The Borrowers Rebuttal: Why I Lend Out My Clothes

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Photo: © Paramount Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Like our fashion editor, who wrote an earlier piece on people borrowing her clothes, I spend a lot of time shopping. But beyond that, we come from completely different camps. I take pride in being a fashion resource within my group of friends and in lending them things, with the strict decree that everything will be promptly returned, of course. Be warned: I have a mental inventory of what is out on loan, and will be watching closely until it is safely back in my closet.

Related: The Borrowers: A Cautionary Tale on Opening Your Closet

Over the years I've amassed what feels more like a collection of random clothing than a curated wardrobe. When you walk into my room, it feels a bit like there should be a shop girl asking if you need help with anything. Often when friends come over, I play that role, helping them pick out an outfit they can borrow for a date, theme party, or wedding. 

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My rotating door of a closet has outfitted years of New Year’s Eves and countless Halloweens. But it’s not always costume fare. A friend raided my closet before she went to a wedding in Israel and my heart swelled when she popped up on Facebook looking absolutely gorgeous at the ceremony in my dress.

Danielle doesn’t like thinking about other people’s ju-ju getting up in her clothing. Understandable. But for me, there is already so much stranger ju-ju on my vintage finds (I'm a huge fan of thrift store shopping) that adding some from people I actually know doesn’t seem so bad.

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As I get older, I am investing more in pieces that are timeless, that will most likely remain in my closet only. And as my friends all advance in their careers (which seems to coincide with the decrease in theme parties), the borrowing becomes less and less. But I will always get pleasure from styling a friend in need—just as long as when she gets a compliment she tells people whose overflowing closet her outfit came from.