Liking clothes and thinking carefully about money are two juxtaposing problems that reside in the same girl brain. There really isn't a more familiar feeling than finding a perfect piece and then the anxious questioning of whether it will actually earn its place. 'Girl maths' captures that tension with humour, but at its heart it is something real to everyone: loving wonderful objects, whilst being specific about hard earned money
Enter; cost-per-wear. Not a loophole, not a justification, but a way to understand how an item will work for you over time. It poses the simple question: how much use will you get out of this, and does it justify the price? The answer is rarely purely financial. It's about practicality, pleasure, and knowing what really belongs in your wardrobe and personal tastes.
What Cost-Per-Wear Actually Is
Cost-per-wear is straightforward to calculate. Take the price of an item and divide it by the number of times you 'expect' (hopefully) to wear it. A £400 coat worn several times a week across winter seasons quickly becomes a bargain. A £40 top worn twice rarely justifies itself. The maths is simple, but it helps ease anxiety by asking you to consider: how will this piece be part your life, day to day, season through season?
Thinking this way changes the way you shop. It shifts the focus from impulse or guilt to intention and enjoyment. Not quite asking yourself whether something feels expensive or frivolous in the moment. You are asking whether it will really be worn, appreciated, and a good representation of you.
Why Cost-Per-Wear Works Best for Wardrobe Staples
Some pieces naturally earn their keep. Coats, shoes, bags, trousers, knitwear—the items that appear in your routine without fanfare and show their value over time. These are the anchors of a wardrobe, the pieces you reach for on ordinary mornings or rushed evenings. Absorbing repetition, complementing other items, and slowly repay their price with constant and consistent use. Splurging on staples of this kind often makes the most sense because it is the real curated capsule of pieces that do no wrong.
Cost-per-wear rewards reliability. Pieces that fit seamlessly into your style and your routines tend to cost less over time than those bought purely for novelty. That doesn't make them boring. It makes them investments.
When Girl Math Gets Playful
Cost-per-wear isn't meant to be austere. Part of the joy of clothes is experimenting and getting a little lost in the mix. Statement dresses, seasonal skirts, bold jackets, trendy accessories may have a high cost-per-wear. That does not make them bad choices. The key here, is being honest about what they are. Know that these purchases are for pleasure, not daily rotation. Recognise them as indulgences and let yourself enjoy them fully. A higher number on the spreadsheet is simply the price of pretty fun.
You can love fun (sometimes expensive) clothes and still make decisions that feel thoughtful and true to you.
The Emotional Side of Cost-Per-Wear
Not every return on investment is numerical. Some pieces earn their keep through how they make you feel. Confidence, ease, joy—these are real forms of value. The difference lies in longevity. If the excitement fades after a few wears, the piece rarely justifies itself. If the thrill endures and the item continues to appear in your rotations, it has earned a place.
Emotions and maths coexist. Cost-per-wear does not aim to do calculations till joy is dim; it frames it in a way that allows you to recognise which pieces truly work.
How to Use Cost-Per-Wear Without Overthinking
In practice, cost-per-wear works best as a guide rather than a strict rule. Ask yourself if you can see the item in at least three real situations. Consider how it interacts with your existing wardrobe. Imagine wearing it when no one is paying attention. If the answers come easily, the item is likely to be worth it. If not, the maths is simply confirming what your instinct already knows.
The goal is to feel clear about your choices, not guilty. A way to shop and indulge in pieces that you believe really are of you and for you.
Cost-Per-Wear in Real Life: Coat, Bag, Shoes
The Coat
Price: £420
Worn: 3–4 times a week, October to March (~90 wears a year)
After two winters: ~180 wears
Cost-per-wear: ~£2.30
A staple coat proves itself repeatedly. It integrates effortlessly, and the initial price quickly becomes negligible. (read: you will wear it forever)
The Bag
Price: £650
Worn: 2–3 times a week, year-round (~120 wears a year)
After two years: ~240 wears
Cost-per-wear: ~£2.70
Bags are a middle ground. Neutral, practical, versatile pieces reward repeated use. Trendier shapes need honesty about how often they will actually appear in your rotation.
The Shoes
Price: £180
Worn: 5 times a year (events, dinners, moods)
After two years: ~10 wears
Cost-per-wear: £18
High cost-per-wear does not make it a mistake. It's a deliberate choice to enjoy something special.
The Takeaway
Girl math, at its best, is a framework for investing in your style rather than spending against it. It allows room for luxury indulgences while clarifying where the value really lies. A wardrobe built on cost-per-wear is not smaller or restrictive; it is worn-in, intentional, and endlessly practical. It reflects how you live and what makes you feel like yourself. Liking fashion is the point—calculating the cost just ensures you are actually wearing what you buy.
