How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I was a little taken aback by my neighbor (who is also a friend) this morning.

She called to see if I had a dressy coat she could borrow to wear today to 2 communions or confirmations she had to go to. Mind you I'm 5'8" and she's about 5'1". The only coat I could think of was a nice trench/raincoat I bought last year that I have only worn about 2 or 3 times - I wear it with dresses when we go out - and I happened to have worn it to her daughter's Sweet 16 last month. I really didn't want to lend it out because I spent a good amount of money on it and it's like brand new.

So, I was like no - I don't think I have one that would fit you. And she was like what about the one you wore to my daughter's party?? That one would be good.

I just thought the whole thing was a little pushy and nervy. I don't like lending out clothes because they never come back the same - and this is like brand new and it was also a lot of money.

I ended up lending it to her because she really caught me off guard and I just didn't know what to say. What would you have done?

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I don't have a problem loaning out clothes to certain people. I loaned maternity clothes to two of my close friends and they came back fine.

If the item was something I didn't want to loan out, I would probably tell the person that I had planned to wear it that day for something I was attending or I would say it was at the cleaner's.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I probably should have told her I was wearing it today but I didn't think fast enough.

I also should have added that she is a friend but not a close friend and also she wasn't wearing her own coat because she said there was dog hair all over it. Now she's got my coat at her house.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Don't have a problem... I've loaned my neighbor some suits for job interviews etc....

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I think it is somewhat odd for an acquaintance to ask to borrow your clothes. The only person I have ever swapped clothes with is my sister.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Some of my girlfriends and I have swapped shirts if we were going out together or something back in the day, but I rarely lent my clothes out. Maybe it's me, but I think it is kind of weird. I did give my maternity clothes to my sister & SIL, but to me, thats totally different than lending them out to people.

Message edited 4/19/2009 10:09:40 PM.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I would only loan clothing to my mom.... maybe my best friend... definitely no one else...

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I don't lend clothes out anymore, unless I don't care about getting it back.

I have been burned too many times in the past with people ruining or losing things that I don't offer anymore.

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Message edited 3/4/2010 8:29:46 PM.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

outside of family I follow the rule of borrower nor lender be.

I also think if someone's going to be that bold then you have evey right to be just as bold back by saying "sorry, but I just bought that coat, it's rather expensive and I'd prefer to not lend it out. I'm sorry, it's nothing personal..."

If you ask a bold question, you've gotta be ready for a bold answer.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Unless it's family, I would feel wierd too... and a bit skeeved out (I dunno I'm just wierd like that).... I probably would've lied and said it was at the cleaners or had a stain on it and haven't had time to take to the cleaners yet.... or loaned it to a relative... I would've made anything up lol

Message edited 4/20/2009 12:12:37 AM.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I'm usually against it because the whole idea brings back memories of my sister taking carte blanche rights to everything in my closet. I had new clothes that she would lose or ruin before I wore them. Don't even get me started on the smell of her perfume that never seemed to wash out!

The one thing I would want to loan out more often is dresses. I wish that some of my special occasion dresses would get more use but most of my friends are either thinner than I am, taller than I am or both! On the flip side, I could buy less dresses if we were all the same size and could swap.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I never have an issue lending out anything - but I always lend with the knowledge that it may NOT come back in the same condition it went out in so I have to kind of release my attachment to whatever it is in order to avoid being really upset/angry/resentful if it comes back looking awful.

Most of the time people seem to make my clothes look better! I get stuff back and it's been dry cleaned, pressed and looks so great I feel like I should be paying them!

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Too weird for me. I wouldn't borrow anyone else's stuff either. If I lend anything out- its usually to my sister, I dont expect to get it back (And believe me, I never do!)

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

That IS a little pushy. If it was a close friend than yeah, but if i said "no" and then they pushed again, I would simply say its in the dry cleaner, or I loaned it to another friend . Hopefully they would get the hint.

Generally, I don't have a problem lending out clothes, its BOOKS that never seems to find there way back to me ! GRRRR

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Yes that IS a little pushy- suggesting a coat you wore after you said you didn't have anything that would fit her.

The only person I would lend/borrow clothes to and from is my sister.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I ended up lending it to her because she really caught me off guard and I just didn't know what to say. What would you have done?



I probably would have done the same thing & not been happy about it.


I stopped lending things out years ago after they never came back.. cd's, books, clothes, a video of a childhood school play.
It's just frustrating.

I will lend or borrow clothes only from my sister.
I don't like to borrow clothes. Mostly because I tend to spill things and would be paranoid wearing someone else's clothes.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

The only person I would lend clothes to is my sister.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

it depends on the article of clothing and the person

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

Posted by rojerono

I never have an issue lending out anything - but I always lend with the knowledge that it may NOT come back in the same condition it went out in so I have to kind of release my attachment to whatever it is in order to avoid being really upset/angry/resentful if it comes back looking awful.

Most of the time people seem to make my clothes look better! I get stuff back and it's been dry cleaned, pressed and looks so great I feel like I should be paying them!

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I know when I was in college my girlfriends and I would borrow things from each other every so often and we were all pretty good about returning them to each other.

I think that since college, I've only really lent out clothes to two people - one was a good friend from college and the other was my SIL for a couple of specific events.

I honestly canNOT remember anyone asking me in the recent years to borrow something and if it was someone very close, I would not have a problem with it. One person I would not lend to, but that's because she doesn't wear underwear and I would be skeeved to lend her pants.

In your case, I honestly would have been taken aback and would have felt just as uncomfortable as you did!

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

I'm not a fan. I didn't do it growing up, and only very rarely in college - but I felt weird about it every time. If it was a neighbor asking rather than a friend, I'd probably try to make up an excuse.

Re: How do you feel about lending your clothes to someone?

depends on a situation and the person. I have offered my clothes to my friends .