'My best friend needs to leave her entire wardrobe to me in her will'
Only our most favourite people get to raid our closets
We’ve grown up with mothers and grandmothers whose love language wasn’t expressed through words but through gestures, like opening their wardrobes to us. Long before sustainable fashion became a thing, borrowing was an unspoken ritual of love. From their delicately embroidered georgette and silk saris to heirloom jewellery, a wedding invite often meant diving into their closets for the perfect no-cost look. Somewhere along the way, this simple, sustainable act became a beautiful symbol of trust, closeness, and shared history.
That feeling hasn’t faded with time; it’s only evolved. We may have our own hoodies but when we wear our partner’s, it feels more romantic. Becoming the Shefali to her Aisha as we raid our sister’s closet before a night out comes with impromptu fashion shows, negotiations, and memories that never quite fade. And bless our dads for providing an arsenal of the softest T-shirts and oversized shirts with the coolest prints.
Shared clothes hold echoes of the people we love. Isn’t it beautiful when both you and someone dear to you have good memories woven into the same piece of clothing? The four friends in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants knew that a single pair of jeans could keep hearts connected, even when miles apart.
What began as an errant thought at a Team Tweak India meeting, turned into a cosy conversation about borrowing clothes from our loved ones and how that made us feel. Here are some of the excerpts.
Mamta Mody, Editor
“I would have never bought these pieces for myself“
“Earlier this year, when my 69-year-old aunt was visiting me from the USA, in a spontaneous moment of sartorial generosity, she flipped open her two large suitcases and declared: ‘Pick what you like’. This was better than getting the standard gift of duty-free chocolates; it was like winning the lottery because my aunt has great taste and somehow manages to always stay on trend. I picked out a silk blouse and this ochre midi skirt that instantly makes me feel I’m wearing actual sunshine. When friends and strangers have complimented this skirt, I proudly brag about my aunt’s style.
This wasn’t my first wardrobe raid. I grew up borrowing and shopping from my female relatives’ closets. And honestly, I have had the most fun wearing them. School farewell party? I dug through my older cousin sister’s wardrobe and found a pair of shimmery black pants with knee-high slits (we were in our Y2K era). Friend’s wedding? My mother let me borrow her Benarasi brocade sari. First holiday in the mountains? I became the proud owner of my sister-in-law’s leather jacket.
I would have never bought all these pieces for myself. I’m a practical shopper, the kind who buys everything in black and boring basics that can be styled in multiple ways. But someone else’s wardrobe lets me experiment and temporarily become the person who casually wears a bright flouncy skirt.
The redistribution program continues as my niece has already received some of my favourite dresses. I’d like to believe that a few years from now she will talk about her cool aunt, though realistically she’s probably being polite about my millennial fashion choices.”
Raaina Jain, Digital Writer
“My dad’s shirt makes me feel confident to take on the world“
“I got this oversized, striped shirt from my dad. Correction: I took it from him. He was organising his wardrobe one day and I spotted this one and instantly wanted it for myself. Papa being papa didn’t protest and gave it to me, but expressed concern over what I would do with a shirt so loose. Little did he know this would become my style aesthetic eventually.
I have developed an obsession with oversized clothes, and 7 out of 10 times you’ll see me wearing something roomy and comfortable.
This shirt is special not only because it belonged to my papa but also because I love its vibe, it seems very 80s-coded when women would either tuck shirts in high-waisted mom jeans, tie a knot at the end, or leave it comfortably untucked, which is how I prefer it. Every time I have worn it, someone has complimented me on it.
While I have bought several shirts for myself, they don’t compare to the one I have borrowed from my dad.”
Eshika Gupta, Video Producer
“My sister is blissfully unaware I have her dress”
“Whenever I had to go to a party, I would secretly raid my sister’s wardrobe, wear her clothes, and then put them back carefully, erasing all traces of the crime.
When she moved abroad for work, I realised I didn’t actually have many clothes of my own. And every time she came home for the holidays, I would steal something from her suitcase. I spotted this A-line green dress during one of these sneaky attacks. I knew it would fit me perfectly, but my sister got protective and snatched it away.
Recently, when I visited my hometown, I was helping my mother sort through some old clothes, deciding what to keep and what to donate. And there it was again. Finding that dress felt like discovering a forgotten ₹100 note in an old pair of jeans. I guess my sister had left behind quite a few things.
Now, this dress has become my go-to outfit for dinners and office events. It flatters my body type and saves the day whenever I feel like I have nothing to wear.
To this day, my sister is blissfully unaware that I still have her dress. I suppose she’ll solve this mystery now.”
Akanksha Narang, Features Editor
“I told my best friend her denim jacket is mine now”
“This is my favourite jacket or rather, my most loved piece of clothing. Beyond being the comfiest thing in my wardrobe, it holds a special place in my heart because it originally belonged to my best friend. She wore it when she came over two years ago as we were getting ready for a night out together. I pulled out a really hot black dress for her from my wardrobe, and in exchange, she left her jacket behind, telling me I could wear it whenever I wanted.
That night, she fell in love with the dress, and that week, I fell in love with her jacket. When we spoke later, we both laughed and agreed to make the swap official—her jacket for my dress. Every now and then, she still asks about her jacket, but I remind her (lovingly, of course) that it’s mine now. I’ve worn it far more than she ever did, to work, while travelling, and on casual outings.
Each time I put it on, I think of her and the sisterly bond we share. Stealing each other’s clothes is practically the first rule of any sibling-like friendship. And on bad days, this jacket brings a little warmth in more ways than one.
We don’t really borrow clothes from each other; we adopt them. When I recently downsized my wardrobe, I sent her a few pieces, including a lilac blazer she’d been eyeing since the day I bought it. In return, she gave me the most breathable pleated trousers and a strappy dress that have now become staples in my daily rotation.”
Ketki Hulamajage, Social Media Manager
“This top has nostalgia woven into the fabric“
“I got this top from my ex-roommate, Gargi. Well, technically, I borrowed it and just never returned it.
Gargi and I moved to Mumbai together a few years ago. We were new to the city, figuring out our lives while sharing a PG. One of our favourite rituals was walking to the H&M near our apartment building every weekend. We’d browse for hours, picking out clothes together and deciding who’d buy what so we could share later. It became our thing—a tiny luxury that felt like a small anchor in the big city’s chaos.
The black top I’m wearing in this picture is from our first and only night out. We’re usually the sort of people who prefer sunset walks and long conversations over parties. But that night, we decided to step out and dress up. I hadn’t brought my outfit to her house, so I ended up borrowing this top. Somehow, it’s been with me ever since.
It’s been four years now, and we still swap clothes when we meet. Not always, but she’s someone I can share anything with — from outfits to messy thoughts to endless cups of chai. This top isn’t just a borrowed piece of clothing anymore. It’s a small reminder of that time in our lives when everything felt new and a little magical.”
