Calculate transparently
Divide a garment's purchase cost by the number of times you have worn it. If you include alterations or cleaning, say so and use the same method when comparing items. Future wears are estimates, not completed savings. A costly garment worn often can have a lower figure than an inexpensive item left unused, but that calculation does not tell you whether either purchase was affordable.
Keep other values visible
Comfort, fit, special occasions, and sentimental importance do not fit neatly into one number. Some necessary clothes are rarely worn because the occasion itself is rare. Use the calculation to notice patterns, such as buying several versions of something you never choose. Do not add imagined future wears to justify an unnecessary purchase. The most economical option may be wearing something already in the closet, repairing a useful piece, or deciding that no new garment is needed right now.
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