miss Laskar has picked up from swishing parties in the past are designer shoes, handmade dresses, scarves and earrings.

Miss Laskar said: "The idea is it will give women ideas so they can do it on a smaller scale in their local communities and among their friends, meaning lots more clothes will not end up in landfill."

As well as offering the opportunity to pick up new clothes, there will be fashion, image and colour consultants on hand to help people choose the right items.

There will also be fairtrade and organic wine to add to the party atmosphere.

Among those who will be hoping to pick up a few choice pieces will be Susie Lipscomb, 29, from Summertown.

She said: "I have done a couple of parties on a much smaller scale. We all have so many clothes that fill up our wardrobes that are still perfectly good quality and we just don't like any more.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to get lots of women together to talk and eat and pick up really great pieces of clothing for free - it is a win-win situation."

Entry to the event is free.