Cost per wear

Lucky, I also have a Windsmoor coat, that I loved in the shop, but hardly wear it. On the other hand, my Planet coat, from a charity shop, I absolutely love.

My rule for buying clothes is to try them on in the shop, take a hard look in the mirror and ask myself "Does this look any smarter than what I was wearing when I came in?" Most of the time the answer is no and back it goes on the rail.

A decent pair of glasses are worth it. They get worn more than any clothing. A thin light lenses can be expensive but are lighter to wear and nicer to see through.

I bought a Windsmore coat 4 years ago, which I loved, worn it twice, numerous shoes that fitted in the shop, but I couldn't walk in, I put the shoes in a box prior to giving them to the charity shop, never missed them for two years. Yesterday I bit the bullet took the lot, together with other items that I liked when I bough them but never got to wear. I totalled up the cost of my silly buys and was horrified at how much I had wasted. I could have bought a couple of nice expensive outfits that would have been worn. What I am left with I like and have to think of my bad buys as my gift to a good cause. Think the basic wardrobe a good idea and tried it, but in my case I got bored with it and strayed.

DaphneBroon,

In the past I have wasted money on stuff I never wore. To solve this problem and to avoid impulse buys I created a uniformed wardrobe of black trousers, light coloured tops, matching scarves, black boots, and a few pieces of jewellery. It's simple and it works.

janeainsworth,

I'm with you. No more keep the best for certain occasions. I've cleared out so much stuff this last year that I feel young again.

I have a Jaegar 'winter white' full length coat that cost a small fortune 30 years ago but still comes out for smart occasions. Costs quite a bit in dry cleaning but always feel good in it. Similarly a Burberry trench that I bought in 1988 and hasn't dated one bit. A bargain was an aquascutum jacket I bought from an unclaimed dry cleaning shop and fits like a glove. Also have had a lot of bad buys that go to the charity shop after 1 wear.

I hate spending too much on clothes when all I want to really do is cover up. I did recently buy some sleeves though, they are great, they cover my bingo wings and you can wear them with anything.
Pic stolen from their website, that is obviously not me.
If only it had sleeves they are called

Lupin - don't take any notice of that nasty and jealous person - get that coat out today and wear it. It's what YOU like that matters.

That's a lovely idea Esspee.

i have a friend who when buying something very expensive pays cash for half and puts half on her card. Her husband remains in happy ignorance.

I've got a long sleeved T shirt type top that I bought in QS about 20 years ago. It was £1.99 and I have worn it and worn it. It's not the smartest garment but very useful.I've also got a pair of knee high leather boots that I bought in Matalan for £40 10 years ago. They come out every winter and still look good. Sadly I've also bought lots of things that have been charity shopped after a couple of outings.

I dress in the evening even if we are not going out. I feel good about myself and my clothes get an outing. Not evening dress OTT but the kind of thing I would once have kept for going out. Present favourite is a long navy velvet dress from Windsmoore. So comfortable and with different scarves ringing the changes in colour very versatile. Overall cost per wear is going down by the week.
During the day In the colder months I tend towards trousers so it is nice to feel feminine in the evening.

My favourite & most economical garment purchase was an M& S coat which I bought about 8 years ago & love to pieces . It's full.length wool in a red & white large check. It cost £17 from a seconds shop & I've worn it & worn it . Nearly every time I've got it on, someone says how lovely it is. I keep looking for a replacement but haven't found anything to measure up...except a £350 coat last year in I k Bennet which I hankered after but had to walk away from. Cost per wear of my old friend? A few pence

I have some Ecco shoes I bought in a sale 6 or 8 years ago. I wear them all the time in the winter and on wet days the rest of the year. I looked at new ones and gulped at the price but think maybe it's worth spending over £100 for something so comfortable that lasts for years. Even Clarks and Hotter shoes are not as good.

I have a Jaeger black wool one button jacket. I got it 15 years ago at a thrift store so goodness alone knows how old it is! And it is still my go-to piece for dressing up a pair of jeans, nice with my black wool trousers for church, formal, etc. I love it. Cost per wear.....? Priceless!

There's someone in my town who likes the same style skirts as I do. She buys them, wears them once or twice (from what I can tell) then takes them to a charity shop. That's where I buy them. Lucky we're the same size! I've probably worn them at least as many times as she has for £5.99 each.

I am extremely short sighted , so to get glasses that are not like bottle ends costs quite a bit. LikeLillie £600 is not unusual I also spend money on good hair cuts, and shoes. I just hate my feet hurting

I think I am in for a shock when I next go to the opticians.

oh my - £600+ for a pair of glasses, my entire wardrobe apart from an expensive jacket & 2 winter coats (woollen) probably didn't cost so much - still DaphneBroon if you can afford them & constant daily wear maybe they are worth it

My expensive purchases are good fitting shoes, boots & trainers. Winter wool coats are a bit of a luxury but I do like to have them as a change from waterproofs, particularly when socialising.

I have a moderately expensive Black wool jacket which I were a lot in winter, it is as at home dressed up or down.

I do like a bargain, there is a lovely M & S Outlet shop in Town, had some great bargains

£600 for glasses is usually what I pay. If I'm wearing them every day for two years, that seems like a bargain.

Are they rose tinted ones DaphneB...... I have always wanted some of those.

It's the varifocal lenses annsixty and I could have spent even more on a higher spec ???

I would pass out from shock if I was asked £600 for a pair of glasses!! My friend was recently showing off her £350 Jimmy Choo glasses and I thought that was expensive.

SueDoku - I know what you mean. I have a lovely pair of trousers and went to buy another pair or two and they don't make them anymore. It was only a few months later.

Well I am hoping my new glasses which I collected today will justify the £600+ price tag. I should think 365 days a year will bring them down to cheap as chips in no time ..... it had better!