(Photos by Gary Coronado)

Amid all the belts and bags, Baby Phat shorts and BCBG heels, there were bargains.

Free, after all, is a tough price to beat.

And at last Thursday night’s clothing swap at a downtown West Palm Beach hotel, nearly 150 women browsed through upwards of 3,000 donated dresses, jackets and jeans.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I really do believe that,” said swapper Leontyne Brown of West Palm Beach.

OK, the Clothing Exchange Project wasn’t exactly free — but the $20 admission price included food, drinks, massages and mini-makeovers.

Prior to the swap, participants had donated their almost-new items and received a receipt stating how many items they could choose from the exchange.

Regardless of value, swappers got to take home as many items as they had given. Donate 10 items to the swap, take 10 items home.

But many women didn’t reach their swapping quota, happy that the remaining pieces were donated to charity.

Organizers Tricia Waldron and Cecily Mathis say they hope to put together another clothing exchange this fall — next time, in a larger venue, for an even larger crowd.

A few of the women who participated…

Michelle Rey Lutein, an Acreage resident who works for a wealth management company
Lutein’s baby is due in early October, and while she knew maternity clothes weren’t specifically part of the swap, she was searching for items that would fit her expanding belly. This skirt caught her eye. “It’s not something I would usually buy for myself, but I can see myself wearing it on the weekend.”

Julia Albury, a Royal Palm Beach clerk
The buzz in the swapping room reminded Albury of the famous wedding gown sales at Filene’s Basement, she said. She donated nine items and walked out with nine, including this pair of slides — the first thing she picked up. “I wanted to see what (the swap) was like. It sounded like it was going to be fun, and it was.”

Diane Stephenson (left), consignment shop owner, and Danielle DeLiso, teacher, both of Greenacres
This mother-daughter team found a few items with the tags still on them. “In these economic times, it’s wonderful to be able to treat yourself to something new,” said Stephenson, who owns Boynton Beach’s Perfectly Plus plus-size consignment shop. “We donated a lot more than we took, but that’s fine.”

Leontyne Brown, a West Palm Beach marketing consultant
Brown’s strategy: Head for the handbags first. She wound up with five purses, two pairs of shoes and a handful of skirts and blouses — 15 items total. “I am a super shopper. I know how it works.”

Ashlee Johnson, a college student from Lake Worth
With “‘no job, no income,” the Florida Gator was in need of freebies. She and mom Rusti donated 17 items and found 15 to take home. Ashlee’s triple play: three pairs of never-worn Mootsies Tootsies peep-toe pumps. “I love the different colors, and I like the bows. They’re girlie,” she said.