Cost Per Wear and Investment Dressing

I’ve always been an advocate for investment dressing. I love to add fun on-trend items to keep my look current but the backbone of my wardrobe is made up of items I’ve invested in for the long haul. Does investment dressing sound expensive to you? It needn’t be.

An investment purchase is an item that you know will serve you long-term. It goes with most/many items in your wardrobe and wearing it makes you feel confident and fabulous.

These Eileen Fisher ponte knit pants are in constant rotation in my wardrobe. I wear them multiple times a month and they always go in my suitcase for travel. I’ve owned them for over 5  years which means my cost per wear is very low.

Let’s say you buy a pair of sparkly party shoes for $69 and wear them 20 times. Those shoes cost you $3.45 per wearing. Now consider the super comfortable, high-quality black shoes you pay $200 for and wear 1-2 times a week for 5 years. Those shoes cost you $0.77 – $0.38 per wear. The black shoes are an investment that paid off in longevity and cost per wear.

Quality handbags, shoes, coats, cashmere and accessories are smart places to invest in for your wardrobe. My feet are of particular concern for me so over the years I have invested in very comfortable, quality shoes and boots that I’ve worn over and over.

Every woman’s budget differs and you should base your purchases on your own financial situation. My budget has changed since my husband retired but I still consider the long term wearability of an item to decide if it’s a smart buy or not.

What sort of things do you invest in for your wardrobe?