You bought a $200 jacket and wore it 50 times. You bought a $30 top on impulse and wore it once. Which one was the better deal? Cost per wear makes the answer obvious — and once you start tracking it, you’ll never shop the same way again.
The Formula
Cost per wear is simple:
Cost Per Wear = Purchase Price ÷ Number of Times Worn
| Item | Price | Times Worn | Cost Per Wear | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashmere sweater | $180 | 60 | $3.00 | Great value |
| White t-shirt | $25 | 100 | $0.25 | Best value |
| Sequin top | $45 | 2 | $22.50 | Expensive per use |
| Work blazer | $250 | 80 | $3.13 | Great value |
| Trendy jacket | $90 | 3 | $30.00 | Expensive per use |
Why It Matters
The price tag on an item only tells half the story. A “cheap” fast fashion piece worn once costs more per use than an “expensive” quality piece worn weekly. Cost per wear reframes the conversation from “How much does it cost?” to “How much value will I get from it?”
This isn’t about spending more or less — it’s about spending smarter. A $15 t-shirt you wear twice a week is a better investment than a $500 dress you wear once. Cost per wear makes that visible.
How to Use Cost Per Wear
Before you buy
Ask yourself: “How many times will I realistically wear this?” Divide the price by that number. If the cost per wear is under $5, it’s probably a solid purchase. If it’s over $20, think twice — unless it’s for a special occasion you genuinely care about.
To audit your closet
Look at the items you already own. Which ones have the lowest cost per wear? Those are your wardrobe heroes — the pieces that work hardest for you. Which ones have the highest? Those are candidates for donating, selling, or at least learning from.
To spot patterns
After tracking cost per wear for a few months, patterns emerge. Maybe you always get great value from denim but overspend on occasion wear. Maybe your basics have incredible cost per wear but your “statement pieces” sit unworn. These patterns make your future shopping decisions sharper.
The Nuances
Cost per wear is a helpful metric, not a religion. A few things to keep in mind:
- Joy matters. A $200 vintage find you wear twice but love every time has value beyond the math.
- Quality affects longevity. A well-made $100 item that lasts 5 years may have lower lifetime cost per wear than a $20 item that falls apart in 3 months.
- Some categories are inherently high. Formalwear, seasonal occasion outfits, and specialty items will always have higher cost per wear. That’s normal.
- Track it, don’t obsess. The goal is awareness, not optimization of every penny.
Tracking Cost Per Wear Automatically
Calculating cost per wear manually is tedious. Every time you wear something, you’d need to log it and recalculate. That’s why LookMaa does it automatically.
When you add an item to LookMaa (by pasting a product URL or snapping a photo), it captures the price. Every time you log a wear, the cost per wear updates. Over time, you get a clear picture of which items earn their place in your closet and which don’t.
Combined with WardrobeIQ (which suggests outfits from your actual wardrobe), cost per wear tracking naturally encourages you to wear more of what you own — reducing both waste and the urge to buy new things.