Is that garment really worth your hard-earned cash?

The cost of living crisis is impacting our pockets more than we’ve possibly ever experienced and yet, on my visit to the shops last week people were still buying buying buying! In my 20 years of fashion industry experience rarely will ANYTHING stop a women buying clothes, yet with supply chain issues, freight rates escalating, raw material prices increasing, labour costs mounting at a significant rate, I could go on, are we still getting what we paid for when we pick up an item in store? I can definitely see that garment quality is going downhill as prices are rising!

So, before parting with your money (even if it isn’t very much) ask yourself .....

Is this worth my money?

Not only does it help to avoid impulse buys, it enables us to try to build more sustainable wardrobe habits, your garments will last longer & you’ll enjoy your clothes more.

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Have you heard of “cost-per-wear?” This is the price you pay for a piece of clothing as a customer + the cost of taking care of the garment (dry cleaning, future repairs, alterations, etc.) divided by the amount of times you think you’re going to wear it. The higher the cost per wear, the less the garment is worth to you, your wardrobe & your bank balance, so it’s pretty important to know!

Buying from the fast fashion giants may seem cheap, good value, initially but this type of consumption ends up being far more expensive in the long run. The majority of clothes that fast fashion brands produce last barely a few seasons before falling apart in some way or another. It’s particularly true of trend-led items, which is why I encourage clients to invest in less, but better quality & design.

Here are my 5 ways to access if that garment / item is really worth buying? (If it doesn’t pass the test, leave it in the store!)

1. Look for durable materials

Check the care label inside the garment, some materials are more durable regardless of their eco credentials:

  • Wool, leather & cotton are very durable but each bear important environmental & ethical issues

• Wool & leather aren’t vegan & cotton production uses a lot of water!

• Synthetic materials (made using plastic) like polyester, acrylic, nylon, polyamide, polyurethane, Lycra, & Spandex tend to be on the lower quality side although there are some rare exceptions. PLUS they release micro-plastics with every wash so avoid if possible

• Tencel, Econyl & Ecovero are sustainable viscose alternatives. They’re durable as long as you take care of them properly

• Linen, hemp, and ramie are sustainable & durable materials

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2. Hold the piece of clothing up to a bright light

The more see-through the fabric, the less quality & durable it tends to be as it has been made using a lighter density of fibre! Many garments benefit from a well fitted, good-quality, lining, but ensure the lining won’t shrink when the item is washed or dry-cleaned (check care label washing instructions).

3. Has the garment been well constructed or cheaply cut out & pieced together?

If you fold a garment in half the seams should be symmetrical, the print or pattern should be aligned and the hem should run ..... go and try it? If you iron your clothes this is very obvious when your seams are twisting and the hem is “wobbly” ..... these garments will not last long before looking very shabby, cheap and heading for the bin (re-cycling pile).

I will go into more at a later date as it’s fascinating BUT for now see how may items you have that match up? Some don’t even have side seams which is absolutely bonkers - my In The Style Bowel Babe tee is the worst made garment I’ve ever owned, but due to the cause I have kept it to show my support.

4. Give the garment a quick once-over!

Look for loose threads; is the hem falling down? Is there evidence that the garment is already falling apart? Does the garment come with a spare button? Does the zip work, and more importantly lock? Chances are if any of these are visible, it’s not going to last long.

5. Try the item on! No really try it on....

Not always possible, and increasingly less in our time-starved world, but it will save you time, energy (returning items) & money ( items so often end up left unworn in wardrobes because they didn’t fit, I see it ALL THE TIME).

Can you move around in the garment, can you sit down, raise your arms? Are there any bumpy or twisted seams?

And most important do you feel comfortable in it? Will it go with other items in your wardrobe, ideally throughout the seasons?

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So deciding if the item is worth your money is actually the quick & easy bit, now work out the cost-per-wear by asking yourself 3 questions:

1. How often will you wear the item? It is summery, only for weekends, a statement etc

2. How quick is it’s deterioration; will it fade, twist, wash well, lose its shape?

3. Does it need alterations / dry cleaning ( all adding to the costs)?

Divide the cost of the garment by how many times a year you’ll wear it & you have your answer e.g. my F&F Tesco jeans were £19, I wear them on average 3x a week so in a year the CPW = 12p - so incredible!

In addition, the cost-per-wear method, not only helps you to save your money, it also helps you to be more sustainable (which we all HAVE to play our part in ladies). If you need to buy new clothes, & really do, not just cos you’re bored or trying to fix something else that’s going on, its financially smarter to invest in one or two higher quality pieces & spend a bit more on them than you usually would.

I’m not suggesting you need to spend hundreds and hundreds of £’s on items to be sustainable, just be more mindful in the process of buying clothes, aware of the basic qualities & fabrics to help you in your decision making & the cost per wear idea to ensure your money is being used in the best, & most stylish, way!