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… Founder of a fashionista’s paradise Buy My Wardobe

We’ve all experienced that sinking, guilty feeling when we’ve spent too much time and money shopping, but few of us have the entrepreneurial streak that Kal Di Paola has. Be Fabulous meets the founder of the successful Buy My Wardrobe concept and finds out how she transformed a shopping addiction into a hugely successful business.

It’s been four years since Kal Di Paola spent a sleepless night fretting about the impact her shopping addiction was having on her bank balance. The former fashion designer – Kal was the force behind Kal Kaur Rai Ltd for more than a decade – had always been able to justify her love of beautiful clothes as being part of her job, but with the country in recession and wardrobe doors that no longer closed, Kal knew that her passion had spiraled out of control.

Toss a very unhappy bank manager into the equation, and it became clear that Kal needed a solution. Flicking through rail upon rail of designer garments, Kal realized that the only sensible solution was to sell her clothes – streamlining the contents of her wardrobe and boosting her bank balance in one fell swoop.

“Initially, I thought about uploading it all onto e-bay, but did I really have the time? I phoned a few dress agencies, they charged a 50% fee and would be very selective at what they took on… it didn’t look like it was going to be as easy as I’d imagined. By the evening my enthusiasm for my moneymaking idea had waned.

“That night, I tossed and turned and barely slept but by the morning the idea of a Buy My Wardrobe event was born.

“Over the next few weeks I called people I knew with equally serious shopping addictions and set about organizing the very first Buy My Wardrobe event. As more and more people contacted me eager to sell off their barely worn but seriously fabulous wardrobes, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to pull this off at the upstairs room of a local pub, so I went in search of the perfect venue to host an event heaving with fashionistas and chose the swanky, newly-opened members club Vanilla.”

Just twelve weeks later, doors opened for the champagne brunch at the very first Buy My Wardrobe event. The line-up of “Wardrobe Mistresses” as they became to be known, included What not to Wear stylist Zoe Lem and former Elle Publishing Director Elaine Foran. Tills were ringing and shoppers left thrilled with their purchases and clutching goody bags packed with product including Spa Paradise bath products, Nars make-up, Fiji water and Eylure eyelashes. The very first event was an immediate success and paved the way for the start of a Buy My Wardrobe phenomenon.

The success of the launch event demonstrated that there was an audience for luxury recycling and that the audience were hungry! It was also clear that there was no shortage of ladies with wardrobes bursting at the seams, desperate to find a fun way to re-house their loved and cherished but no longer worn fashion pieces.

Since then, more than 150 stylish ladies have opened the doors to their fabulous wardrobes and 1000’s more have enjoyed their glamorous cast offs as Buy My Wardrobe hosts several luxe designer fashion recycling events a year at prestigious members clubs in London, as well as Buy My Frock and Buy My Handbag events – exclusive evening events dedicated to women searching for the perfect dress or Louis Vuitton accessory to enhance their wardrobes.

And next month, the concept is branching out of London for the very first time, hosting Buy My Wardrobe Birmingham on April 14th.

Kal said: “For the past 18 months I’ve been inundated with enquries from women outside London asking when we’ll be hosting events elsewhere. We’re looking at hosting events in Manchester, Sheffield and other key cities, but next month’s event at the funky Nuvo bar in Brindleyplace will be the first outside of London. Leading Midlands stylist Beth Goodrham will be at the event sharing her expertise, and the venue will be offering afternoon tea to make it a special girls’ day out.”

And in May, the concept will go online. Kal said: “I’ve wanted to launch an online marketplace for some time and further to the success of the past few years, I’ve secured investment for the eCommerce site. It will launch in May with 50 sellers and help take the concept to the next level – I can’t wait to see how it’s received when everyone has access to the Buy My Wardrobe concept.”

The next Buy My Frock event will take place on Tuesday March 27th at London’s prestigious Home House club. VIP preview and champagne reception tickets cost £20 and standard tickets cost £5, and can be bought here.

Buy My Wardrobe Birmingham takes place at 1pm on Saturday April 14th. Again, VIP access is £20, securing early entry, a champagne reception and goody bags, and standard entry is £5. Tickets can be bought online here.

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS FOR THE BIRMINGHAM EVENT!

Be Fabulous has 3 pairs of VIP tickets and 5 pairs of standard entry tickets to give away to the Birmingham event. To win a pair simply tell us what your dream fashionista item would be in the comments below. Everyone will go into the ‘Fabulous hat’ and the winners will be drawn at random on Good Friday (April 6th) .. What are you waiting for!

T&C’s: There are 3 pairs of VIP tickets and 5 Pairs of standard entry tickets on offer. There is no cash alternative. Only registered members can enter and only one entry per member is allowed. All entrants details will be given to Buy My Wardrobe BUT your details will never be shared with anyone else or any other company. We will be choosing the winner on the 6th April and our decision is final. The winner will be announced on here after that date.

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