Ever wondered what is would be like to own a designer dress, bag or even shoes but never had quite enough money? Kal Di Paola, managing director and the brains behind ByMyWardrobe certainly saw a market for pre-loved luxury fashion at low prices, thus the first BuyMyWardrobe event took shape. Four hectic years on, ByMyWardrobe has been rebranded, with a slick new website and even more exciting plans for the future. We quizzed Kal about her business, upcoming events and future plans for an online revolution.

What inspired you to start ‘BuyMyWardrobe’ in 2008?
The start of the recession and my not so healthy bank balance made me re-think my shopping habits! After years of shopping and hoarding I simply had no more room in my wardrobe and really needed to do a clear out. I wasn’t keen on going down the e-bay route and dress agencies charged 50% commission but also were very selective about what they took on. Faced with very few options I decided to have a go at doing my own BuyMyWardrobe event. At the beginning I hadn’t intended to turn it into a business as I was already running one, but the success of the first one left me with little choice!

How do you go about selecting ‘wardrobe mistresses’ for upcoming events?
They are recruited through our network of contacts and they find us through word of mouth. We look for women who have good quality wardrobes and we select them based on their style credentials. Although we state items must be designer, the emphasis is more on “a desirable wardrobe” as some of the best dressed women out there know how to mix high end designer with vintage and high street. A lot of our sellers work in the fashion industry and have a high turnover of wardrobe items due to the nature of their jobs.

At the very first event back in 2008, were you ever nervous about the turnout?
Strange, but I didn’t really feel the pressure on the first one, it felt like I was organising a party for friends. It became more nerve racking as time went on as the expectations increased with each one, as did the pressure to improve!

What are some of the most memorable items that have been sold at past events?
One seller sold a pair of Louboutins for £20 and nearly caused a riot at the till! We’ve had lots of amazing stuff, a number of vintage Chanel handbags, a Gucci Leather Jacket barely worn and originally £4000 sold for £400, some amazing Matthew Williamson dresses, Louis Vuitton luggage, too many to list.

Which event has been the most popular to date?
The main events are nearly always sold out now, so it’s difficult to pick one. Our Handbag event has probably been most requested so we’ve just added a pre-Christmas event to the calendar.

What is it exactly about luxury recycling that women in particular are drawn to?
The idea that luxury is available at an affordable price is the biggest draw. More and more people are moving away from “throw-away” fashion in favour of buying quality pieces that will last.

What are your hopes for the future of ByMyWardrobe?
The future is exciting! It’s a Luxe Recycling Revolution! The events have been hugely successful in London so they will be rolled out to other major cities in the UK. The BIG news is that we are due to launch an online marketplace in the first half of 2012! It will be an exclusive marketplace for high end, desirable fashion. The emphasis will be on quality rather than quantity. In a world where everyone aspires to be stylish but some women have more disposable income than others, buymywardrobe.com will be a window to a more glamorous life.

Who can we expect to see sell their clothes via the online marketplace?
As with our events sellers will be selected, they will be high earning professionals and fashion industry insiders with stylish and desirable wardrobes that are updated on a regular basis.

For more on the events, the fab new site and future news, visit BuyMyWardrobe.com