In response to a number of individual comments, I am granting my beloved audience an exclusive interview. And since I don’t particularly like large groups, I am imagining just the two of us sitting together having afternoon italian sodas in tall tumblers with fresh fruit.

You: (reaching for a lemon tart) How come everything you feature is from one store?

Me: (wiping my mouth with a hand embroidered napkin) The superficial answer is: I work there. But the proper, more fundamental answer is: I adore the clothes – every structured stitch, every narrative detail.

You: Do you get paid to feature the clothes?

Me: No. I do, what I do for love of the pretties. I consider myself a wardrobe social worker. I acquaint myself with the details of each little piece, determine in which ensemble it might fit, and try to find it a proper home. Nothing makes me happier than to match a lovely owner with a lovely ensemble.

You: How come you don’t showcase more sale items?

Me: I typically don’t feature sale items on my blog because sales are usually short term, limited supply, only available at select stores, and often sold out before I finish my post. If you like an item, it is your responsibility to watch over it. Checking in on it day by day to see how it is doing, and if it is ripe for purchase. When a discount has bloomed, you must snatch it up without reserve. Sale racks are not the place to meet and evaluate purchases. It is merely an area to pick up purchases long since acquainted.

You: Will you ever feature items from other stores?

Me: Yes, when I encounter an item worth mentioning it will be broadcast on Cardigan Empire. And as part of our shopping strategies, we will include a shopping safari at a variety of exotic stores.

You: How big is your closet?

Me: 3 Ft Wide with one hanging rod. I really do believe in quality over quantity.

You: Is it bad to buy cheap clothes?

Me: Yes – buying cheap clothes is deplorable. But buying inexpensive, quality items is ethereal. There are few things more rewarding then getting exactly what you want, for exactly what you want to pay.

Sun you solar calculators in preparation for tomorrow. I look forward to shopping with you soon.

Before we can go shopping, we need to understand the first cardinal quotient of purchase evaluation.

Cost per wear = Cost of the item/# of times you will wear it

Imagine you and I at the clearance rack. Cutting our way through closely stacked hangers in search of wardrobe recruits. Suddenly you spot a $10 price tag on a jersey skirt that is only one size too small. You ask me is this $10 cute? A small tear will fall from my eye as I look at this lazy, excuse for a skirt. $10 is more than I would pay for torture. That skirt’s primary purpose in life is to turn bottoms into lumpy potato sacks? I assume you will only be able to endure the pain once, but should you attempt to wear it again, don’t worry it will lose color and ball up in the wash.

Then as we persevere on, you hold up a $99.95 jacket and ask me if I think it is overpriced. My fingers will quickly dart to examine the double stitching on the princess seamed structure. The little bit of detail that speaks to your unique personality. I’ll imagine you pulling it out of your closet at least 100 times over the next three years. Enclosing your midsection in svelte confidence. $1.00 or less per wear for an industrious blazer that goes with everything? No I don’t think that’s overpriced.

The question is not, how much does it cost, but how valuable do I feel when I put it on. Clothes are just a cloak for the confidence beneath, but they are an easy way to amplify your best self.

We’ll get into more math tomorrow, but start wrapping your mind around this fundamental truth today.