FASHION 101

By Guest Contributor

Smart Shopping

Let’s Talk About Cost per Wear

Photo: Canva

Capsule wardrobe; trends; basic garments; timeless clothing; how many of these words are we so used to hearing on a daily basis on any social media platform? In an attempt to try and build a smart, sustainable, and stylish wardrobe, we often get carried away by the numerous trends and fashion influencers that all recommend sticking to different things. This article, however, will be different, as we will only focus on a trusted formula that every savvy shopper swears by: the cost per wear.

Cost per wear is a very straightforward calculation that determines the value of an item based on how many times it's worn. It is a truly magical equation that transforms a simple piece of clothing into a long-term investment, so that every penny you spend on your wardrobe is worth it in the long run. When first hearing about this formula, some are tempted to think that it favors expensive clothing and accessories, somehow ‘proving’ that it is better to splurge on a pricey outfit instead of getting the same thing in a mass market store. However, that’s not the case and we’ll explain why.

Photo: Canva

Let’s say you need a new dress to go to your friend’s wedding and you can choose between two options: getting a cheap yet glamorous $30 dress from Shein or choosing a classy and simple design for $150. Short-term, it might seem like a good idea to not spend too much money on something you only plan on wearing once, but let’s take a look at the long-term investment. If you get the first dress, wear it once, and then forget about it, the cost per wear of this garment is still $30. However, in case you give preference to the second option, you will certainly end up wearing it to many other settings, thus bringing the cost per wear down every time you put it on.

A wonderful example of a garment that has an excellent cost per wear is the Irish knit sweater. Since they are made of 100% natural fibers, such sweaters tend to cost more than a regular jumper you can find in a fast-fashion store, but their durability and resistance makes them a war wiser investment. For instance, you can find a traditional crew neck Irish sweater on Gaelsong for $100, and if you wear it more than 50 times (which you certainly will, especially during the colder days), you’ll bring the cost per wear down to less than $2 per wear. Clothing such as the Irish sweater that is classy, easy to style, and is made of high-quality fabrics can be worn for many years to come, not just a few seasons, which makes it a calculated contribution to your closet.

Photo: Canva

Overall, the goal of the ‘cost per wear’ formula is to help you find out the real value of a garment by dividing its original price to the number of times you’ve worn it. This way, the cost per wear is used to encourage a more holistic approach to shopping, valuing durability, versatility, and quality over microtrends and fibers of a poor quality.

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