Posted by Shaheena Links on
Who doesn't like looking and feeling good in the clothes we wear? Fashion is a great way to express our identity and personality. Whether it's wearing bright colours, slogan tees, or fun and quirky socks we manage to infuse who we are into the clothes we wear.
We all have that one outfit or pair of shoes that we love and at some point, we have all thrown our hands up in the air and exclaimed "I have nothing to wear!" only to find a forgotten piece of clothing hiding at the bottom of our cupboard.
So before heading to the shop to buy something new let's talk about "cost per wear." What exactly is cost per wear? I hear you asking. What it is not, is some newfangled way of calculating your laundry bill. Instead, it is a formula that helps you determine the value of your clothing and accessories based on how often you wear them.
Here's how it works:
Take the price of an item and divide it by the number of times you wear it. So, for example, let's say you bought a pair of R500 shoes and you've worn them 50 times. Your cost per wear would be R10. Not too bad, right? Now, let's say you bought a R50 pair of shoes and only wore them once. Your cost per wear? A whopping R50. Yikes!
By calculating the cost per wear of your clothing you can make more informed decisions about your purchases. Sure, yes the R50 pair of shoes may be cute and go perfectly with the outfit you have planned in your head but if you are only wearing it once then it's not really worth it and adds to more fashion waste. So it might then be better to spend on the R500 pair of shoes that will last much longer.
Not only are you being financially savvy but you are also lessening your impact on the environment.
So, the next time you're debating whether to splurge on a new dress or pair of shoes, remember to factor in the cost per wear. Who knows, it might just save you some money (and some closet space) in the long run. Happy calculating!