Sadly, 2007 was not a good year for me in terms of wardrobe development. (Too many hours at the computer?) These post-Christmas days, with their clearance sales and Christmas cash on hand, should be good times for shopping. Unfortunately, we’ve been short a car and I’m low man on the car totem pole.
Last week I did manage to squeak out once and get up to Nordstrom Rack. On the way home I kept thinking about a sweater I had seen. $50, not too much for cashmere but far more than I would normally spend on anything other but shoes or a coat, it looked exactly like the one pictured here.
As I said, I thought about it all the way home. You see, I have owned the sweater pictured for about six years. Every year I think it’s going to die, and every year I manage to continue to wear it. Alot. Mentally calculating whether I could possibly justify the purchase went something like this:
At least once a week, for 20 weeks (really? 20 weeks? maybe not), that’s 20 wearings per year … times five years, at least, that’s 100 wearings … That’s still more than a quarter per wear …
And so on. I just kept working the numbers until they came out the way I wanted. I was buying it- and one in peach or coral pink, too, if they had one. (As I said, my wardrobe has become quite skimpy.)
Momentary trouble: by yesterday, when I got back, there was not a small left on the rack and only one medium. But somehow it occurred to me to ask the fitting room attendant if she had a smaller size. She did! Only now the tag was sporting a bright red “additional 40% off” sticker!
With the savings I bought this: 
And yes, I got the peachy colored sweater too. Two cashmere turtlenecks and this jacket (or coat?) for about $80.
My goal cost per wear for separates is 25 cents, for outerwear even less. Have you identified yours?
I actually think a lot about cost per wear. 🙂 But I have not made a cost per wear goal. I should do that. I think a quarter is a good goal. By outerwear do you mean a coat?? Or are you thinking just a blazer or something?
Yes I was thinking coat when I said outerwear. Even though they are more expensive to start with, I tend to wear them more frequently and for more years. (For dresses I shoot for $1, although I think $20 is actually pretty good for special occasion. But then, I don’t have that many special occasions.)
When I initially calculated my cost per wear goals, it was based on my budget and wardrobe plan. I haven’t recalculated in years, there never seemed to be a need.
Wear them in good health – jacket will be wonderful on you and ya can’t beat soft and warm.
You really got me thinking – not about cost per wear – but about what factors into that: how often the same thing is worn. People used to tease me that I had a “uniform”, because I had periods where I wore one of three similar cotton print dresses in the house every day. And I often wear the same things in the house, over and over. There’s not a thing about my life that requires a variety in dress outside the house! Wonder why I have thought I needed that. Not saying I am changing my ways on a dime, but certainly something that never occurred to me before and I want to ponder.
BTW, I received the two slim metallic belts I ordered on that Wilson’s lunchtime sale. Thanks again for pointing out that great bargain. I was happy that the silver one really was more of a pewter – was darker or duller – and the multi one had black but also some rosy brown along with the bronzy gold, very versatile for me. I was over cautious and ordered a large and will have to punch an extra hole but I planned on that. I winced when I saw the original price tag attached – $34. I never would have bought them for that, but $4, that was fine. They are really substantial looking belts and I like that.
I’ve been thinking about that too: how when you have more options, cost per wear necessarily goes up because number of wears goes down. I just to have enough options that there is always one thing that I like available to change into. If I was more on top of laundry, then, I could get by with very little!
I’m glad you like the belts. I so wish the silver would have been available in a small! I went to Wilsons Leather in person, though, and bought two $5 belts: one white quilted looking with silver hardware and one which reverses from brown to leopard. I’ll try to post a picture sometime. 🙂
25 c. per wear is a great tangible goal. It will really get me thinking about impulse thrift shop buys… if it’s $5 I have to wear it 20 times to get my money’s worth. This will also help me think about how much clothing I need. Say sweaters, which don’t get washed every time you wear them… I wonder if 7 is “enough”? I mean, I don’t even go out in public most days so I think I have way more than I need.
It does help to think of it that way. Honestly, 7 sweaters is about what I have.
Good shopping Rebecca!
I find cost per wear a useful tool, but it’s not something that always works out, and I don’t worry about it too much if it doesn’t. It’s a sliding scale, really, as you point out with different ideals for formal wear, outerwear, swimwear … the list does go on!
Thanks Wendy! And I always figure I get enough wear out of the stuff that I pay really nothing for that it balances out if I go a bit over on something.
What I’m trying to condition myself to do now is to be more willing to spend real money on staples, because they are the things that allow me to get dressed everyday, even if I don’t achieve my ideal cost per wear. But that’s another post! 🙂
That’s funny, I have often thought of the cost per wear with my clothes before and didn’t know anyone else did! I don’t have a set cost per wear in mind when I shop, though.