The category most damaged by changed working patterns. A suit bought for a five-day office and worn twice a month costs four times what it used to.
The arithmetic
| The considered option | The cheap option | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $600 | $200 |
| Upkeep over its life | $240 | $0 |
| Realistic wears | 200 | 80 |
| Years of use | 8 | 3 |
| Cost per wear | $4.20 | $2.50 |
Here the cheaper option genuinely wins on cost per wear, at $2.50 against $4.20. This is one of the cases where spending more does not pay for itself.
Where the wear count comes from
About 25 wears a year — far fewer since hybrid working.
Run it on your own numbers
The price you would actually pay, after any discount.
Be honest. For most people an occasion dress is under 5, a winter coat is 80 or more.
Dry cleaning, resoling, alterations. Leave at zero if there is none.
Cost per wear
$4.00
$120 across 30 wears.
- To reach $5.00 per wear
- 24 wears
- To reach $1.00 per wear
- 120 wears
- To reach $0.50 per wear
- 240 wears
Cost per wear is a comparison tool, not an accounting one. It is most useful when weighing two specific options against each other — this coat against that coat — rather than as an absolute verdict on a purchase.