The Budget Fashionista

I think every fashion guru who has ever written or spoken or presented about shopping has mentioned cost-per-wear, and I love that idea. It actually helps me stay focused, making sure that my money is well-spent.

A few months ago, I was at Kohls. I didn’t see anything I really like in the Simply Vera collection, but I looked around, and I saw two amazing tops and two gorgeous skirts from Croft and Barrow. They were all on sale. The total price together was a bit higher than I would like, but I knew what I was getting. The two tops had V-necks and 3/4 sleeves, and they fit me closely. That meant that I could wear them on their own or as layering tops in the colder months. The skirts were neutral A-line shapes, which would go with almost all my tops, and the fabric was multi-seasonal.

I think by now, my cost-per-wear for each of these items is less than a dollar, and it’s still going down.

Anyone else get great deals like this?

I don’t personally buy anything unless I can wear it at least 2 places!

One thing that annoys me is when women I know have a great item of clothing, but they insist on wearing it only one way, just so, meaning that they don’t get much wear out of it. My mom bought a gorgeous brown suit, which would look great in a million ways, but she insists that the only way to wear it is with a beige shell, brown shoes, and a brown hat (head coverings are required in synagogue for married women). She would get much more wear if she’d wear different colored underpinnings, or if she’d break up the suit and wear the jacket and skirt with other things.

I think part of cost-per-wear is being just a little adventurous and wearing the clothes in new and different ways.