Planning Your Wardrobe & What is Cost per Wear

With the cost of living increasing and the credit crunch, most of us will be considering ways of economising. Shopping smart is important but organising and planning a wardrobe is the first crucial step to having a wardrobe to suit your lifestyle, needs and budget. Most women have too many clothes in their wardrobe and cannot see the wood amongst the trees. Men often do not have an up to date or organised wardrobe and there are men (mostly fashion conscious ones) who also have too many clothes.

Re-examine your wardrobe and ensure you have the classic items as your key pieces. Good quality clothes will last, so purchasing items that are value for money is vital. Purchase less expensive items for your occasional wear that you infrequently wear.

CPW – Cost per Wear

Think CPW (cost per wear). If you purchase an item costing a £1000 and wear it 100 times, its CPW is only £10. Purchase a top for £50 and wear it once and its CPW is £50.

Wardrobe of Clothes

To look and feel good in your clothes you need to have a wardrobe of clothes that suits your wardrobe personality, your natural colouring, suits your body shape plus fits you correctly and finally that reflects your lifestyle. Too many people have too many clothes they do not wear, the 80/20 theory. If you lifestyle changes ensure you adjust your wardrobe. Are you in a rut with your clothes? Does your wardrobe need a makeover? Then consider sorting, organising and planning your wardrobe.

Planning

Give yourself a CASH BUDGET whether it is every month or every three or six months for essential items. Check how much you are spending. Make notes of what you need and what needs replacing for the season and have an idea of what you need before you shop for clothes. Your wardrobe should be co-ordinated with versatile separates. Classic items (e.g. suit, jacket, trouser, skirt) should be the basics and your wardrobe should be planned around these key pieces and then adding fashionable items each season. Learn to mix and match your colours in different ways. Ask yourself what slight adjustments you need to make e.g. buy a new top in the season’s colours that mix with several items and/or a few new accessories.

Creating an up to date look — check out magazines or look at merchandise in shops for ideas. Ask yourself what slight adjustments you need to make e.g. buy a new top in the season’s colours that mix with several items and/or a few new accessories.

Accessories are essential — they can update and change the look of your outfits. Buy the best you can afford. A good quality belt makes cheaper quality trousers look more expensive and the same with your shoes. Your accessories say a lot about you and your personality. You should spend around 30% of your clothes budget on accessories. Most people do not spend sufficient on their accessories or buy enough.