You know how it is with bargains - they aren’t always what they seem. Stretching your clothing dollar means more than just hunting for the lowest price. Instead of comparing price tags, compare the useful life of the item.
Say you’re looking for a pair of evening shoes. You find a pair of gold strappy 4″ platform stilettos for $100. They fit, they are cheap & make you look like you’re going to the Oscars. They are at least 1″ higher than you ever wear, they aren’t really comfortable & they go with one dress. “They only have to get through one night” you tell yourself.
In the same store, you spot a pair of black, sexy, strappy 2″ heels. You could wear them with everything from a formal gown to the little black dress to your jeans. Even before you look at the price tag, you can tell they’re expensive. They look and feel perfect – but at $300, out of your price range.
Before you put them back, compare the prices per wearing:
The construction & quality of the gold sandals tell you they might get through only one night. The style screams “FAD”. The style suggests that as this fad wanes, so will the shoe’s lifespan. Because they are so distinctive, you won’t be able to wear them to more than one formal event this year. Price per wearing: $100.
The black sandals are well constructed, so they are durable. Because of the classic color & lines, you’ll be able to wear them to the symphony, the Christmas & New Year’s Eve parties as well as with jeans & a sexy black top. You can achieve different looks with the same sandals. If you only wear them 6 times a year for 2 years, the price per wearing is $25 (at a very conservative count).
My father always said it was better to have a little of the best than a lot of junk.