Cost per wear is one way to understand clothing use. It can reveal a useful repair or overlooked favourite, but it does not establish a garment’s full value or justify spending beyond your means.
Define the calculation
Choose wearing days or occasions and use the same unit. A CHF180 coat worn on 90 days has a purchase-only cost of CHF2 per day; a CHF40 blouse worn four times has CHF10 per use. These illustrate arithmetic, not which garment is better.
| Example | Purchase price | Uses | Purchase-only cost per use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coat | CHF180 | 90 | CHF2 |
| Blouse | CHF40 | 4 | CHF10 |
Show added costs and forecasts
You may include cleaning, repairs or alterations if comparisons use the same method. Separate incurred costs from future estimates. Consider several plausible use scenarios rather than assigning a huge number to make a purchase look economical. Fit, care and combinations must support that use.
Begin with existing clothing
Track three pieces for a few weeks with a simple tally. A cardigan may perform many jobs while an apparently versatile blazer remains unworn. Investigate whether a button repair, another combination or lasting discomfort explains it. Past spending does not oblige you to keep wearing unsuitable clothes.
Respect what the number omits
Occasion wear may have a high cost per use and still serve a real task. The figure does not fully represent labour conditions or environmental effects, and promised future wear cannot enlarge a limited budget. Check whether an existing piece remains useful before replacing it.
Frequently asked questions
Must washing costs be included?
No, not for a simple personal overview. State the scope and treat compared pieces consistently; transparent simplicity is better than precision built on unclear assumptions.
What if I put it on several times in a day?
Choose one consistent rule, such as one wearing day. Do not compare days for one garment with hours or individual dressing events for another.
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