I guessed the cost of everything in her suitcase. I got the striped top wrong by a factor of six.
Worn 100 times a year
A top worn constantly does 100 times the work of one worn twice. The fabric has to survive that math.
Nothing shows up in a photo
Tighter knit, heavier hand, stitching that doesn't loosen — none of it shows on the hanger. It shows in month eight.
Cost per wear, not price tag
Worn 100x a year for four years, the pricier top lands under a dollar a wear. The cheap one, replaced four times, does not.
Spend where it repeats
Nobody's math survives a dress worn six times a year. It's the daily pieces that decide the number.
Shop the basics
Italian-made pieces built for the drawer you open every morning.