Mindful shopping
7 questions to ask before buying new clothes
Seven questions to ask before buying clothes, how to work out cost per wear and how to compare a new piece with your wardrobe to avoid regrets.
In short: Comparing a piece with the clothes you already own before you buy it is the most effective way to cut down on purchases you regret. Ask whether you already have something similar, whether it works in at least three outfits and how often you will wear it. Cost per wear (price ÷ number of wears) makes the decision concrete.
Why do some clothes never get worn?
A piece that looks great in the store or on a screen often ends up hanging untouched when it doesn’t go with anything else in your closet. The problem is usually not the piece itself, but that it doesn’t connect with the rest of your wardrobe. The questions below help you make that connection before you buy.
7 questions to ask before you buy
1. Do I already own something similar?
If you already have a piece in the same color and cut, the new one will probably just replace it. Do you really want a second one, or do you simply like the one you have?
2. Can I wear it in at least three outfits?
If you can’t picture at least three different outfits with pieces you already own, it may end up tied to a single look.
3. Does it fit my lifestyle?
Think about where you spend most of your week. If a piece bought for a special event will be worn once or twice a year, buy it knowing that.
4. Does it fit my color palette?
A piece that works with your base colors goes with most of your wardrobe. Accent colors are great, but they work best in small numbers. Our guide on how to build a capsule wardrobe shows how to set up your own palette.
5. Can I live with the care it needs?
Will you really dry-clean, iron or hand-wash it? Pieces that are hard to care for get worn less.
6. Does it fit well today?
Clothes bought “for when I lose a little weight” or “to take to the tailor” often stay in the closet. If it fits well today, buy it.
7. How many times will I wear it?
The answer is the basis of the calculation in the next section.
How to calculate cost per wear
Cost per wear is the price of a piece divided by the number of times you will wear it:
Cost per wear = Price ÷ Number of wears
| Piece | Price | Estimated wears | Cost per wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| A timeless coat | $300 | 120 | $2.50 |
| A trend jacket | $120 | 5 | $24 |
The piece that looks more expensive can be the cheaper one when you wear it often. The calculation shows that price alone is not a good measure of a decision.
An easy way to compare with your wardrobe
These questions can be hard to keep in mind in a store. With the “Ask before you buy” feature in the Clomuse app, you can photograph a piece you are considering, see similar pieces in your wardrobe and get previews of how it could be combined with the clothes you already own. The piece you evaluate is kept separate from your wardrobe.
Frequently asked questions
How can I stop impulse buying?
Waiting a day before you buy and comparing the piece with the clothes you already own are two effective habits. Keeping a list of real gaps also helps.
What is a good cost per wear?
There is no universal threshold. But between two pieces with the same budget, the one with the lower cost per wear is usually the better choice.
Should I return something I bought?
If the tags are still on and you answer “no” to most of the questions above, consider returning it before the return window closes.
