£18 Jeans and £19 Heels: How Kate Is the Master of Cost-Per-Wear Economics
In her time in the public eye, much has been made of the Duchess of Cambridge's thrifty wardrobe—but really she just shops like most of us do. The test of a winning purchase is that it lasts years, if not decades, and Kate has been wearing many of the building blocks of her wardrobe since before the royal wedding. She is the perfect advertisement for this cost-per-wear shopping model, so we have calculated how much many of her most-worn items actually cost per outing. Keep scrolling to see the items she re-wears the most and some maths that might convince you to buy them too.
1. Smythe Blazer
The Duchess of Cambridge first wore her navy blue Smythe Blazer to Heathrow Airport in 2011, and she has worn it at least six times. The jacket, which has now been renamed The Duchess, is £498, making it £83 a wear.
2. Penelope Chilvers Boots
The duchess has been wearing her brown leather Penelope Chilvers tassel boots since 2004, and over a decade later, they still go with her on many royal tours and visits, from Bhutan to Canada. At £475, these are a steep investment, but our cost-per-wear calculations make them less than £59 an outing.
Related: The Duchess of Cambridge Has Swapped Her Nude Courts for These
3. L.K.Bennett Sledge Pumps
Kate's L.K.Bennett nude pumps are probably her most signature item in her wardrobe, and she has worn the Sledge style over 10 times, making them less than £19 each time she wears them.
Related: The Best Cost-Per-Wear PiecesBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing Editors Have Ever Bought
4. J Brand 811 Skinny Jeans
When it comes to jeans, the duchess tends to wear her J Brand 811 skinnies, which she has worn over 12 times in public—making them £18 a wear.
Now, if you'll excuse us while we do some investment shopping.
-
For These Latin American Brand Founders, Wellness Is Meaningful, Complex, and Rooted in Culture
Learn about their practices and philosophies.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I'm a FormerReplica Store Buyer—I Was Just in Europe and Saw These Fall Trends Everywhere
Including the color of the season.
By Bobby Schuessler
-
The Stunning Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry That's Worth the Investment
Shine bright like a diamond.
By Ana Escalante
-
We're Fashion Editors—the 9 Best Items From The Row That Are Truly Worth the Investment
They'll never date.
By Emily Dawes
-
The Only Watch Styles Worth Investing In According to an Expert
Sponsor Content Created With AP
By Aniyah Morinia
-
My Mom and I Agree—These "Forever Pieces" Are 100% Worth Buying
Don't just take my word for it.
By Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour
-
I'm a Luxury Jewelry Designer: 6 Investment Pieces That Will Last a Lifetime
Diamonds are Olivia Landau's best friend.
By Ana Escalante
-
Kate Middleton Just Wore the Most Undeniably Chic Dress Trend of All Time
Simply stunning.
By Hannah Almassi
-
The Luxury Bag Kendall Jenner and I Think Is Worth Investing In
Perfection in the form of a handbag.
By Natalie Munro
-
Numbers Don't Lie: These Are the 6 Best-Selling Givenchy Bags of All Time
Receipts have been pulled.
By Jasmine Fox-Suliaman