Buy a few expensive or many cheap

Short answer: A few expensive pieces usually give a lower cost per wear, because they last longer and look good for longer. Many cheap pieces give more variety and less risk if your taste changes. The right choice depends on how often you wear the item.

Cost per wear is the real number

A garment at three hundred kroner worn two hundred times costs one and a half kroner per wear. One at a hundred kroner worn thirty times costs over three. The price tag does not tell the whole story. This also applies to an inner layer such as bamboo slips, worn many days in a row.

Where quality really matters

For items worn every day and washed often, quality pays for itself. A fabric that keeps its shape and colour after many washes needs replacing less often. This applies especially to base layers, underwear and socks for women, which wear out faster than most other things in the wardrobe.

Where cheap is good enough

For items worn rarely, the cost per wear is high whatever the quality. A party outfit worn twice a year does not need to last ten years. Spend the money on what you wear every week, such as bamboo joggers for women, and be more relaxed about the rest.

More variety has value too

Many cheap pieces let you change more often and try new colours with little risk. That can be fine if you do not yet know what you like. The downside is that cheap items often lose their shape faster, so the drawer fills with pieces you do not really want to wear.

Think about your taste

If you are sure of a colour and style you have worn for years, it is safe to buy it in better quality. If you are unsure, start with one piece and see how often you wear it. Then you know whether it deserves a place before you buy more.

Care changes the maths

Even a good item lasts less if it is washed hard. Wash at a low temperature, turn clothes inside out and let them air dry. Avoid the tumble dryer when you can. Care is the cheapest way to get more wear from what you already own, whatever it cost.

A mix is often best

Most people end up with a mix: good quality for what is worn every day, and cheaper for what is worn rarely. That puts the money where it does the most good. Look at what you wear most often and start there when something needs replacing.

A quick check before you buy

Ask yourself how many times you will realistically wear the item. Divide the price by that number and compare. Then check the seams and the thickness of the fabric. This small exercise takes a minute and makes the choice easier, without price alone deciding.

Frequently asked questions

How do you know if something is good

Look at the seams, the thickness and the fibre content rather than the price alone. A fabric that feels dense and even often keeps its shape better.

Is expensive always better

No. The price also covers brand and marketing, not only fabric and sewing. So look at the item itself rather than the price tag.

What should you spend most on

What you wear on most days of the year. Here better quality gives the lowest cost per wear over time.