The concept of “wearability” is a factor everyone should take into account when shopping.
Whether you’re buying a winter coat or a pair of jeans, considering the personal value of a clothing item versus the immediate cost will leave you happier with your purchases, and with more money in your bank account.
This practise was detailed in a fashion column by Toronto personal shopper Angela Koszuta last year. She explained the concept of an item’s “wearability” like an equation, calculating the price-per-wear for each accessory or piece of clothing.
According to Koszuta, price-per-wear means dividing the price of an item by the amount of times you are likely to wear it during one year. The lower the dollar amount, the better the buy.
This calculates whether it was actually worth spending $72 on that Topshop blouse, or if you’ve just made a terrible, luridly floral mistake. It can also justify spending more on a practical, timeless piece, as opposed to constantly throwing money down on cheap throwaways.
Perusing vintage and thrift stores is a great way to reduce the price-per-wear of an item. If you have the time and dedication, there are tons of opportunities to let out your inner Macklemore.
Calère Boudreau, the owner of Allegro Retro, a vintage store located in the Wellington Street West shopping district, said shopping retro is a way to improve the overall quality of your wardrobe because it allows for variety and unique one-of-a-kind items.
“There are people who are true vintage shoppers. They prefer vintage, that’s always the first place they’ll look, for a variety of reasons,” Boudreau said. “Some people prefer that ‘look’, or they have a certain style that they like to go for. The thing I hear from a great many customers is they prefer vintage to newer clothes because they’re simply made so much better.”
There is also the opportunity to cut corners where the cost of brand name items is concerned.
In a city like Ottawa, where the population is generally well off, you may be surprised to find that brand name clothes can be found at a fraction of their original price in stores like Value Village or Goodwill.
Allegro Retro, Ragtime Vintage Clothing in the Glebe, and Young Janes in the Byward Market tend to stock their clothing from vintage dealers, or estate sales.
Most of all, vintage is for shoppers looking to add a standout piece to their wardrobe. Boudreau said she thinks we live in an era of unique variety and fashion freedom.
“I think it’s kind of cool right now because . . . there doesn’t seem to be one predominant fashion,” Boudreau said. “I mean, if you go to the mall, everything is exactly the same. But in general, I think there’s a lot of freedom right now in terms of fashion.”
