Tracking True Wardrobe Costs

Fashion trends come and go, and many closets accumulate garments that are rarely worn. The concept of cost per wear helps you decide whether an item is truly worth the price. Instead of focusing solely on the initial purchase, this metric spreads the total expense across all the times you plan to wear the piece. The lower the cost per wear, the greater the value you get from your wardrobe.

The Cost Per Wear Formula

The calculator works by summing every dollar spent on a garment, subtracting the money you might recover by selling or donating it, and dividing by the number of wears. Mathematically it looks like this:

Where $P$ is the purchase price, $M$ is maintenance or alteration cost, $c$ is the cleaning cost per wear, $w$ is the expected number of wears, and $R$ is any resale value. The fraction gives the cost per wear $C$. If you plan to dry‑clean an item every time you wear it, the cleaning cost can exceed the purchase price over its lifetime.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Maintenance costs include tailoring, replacement buttons, or repairs. Some pieces—like winter coats or leather shoes—benefit from periodic professional upkeep. Cleaning cost per wear covers anything from dry cleaning to specialized detergents. Although at first glance these charges may seem minor, they add up over time. Factoring them into your calculation ensures you account for the full expense of maintaining the garment.

Factoring in Resale Value

High‑quality items can retain considerable resale value, especially if you keep them in good condition. Platforms for secondhand fashion make it easier than ever to recoup part of your investment. Subtracting the expected resale price from your total costs reduces your final cost per wear. Even if you donate rather than sell, some regions allow you to claim a charitable deduction, which effectively offsets your spending.

Setting a Wear Estimate

The number of wears you anticipate depends on personal style, garment durability, and how quickly trends change. It can be hard to predict, so use the field as a best guess. Many people underestimate how often they will wear staples like jeans or jackets. On the other hand, special occasion pieces may see only a handful of uses. Tracking real-life wear counts in a wardrobe journal or app helps refine future estimates.

An Example Calculation

Imagine purchasing a blazer for $150 and expecting to wear it 40 times over several years. Dry cleaning costs $5 each wear, and minor alterations run another $20. If you hope to resell the blazer for $30, then your total costs are $P$ = 150, $M$ = 20, $c$ = 5, $w$ = 40, and $R$ = 30. Plugging these numbers in gives:

So each wear costs about $6.50. This number might be perfectly reasonable for a high-quality blazer that elevates many outfits. If it feels steep, you can look for ways to reduce costs or increase wears.

Using the Table Below

To help you estimate expected wears for different garment types, the table summarizes common ranges. Your own experience may vary, but these guidelines serve as a starting point.

Garment Type	Typical Wears
T‑Shirt	30‑50
Jeans	50‑100
Suit or Blazer	20‑50
Dress Shoes	40‑60
Formal Dress	5‑10

Interpreting the Result

Cost per wear offers a fresh perspective on sale prices and impulse buys. A bargain dress might seem inexpensive, but if you wear it only once, the cost per wear is high. Conversely, a pricier jacket worn every week can become a wardrobe staple with a surprisingly low cost per wear. Reviewing this metric before making a purchase helps you focus on pieces that match your lifestyle, reducing clutter and waste.

Sustainable Wardrobe Planning

Tracking cost per wear also supports more sustainable fashion practices. By investing in durable items you truly love, you reduce textile waste and curb the environmental impact of fast fashion. Consider creating a spreadsheet of major purchases and recording each time you wear them. Over time you will see which pieces give you the best value. You may even discover that your favorite basics deliver the most bang for your buck.

Conclusion

This calculator stays entirely client‑side, so you can adjust numbers as often as you like without storing or sharing data. Whether you are curating a capsule wardrobe or evaluating a luxury purchase, cost per wear provides clarity. A clear view of real clothing costs empowers smarter shopping decisions and helps build a closet full of items you will genuinely enjoy wearing again and again.