We've all been there. You arrive at dinner with a few friends, unzip your coat, throw it over the back of your chair, and notice your friend gleaning at your top. After a few obligatory waited-out seconds, she asks, "Where'd you get that shirt?"
When growing up, moms tell their daughters that copying is a really just a form of flattery. But when your 20-something, and you found an unbelievable steal or you 'accidentally' splurged on a pair of shoes you just had to have, it's inevitable that you pause before responding to that question. It's natural to feel a sense of ownership over our fashion, and it's likely, to be frank, that you simply don't want to share that information with the girl across the table who is going to run home, order the item online, and pay 17.95 for the overnight shipping. Then, it's no longer your prized possession, but someone else's too. It sounds crazy, but we have all experienced this and really just don't want to admit that we've felt that selfish before.
So, what do you do? Depending on the item, there are a few options for response. If you really feel that uncomfortable disclosing the info, you might try, "My mom got it for me," "It's vintage" (only if it can pass as vintage!) "I got it at a sample sale," or "It's from few seasons ago." Now of course, I'm not promoting lying to your friends, and to be honest, I can only think of two times in my life that I've done this. But if you have the friend who's constantly chirping in your ear, wondering where every single item from your wardrobe came from, then one of those responses might be applicable for you. Of course, be careful with what you say! Getting caught in a lie over a trendy top from Forever 21 that you claimed your aunt purchased in a boutique while vacationing in Europe could potentially cause a malicious catfight.
On the flip side, you might be wondering, "Is it okay to ask someone where they got something?" Here's the general rule I go by: Ration your curiosity. It's not okay to ask the same friend where she got her shirt, shoes, bag, skirt, and accessories. If you love something, I mean really, truly love something that a friend has, then by all means, ask away. If you intend on buying that piece, I suggest letting your friend know. You might try, "I just love that bag. Where'd you get it? I been searching for something like that for a while." Explaining yourself instead of simply asking, "Where'd you get that?" compliments the owner and makes them feel good about their purchase. If you're going to be a copy-cat, at least be polite.
If my friends were wearing any of these items, I'd probably have to find some way to ask them, "Where'd you get that?"
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