Fashion Challenge: Borrow Something from a Boy’s Closet

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.

boys-closet-annie-hall

Androgyny at its finest in “Annie Hall”

By popular demand, this week’s Fashion Challenge dares you to check out the closet of your brother, boyfriend, dad, or your best guy friend!

Androgyny has proven to stand the test of time in fashion. Not to mention, borrowing clothes from someone else is fun, and you’ll feel a little mischievous knowing your new favorite piece came from a boy! The only real tip I have for you is to not pair too many of these items together at once–we’re going for chic, not shacking up chic!

I’ve compiled a list of 5 ideas to get you started when rummaging through the favorite guy in your life’s closet. Happy hunting 🙂

Ideas

T-Shirts

boy-closet-shirt

Ahh, the classic boyfriend tee. The great thing about men’s t-shirts is that often they are cut straighter and longer than many girl’s styles, making them perfect to pair with your favorite skinny jeans. The more cozy and worn in, the better!

Outerwear

boy-closet-outerwear

Nothing is as effortlessly chic as wearing a top from a boy’s closet. Be on the lookout for a blazer, cardigan, knit sweater, or dress shirt. Don’t worry if it’s a little big! Be sure to pair a boy’s top with a skirt, dress, or tighter cut jeans, and wear it with confidence!

Accessories

boy-closet-accessories

Your BGF’s (best guy friend) or little brother’s closet is the perfect place to find accessories to give your outfit edge. Personally, I love men’s watches, belts, and sunglasses. Be on the lookout for hats, too; I snagged my favorite beanie from my BGF. It was a little too big for my head, so I pinned the back so it’s perfectly slouchy, similar to the beanies often rocked by fashion blogger Rumi Neely of FashionToast.

Grooming Products

boy-closet-beauty

Sometimes, the only thing that will soothe an irritated face or tame flyaway hair can be found in a boy’s bathroom! No shaving cream is thicker than those made for men, and those tiny scissors your dad uses to tame unruly hair can make perfect eyebrow trimmers. Boy’s cologne is fun to experiment with as well–Adidas Moves for Men is my personal favorite, it smells perfectly grapefruity with hints of black pepper.

Lucky Extras

boy-closet-lucky

If you’re really lucky, a boy in your life will be around the same size as you. Make the most of this situation by borrowing a pair of jeans, a worn out polo, a pair of shoes, or a pair of shorts for the extremely adventurous look.  A boy’s polo is my favorite–is it just me, or does it seem like a lot of girl’s polos are cut too short and wide? Pair it with a broken-in pair of jeans and your favorite boots for a look reminiscent of Serena in the Gossip Girl books (TV show Serena’s style is a little different than the original).

Rocked the Challenge? Be Our Cover Girl!

Took the Challenge? Send your pictures to fashionchallenge AT collegefashion.net and we’ll post them! We can make you a celebrity overnight 🙂

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite things to borrow from a boy? Would you try this challenge, or do you believe it is a major faux pas? Have you ever worn a men’s cologne? What Fashion Challenges would you like to see in the future? Sound off in the comments!

23 thoughts on “Fashion Challenge: Borrow Something from a Boy’s Closet”

  1. one of my favorite pairs of shorts is a pair that i took when my brother outgrew them – so it is possible to wear guy pants! 🙂

    Reply
  2. I borrow jackets & hoodies from my little brother all the time! the patterns are a lot more interesting than anything in my closet, plus they’re baggier & super comfy!

    Reply
  3. my boyfriend is very slim, so his shirts are all smalls, which is fantastic for me! sometimes he wears my aa hoodies, or even small men’s shirts that I’VE bought! LOVE THIS!

    Reply
  4. my boyfriend is really skinny, so i can definitely borrow his shirts – his t-shirts usually fit me fine, and his button downs and cardigans are justtttt a little bigger than what i’d normally buy, so i don’t swim in them, which is awesome. i hate my gigantic feet, but the plus size is my boyfriend and i can also share sneakers!

    Reply
  5. I’ve been stealing… uh I mean borrowing stuff from my brother’s closet for months now and I gotta say the clothes are much more comfortable and give my outfit an edge every time.

    but the polo was a great idea, i’ll have to try it 🙂

    Reply
  6. I’ve been taking clothes from my brother’s closet since high school ! lol From his ties to polos – all very cute. I made a few of his polos into dresses, and paired them with black tights, a belt, leggings (depending on the season), and keds. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments whenever I wore his clothes. A few people actually asked me if I had a secret boyfriend(;

    Reply
  7. Am I the only person left in the world who would NEVER wear anything made for a male? Tailored-look or menswear-inspired, sure, but always made for a woman. I even try my best to avoid so-called unisex, which always means it was really created for men, who of course are a completely different shape. Of course, I have an hourglass figure and I despise very loose or baggy clothing, but even if I didn’t, I could never bring myself to wear a man’s garment – I find the whole idea rather disturbing., since in reality it’s crossdressing How many girls would like to see their boyfriends borrow a skirt and try smelling like roses, for a change? Perish the thought!!

    Reply
  8. Stealing a button down is classic but to be honest I actually love the idea of at least “attempting” to get into a guys pair of cargo shorts. I don’t think the jeans will work (esp. when considering the room in between the legs lol) unless the guy is a twig or one of those questionably too skinny jeans wearers. I feel like almost everything is possible and awesome when paired with tighter opposites to balance the outfit with the exception of bottom choices. So I think that’s why I would especially like to see a reader get featured wearing her boyfriendss or a guy friend’s cargo shorts! I would actually try it myself and send something in since my boyfriend is shorter than me so his smalls in guys fit my tallness for a girl. I steal his hoodies all the time but make it so it doesn’t look frumpy lol

    Reply

Leave a Comment