I just posted something on another thread which ended in a cost per wear calculation, and it reminded me of one of my shopping rationalisations. This is how it works. Try to get the cost per wear of something down to either - the cost of a cappuccino, or the cost of a cocktail, or the cost of a meal out. You see, I would never feel guilty if i'd been out and bought a coffee. Or had a drink or a meal with friends. But if I fall in love with a pair of shoes which I can't walk in, then I do feel guilty if I don't wear them much. I have targets for certain items of clothing - big mistakes (or large price tags) are subject to the dinner test - they'll never pass the cappuccino test. Clothes for 'occasions' which are never going to be worn much have to pass the cocktail test and sometimes I lend them to friends to make sure they do. I find this approach gives me an excuse for just about anything. Apart from the wedding dress and shoes which = weekend in Paris/Rome/Venice. If I wear them again at a summer party next year I'm hoping to get the cpw down to a week in a caravan in Scotland.