“Clothing is mass produced,” Stefanie Johnson said. “It doesn’t fit everyone correctly because it’s trying to fit everyone. “ ~Photo by Jon Washer.

By Emily Blackwood

It’s no secret that when you look good, you feel good and Stefanie Johnson believes that the confidence you gain from the perfect outfit should be accessible to women everywhere.

“How you look and feel in your clothes directly affects how you act,” Johnson said, “and I think whether we want to believe it or not, what we’re wearing, it just makes a difference.”

But as many women know, finding the perfect outfit can be a struggle. That’s where SwapIt comes in.

Three years ago, Johnson was living in New York City when she was elevated to a new level in her career that put her in spotlight at lot more than she was used to.

“I was being seen and photographed and talking in front in people, and I was not comfortable in what I was wearing,” she said.

So, she decided to hire a professional stylist and was less than pleased with the results, especially considering how expensive it was. Then she had a thought: “I can do this better.”

And she did.

This past month, SwapIt moved into their first location in Davis Square, at 67 Holland Street, and began offering in-store affordable personal styling services. For $50 you can book a 45-minute session with a stylist who will select your items and show you how to wear them. You also get to take five pieces home and can purchase more if you’d like.

“When it really comes down to it, we’re more than a styling service. We’re a system on how to make getting dressed easier,” Johnson said.

Every item in the store is second-hand, which is Johnson’s way of not only making personal styling more affordable but reducing the large amounts of textiles that go into landfills. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average U.S. citizen throws away 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles every year.

“We found that women are more than happy to give us their stuff. They like to know it’s going to be worn in their community and that nothing is ending up in a landfill,” she said.

Johnson hopes that setting up the SwapIt storefront to be more like a boutique will take the overwhelm out of thrift shopping, which usually means rummaging for hours through tight racks full of clothes.

In the future, Johnson said she hopes to expand and open more stores as well as offer more services. She also wants to create more partnerships like the one they currently have with TeePearls, an accessories company that turns t-shirts into jewelry. SwapIt will donate any items they can’t use to TeePearls and then those items will be made into accessories that SwapIt can sell in their store.

Though she’s got her sights set on a big vision, Johnson said it’s witnessing that moment when one of her customers finds that perfect look that keeps her motivated.

“It’s the most beautiful thing when someone who doesn’t feel good about themselves finds an outfit that fits them correctly. If you don’t have to think about what you’re wearing, it just changes your demeanor and that in turn really changes your life.”

SwapIt is open for appointments from Wednesday to Sunday, and open for donations Thursday to Sunday. Visit www.swapit.cool to set up an appointment.