AITAH for Not Letting My Sibling Borrow My Clothes Anymore?

For years, I’ve been the go-to closet for my sibling. Need a dress for a party? “Can I borrow yours?” Want to impress a date? “Your jeans fit me better!” At first, I didn’t mind—after all, sharing is caring, right? But after countless ruined outfits, missing favorites, and zero appreciation, I finally put my foot down. Now, my sibling is furious, and our parents say I’m being petty. So tell me… am I the a**hole here?

The Closet Sharing Begins

It started innocently enough in high school. My younger sister (let’s call her Mia) needed a top for picture day because hers had a stain. I lent her my favorite blouse—the one I’d saved three months to buy. She returned it with a tiny rip near the seam, shrugged, and said, “Oops, it got caught on my locker.” No offer to fix it. No apology. Just… nothing.

But family helps family, so I let it slide. Then it became a pattern: my leather jacket came back reeking of cigarette smoke, my designer jeans vanished for six months (turns out Mia “forgot” they were mine), and my winter coat once reappeared with a melted gum wrapper stuck to the pocket. Every time I complained, Mia would pout: “You’re so materialistic! It’s just clothes!”

The Final Straw

Last month, I had a job interview at a prestigious firm. I’d bought a sharp, tailored blazer specifically for the occasion. The night before, I found Mia parading in front of her friends in my blazer, the sleeves rolled up and a soda stain down the front. When I demanded it back, she tossed it at me and said, “Relax, it’ll dry clean out.” (Spoiler: It didn’t.)

I wore an alternate jacket to the interview and didn’t get the job. Was it the outfit? Maybe not. But when I came home devastated, Mia was already raiding my closet for a going-out top. That’s when I snapped. I yanked my clothes back, changed my closet lock, and told her: “Never again.”

The Family Backlash

Cue the dramatics. Mia wailed to our parents that I was “selfish” and “ruining our bond.” My mom sighed and said, “Can’t you just share? Sisters are supposed to be close!” My dad, ever the peacekeeper, suggested I “pick cheaper clothes to lend.” Not one person acknowledged that Mia had never once reciprocated—her closet was strictly off-limits to me.

Now, family dinners are tense. Mia “accidentally” spills food near me. My parents keep “forgetting” to pass me the gravy. And I’m stuck wondering: Was protecting my belongings really worth this fallout?

Why I Set Boundaries

Here’s the thing—this was never just about clothes. It was about respect. Mia treated my things as disposable because she knew I’d cave. Meanwhile, I’d borrowed her scarf once in 2019 and still hear about it. The double standard was exhausting.

Boundaries aren’t cruel. They’re how we teach people to treat us. If Mia had shown basic care—returning items clean, replacing what she damaged—I’d have kept sharing. But she didn’t. So why should I fund her wardrobe and absorb the losses?

Was I Too Harsh?

Okay, maybe changing the lock was extreme. I could’ve started with a calm talk (though we’d had those before). And sure, clothes are replaceable—but the time, money, and emotional energy I poured into curating my style? Not so much.

Still, part of me wonders: Should I have given her one last chance? Created a borrowing contract? Or was cutting her off the only way to make her see the consequences?

Your Verdict Matters

So here’s where I need your take, internet jury. AITA for finally saying no? Should I apologize to keep the peace, or stand my ground until Mia shows real change? Have you been in this situation? (And if so, how’d you fix it without torching the relationship?)

Drop your judgment in the comments—I can take it. And if you’ve got a sibling horror story (or a happy ending where they finally learned boundaries!), share that too. Misery—or growth—loves company.