This week’s Fashion Challenge dares you to gain inspiration from someone near and dear to your heart — your Mom! Full of wisdom, grace, and beauty, there’s no better source than a mother (or grandmother, guardian, or mother figure) for tips on looking great. Think about it: your mom’s not afraid to be honest with you, knows you better than most people, and probably has a closet full of clothing that spans across decades. Who better to talk fashion with?
Since it’s summer and many of us are home, I thought this week would be the perfect time to explore the wardrobe of your mom, grandmother, stylish aunt, or strong female figure in your life. Are you ready to take this challenge?!
Example Items to Borrow from Mom
Need some inspiration to get you started on this challenge? I’ve compiled a list of six types of items you might want to borrow from your mom, grandma, or other stylish woman in your life to get you inspired and thinking about the possibilities!
1. Something from Her Style Past
Before my mom was her velour-suit-wearing, chihuahua-toting, adorable self, she had a passion for leather pants and velvet mini dresses, which I’m happy to borrow on a regular basis! One tip to making this challenge work is to take something unique from your mom’s past and use it in an outfit for yourself.
Did your mom rule the dance floor at Studio 54? Borrow a pair of her sky-high heels! Did she follow the Grateful Dead for months and sell veggie burritos out of the back of her VW van? Ask to try on her favorite concert t-shirt! Not only will you have a great new piece to wear, but you’ll also have some wonderful bonding moments learning about her days before you came into the picture.
The key to incorporating a great piece from your mother’s past into a wearable outfit is to pair it with current items you have. This keeps it from looking dated or costume-esque. Be sure to model your new creation for her–it’ll be a great trip down memory lane for her as well!
2. Designer Goodies
Moms and grandmas tend to have the best collections of designer items. If you ask really nicely (and offer to do the dishes for a week), perhaps your mother will let you borrow that Louis Vuitton speedy or Pucci scarf you’ve been eyeballing. Be sure to take extra good care of whatever you borrow so she lets you use it again!
3. Something from Her Culture
Many of us have mothers who are originally from another country. A great way to show your ethnic pride is by wearing something traditional from your mother’s culture! While looking through her closet, ask her to tell you some stories from her life experience. These pieces are great conversation starters and will really add some richness to your wardrobe.
4. Straight from the Source Vintage Pieces
As we’ve all witnessed, fashion repeats itself. Why go out and spend money on a denim vest or bubble skirt when there is probably an incredible one right down the hall? While looking through my mom’s closet, I found bolo ties, old school Reeboks, floral dresses, Dr. Martens, and the cutest bright colored heels!! These authentic vintage items will add some real character to your wardrobe.
5. Heirlooms
Have a special occasion? If you promise to be very careful, your mom might let you borrow her string of pearls, favorite pair of earrings, or a cocktail ring for the occasion. Personally, I choose not to wear real fur, but my mom has the softest faux-fur shrugs that I love running my fingers through! The point of borrowing an heirloom piece should be because of its sentimental value, not its price tag. Even if it’s a gumball machine ring her great grandma handed down to her, wear it with pride!
6. Beauty Products
I don’t know about you, but I know my mom is my go-to source for finding the best moisturizer for my skin type, finding out what the best blush for the money is, and learning tips to keep my skin looking young! If you’re lucky, maybe your mom can give you tips on what products are worth the splurge, and which products you can buy from the drugstore. Ask to sample her eye cream, perfume, or ask if she knows any homemade beauty recipes you two can try together.
CF Reader Looks
Here are some looks sent in by CF readers! If you want to see your look featured here, read the instructions below for sending in your outfit photos!
Lalique – University of Maryland, College Park
“I wore this outfit for a night out in Georgetown, DC. In the photo, I am wearing a vintage cotton striped “pirate sleeve” blouse from my mom. She told me that she used to rock this shirt with classic high waisted Levi’s. However, I opted to balance out the voluminous top by wearing a modern high-waisted item: black shorts from Zara. I am also wearing two necklaces from Nordstrom (a strand of turquoise and a gold one with beads).”
“I have never received so many compliments on a shirt before! (Although, I couldn’t tell if the guys who said nice things were joking or not because the shirt felt more conservative than overtly sexy.)”
Take the Challenge and Send in Your Photos!
Now that you have some ideas for this Fashion Challenge, we want to see what you can come up with! Send us your outfits and we’ll make you famous. 🙂
Send photos of you wearing something from your mom’s (or grandma’s, aunt’s, guardian’s, etc.) closet to fashionchallenge AT collegefashion.net, and we’ll feature you here. Include your name, what school you go to, and a description of what you’re wearing in the email. Can’t wait to hear from you!
What do you think?
Do you borrow from your mom’s closet? If so, what’s your favorite item of hers, and how do you wear it? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
My favourite thing about this article (aside from the adorable concept) is that it doesn’t link to products! I know that it’s useful to readers and that writers put a lot of work into making outfits that we can also buy, but it’s SO refreshing to once in a while shift focus from ready-to-order consumer products and to try and think creatively about the things we already have access to.
Ahhh, this is SO great! I always steal stuff from my mother’s closet. It’s funny that you mentioned fur shrugs–my mother recently just gave me this gorgeous fur stole. I’m definitely going to send something in!
I always go in my mom closet for her LV handbag only problem i have to bring back in one piece. I usually borrow her mass collection of belts everything from chain to skinny i have scarfs from my aunt who had a lot of great Pucci I always grab inspiration from them two it what makes my clothes unique
I love this post!! I’m always borrowing shoes and blouses from my mother, because we’re the same size. I also love borrowing jewelry for special occasions. And Chelsea, thank you for including #3, the cultural items. That makes me feel like you and the rest of CF really listen and pay attention to the readers’ backgrounds. I also agree with Suzi, that it’s great to see posts about wearing things we already have in a different way. Thanks again for the post!
Cute post, I only wish it applied to me. I I come from a very poor family and I have virtually no relationship with my mother. My mom has nothing wearable and she doesn’t know a thing about beauty. 🙁
when my mom was my age she used to design and make her own clothes so that they would be unique! the stuff she tells me about id DIE for!……wish she kept them. ahah
i love taking pieces from my mom! she has so much stuff that she saved from her past that she doesnt wear anymore and that are now mine. right now, actually, im wearing one of her old tshirts. it’s great because its already worn and soft… and i know it wasn’t worn by someone gross. i love all my mom’s old belts too. i think i’ve only bought 3 or 4 belts for myself.. the rest i’ve gotten from her closet!
My mom and I don’t really compute in the clothing department. She is VERY apple shaped, so her shirts are much to large for me and her pants a a size too small.
😛
just yesterday I found some chanel no. 5 lotion in my mom’s bathroom! Perfect! I love getting stuff from her!
just yesterday I found some chanel no. 5 lotion in my mom’s bathroom! Perfect! I love getting stuff from her! She’s always trying to scour my closet but i’m like “mom…just, no” lol she’s been trying to be trendy or ‘young’ lately but I’m about 4 sizes smaller than her
oh god i steal things from my mum every single day. today it was an escada jacket from the 90s. i always steal her white shirts, blazers and jewellery.
my favourite thing i’ve taken from her is a denim waistcoat she had 30 years ago!!
i’m lucky we’re about the same size, but she has slightly smaller feet than me but I still try to squeeze my feet into her amazing shoes!!
she steals my clothes right back though!!
Charlotte xxx
Chelsea! I love this sooo much! I always borrow stuff from my mother, especially her vintage clothes! Band tees, 80’s party dresses, and adorable vintage shoes, my mom has a closet full of items at my grandmother’s house that I am constantly borrowing from. I love your creativity! Brilliant!
I love the concept of this post. I wish I could borrow stuff from my mother’s closet. However, she’s been a total low-maintenance tomboy her entire life. She has no goodies to steal. She doesn’t wear makeup or jewelry (except for cheap earrings studs and her wedding ring). Her only footwear is sneakers.
Great post! I have borrowed a few things from my mom’s closet but she tends to have a lot of long, vintage dresses which I’ve been keeping but haven’t worn since I still need to get it adjusted. She used to have the best shoe collection, but she’s either given a lot of it away or the other ones she does have don’t fit me! (She’s a size 5/6 and I’m a 7/7.5). .
This is a favorite post of mine! The only problem? My mother doesn’t own any fashionable clothing. Her closet consists purely of ill-fitting jeans and baggy work t-shirts 🙁
Such a cute idea :] I borrow my Mom’s clothes on occasion and it a great way to escape my sometimes boring closet!
I steal from my mother all the time! She reciprocates 🙂
I what a cute idea! I’m forwarding this to my mom. The only problem I have with this, and I’ve noticed that some readers have said the same thing, not all moms/ fashionable idol in your life can afford Chanel No. 5 or Louie V bags. Or maybe your mom threw out her cool vintage clothes. Or maybe you guys aren’t the same size. The point being, I think talking about fashion is a great away to bond with your mom (or whoever is the ‘mom’ in your life.) And don’t forget to let her borrow your stuff too! I’ve lent my mom my clutch or other jewelry many times.
This is such a cute post! I borrow vintagey jewelry from my mom all the time and my grandmother just sent me a bunch of fabulous silk scarves!
Love it! my mom has a cool style and is a great bargain hunter, but i usually don’t borrow from her- the only time is when she buys clothes that I really like and I tell her they are too young for her so she gives them to me 😉
I borrow things from my stepmom a lotttt… I mean how else could I have scored Manolos for prom? Best thing ever!
I love the idea of using your mother’s clothes, unfortunately for me my mom has kept nothing from her younger years so I’m SOL. Hopefully I can see if my aunts kept anything, I hear they’re packrats!
Great article!
Great post! Even though I’m 5’11” and my mom is 5’5″, I still borrow accessories from her to really make my outfits pop! And the best part is, when people ask you where you got the ring or purse, you can brag on the one-of-a-kind piece and know you won’t see it anywhere else on campus–unlike anything from Forever 21!
I love this post as well – sadly it doesn’t really apply to me since my mom lost alot of her clothes when she immigrated to the US, and nowadays she doesn’t really like to dress fashionably. 🙁 I guess this teaches me to keep some of my stuff for my future daughter/niece, haha. 😀
I really like to share things (food, clothes etc.) and since my mother is only almost the same size like me, we at least borrow shoes from each other 🙂 and she has nice scarves that she doesn’t wear, so I often steal them. I really liked the things people said about their mother’s old stuff, but unluckily, in the 70’s and 80’s there was comunism here and there was not much to buy. But it was more common that women sewed the clothes (the buying thing applied to fabrics too by the way) so there are only few pieces I can really wear.
And i want to praise the author, because the article is really lovable.
like a lot of people have said, this post doesn’t really apply to me. my mom did keep some of her clothes from her 20s or so, but she’s 2 inches shorter & weighed about 90lbs for the longest time.
even now, she’s got a smaller frame, so nothing of hers would fit me. i do have a dress from my grandmother, though i haven’t found an occasion to wear it.
great post, though – maybe you should do something about taking stuff from you dad’s closet? however, that wouldn’t work for me either, since my dad was also stick thin when he was younger too. 🙂
Too bad my mom has basically no fashion sense and hates shopping. The day I saw my mom toting her own LV or wearing a Pucci scarf would be the day I keel over and die. Cute post though.
I loooooooove this challenge! Every few months I go through my mom’s closet and find old stuff that she hasn’t worn in decades. It seems like half my wardrobe is hers! I have managed to aquire multiple cardigans, a leather jacket, and a few pairs of shorts that are too small for her, not to mention tons of jewelry which she doesn’t wear 🙂
I love my mom so so much, we share a lot of things! From jewelry to bag, belts, purses, jeans, it’s awesome! We’re the same size too, so it’s extra awesome! She didn’t keep anything from the 70s, 80s etc. because she is very minimalist and we both “spring clean” our closets twice a year. We both make piles of stuff we don’t want anymore, and then trade! The rest goes to charity. My little sister and I can share shirts and shoes, and accessories, so it’s excellent to live at home now lol! If I need an outfit, someone will have one 🙂 Heck, I even borrow clothes from my brother (he’s slim) and I have a great old cardi that my great grandmother knitted back in Italy with wool from their own sheep!
Super great article!!! So sweet 🙂
I wish I would’ve found this earlier! I occasionally borrow jewelry from my mom as she has some really cute stuff…and an abundance of it! We don’t really do the whole clothes thing, as I’m stick skinny and she’s a few sizes too big for me. But tonight, my grandma (who has always been about my size when it comes to clothes) gave us all these old clothes and some of them are SO cute. I’m excited to wear them because they are exactly what other girls are buying for easily more than $20…and I got mine for free. 🙂
I love this post! My mom gave me a pair of old hot pink heels she wore in the 80’s that are still in great condition and I wear them all the time to add some color to a black outfit! I get more compliments on them than on anything else in my wardrobe, and I love proudly saying they were my mom’s.
Cute post! Just the other day I stole a striped shirt from my mom 😉
Every so often you might borrow something of your Dad’s, too! Dad’s always have comfy cardigans or large button ups that look great layered over a tank with skinnies. My Dad was a hippie and he had this great jean jacket with a unicorn on the back- very 70’s. I would have loved to borrow that.