Parents demand 16-year-old daughter allow her 15-year-old sister to use her prom dress, daughter insists she should be the one to decide: 'It's my dress, I bought it'

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 22, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Sharing clothes with your sister can be both a blessing and a curse. Usually, it's a blessing when you are the one who takes clothes from your sister, and a curse when she shows up at your doorstep asking for the brand new shirt you just bought.

It's all fun and games until she takes something really precious to you and absolutely ruins it.

As a middle daughter who used to share clothes with both my older and younger sisters, I understand why sometimes you just want to tell them no. Which is why I fully support the sister's decision in the story below not to let her younger sister take her old prom dress. Even if she never wears that dress again, she paid for it and she cares for it, so she has every right to decide who gets to wear it.

Since I have experience, I also know that the younger sister is probably not going to give up without a fight. And when she involved their parents, they took their youngest's side. 

How can the eldest ensure no one goes behind her back and takes the dress anyway? Keep scrolling to read the full tale.

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  • 01
    Girls in Prom Dresses
    via berezkophotos

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for not letting my younger sister borrow my prom dress?

    So I (17F) am in my second year of college as of September, and I had my prom in July 2024.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 03
    I saved up for my dress with money that I saved from previous birthdays, chore money, and other holidays like Christmas.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 04
    (I was 15 at the time of - prom August baby). My dress wasn't anything crazy expensive but it was perfect and extremely sentimental to me as it was the first time I had bought something that nice that was out of just my money and savings.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 05
    It's been hanging in my wardrobe (the one that has my competition dresses) since and I sometimes just enjoy looking at it as it makes me so happy.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 06
    My younger sister (15F) is going to her prom at the end of the academic year, and she asked if she could borrow my dress for the occasion.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 07
    As much as I didn't think too much of it, I did say no to her and these were my reasons to why: 1.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 08
    It's extremely sentimental to me, and I don't want the risk of the dress getting damaged.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 09
    2. My sister and I are different sizes in clothes and also have different body types, so I honestly don't think it would fit her and that would mean the dress would need to be altered.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 10
    3. She can afford to get her own dress, due to my parents offering to pay for the dress for her, and she also has her own savings, I just think she's trying to avoid to spend money.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 11
    When I told her no to using my dress, she immediately accused me of being selfish because I wasn't even using the dress anymore..
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 12
    My parents told me that I should just let her use the dress since a dress shouldn't just "have to sit in a wardrobe and not be used." I just feel as if they don't understand the value the dress has for me?
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 13
    Now my sister is giving me the silent treatment, my parents are annoyed at me for saying no and I'm beginning to wonder if I really am being selfish?
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 14
    I've spoke to some of my friends about it and they said that it's my dress that I bought myself and therefore should be my choice, but I feel I need some other opinions on this.
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 15
    So AITA for not allowing my sister to borrow my prom dress?
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 16
    Rack with Beautiful Prom Dresses in Boutique
    via pixelshot

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 17
    IntelligentCitron917 Why didn't your parents buy your dress if they could afford it. Seems unfair you had to save so hard for yours yet they are willing to buy hers. Had your parents paid for it I'd be inclined to let her use it but no, you worked hard for it. It's yours. She doesn't get to wear it. I'm sorry you have parents that don't treat their daughters
    via IntelligentCitron917
  • 18
    OP Murky_Tomato_3038 Thankyou for understanding and I'll keep you updated on whether my sister and parents actually acknowledge my decision or not, and may even include an update in July of next year when her prom will be to if she actually finds another dress that she's happy with
    via Murky_Tomato_3038
  • 19
    DazzlingPotion You're different sizes. Sister needs to buy her own dress. NTA
    via DazzlingPotion
  • 20
    Mohomed28 No is a complete sentence
    via Mohomed28
  • 21
    W1ldth1ng Get the dress somewhere safel would not be surprised if she takes it and gets it altered to fit her with your parent's blessings. Start saving to move out.
    via W1ldth1ng
  • 22
    Latter-Computer9080 NTA. Your dress bought with your hard earned money. I find that people are happy to loan other people things that don't belong to them. My Mom once called to let me know that she had told her next door neighbour that I would let her daughter wear my wedding dress, tiara, shoes and veil for her upcoming nuptials as she was getting married three months after me. I was quick to let her know that since I had bought all these items myself the answer was a hard no.
    via Latter-Computer9080
  • 23
    Tuttiefrukt Since you worked for your dress, you could tell your parents they're welcome to buy it off you and then you could go buy yourself something that wouldn't "just sit in a closet". But NTA and nobody should make you feel that way. If you want the dress, you keep the dress. You worked for it and paid for it! She doesn't have any right to demand it/alter it and your parents seem to not be treating you fairly, which is gross. (I am a parent - it is gross to treat your kids so differently -
    via Tuttiefrukt
  • 24
    Burger Thyme It's your dress, you can make your own decisions on what to do with it.
    via BurgerThyme
  • 25
    Laughing_Dragon_77 NTA. Stash that dress at a friend's house or it'll get stolen.
    via Laughing_Dragon_77
  • 26
    Bubbly_Inspector_884 NTA. You saved for your dress and bought it yourself so for you it is a tangible milestone that you want to preserve. Your sister meanwhile has your parents offering to purchsse her prom dress but is pushing to wear yours, so you have to ask the question what is wrong with your parents paying.
    via Bubbly_Inspector_884
  • 27
    NaughtyByWiFi33 nah ur not selfish at all, u paid for it and it means something to u, like not everything has to be a "community item" just bc ur family wants it
    via NaughtyByWiFi33

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family drama aita kids mother sisters siblings reddit story parenting family prom sister dress daughter Reddit women parents children Father
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