# Grade a trend by likely cost per wear | Trend Grade HQ

Source: https://trendgradehq.com/blog/trend-cost-per-wear.html

Sep 22, 2026


Estimate how many real outfits and occasions the item covers, then divide the price by that number. A cheap novelty can cost more per wear than a useful staple.

## Test it against a real day

Use the weather, venue, walking time, care label, and pieces already in your closet. A purchase that works only in a mirror is not finished.

## Bottom line

Estimate how many real outfits and occasions the item covers, then divide the price by that number. A cheap novelty can cost more per wear than a useful staple.

Source: [FTC textile labeling guide](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/threading-your-way-through-labeling-requirements-under-textile-wool-acts). Reviewed Sep 22, 2026.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does grading actually check?

Fabric, construction, fit, and wear over time, in that order. A stylish item with weak fabric grades low here.

### Are trends graded on runway or retail versions?

Retail. The version you can buy, wash, and wear repeatedly is the one that counts.

### How often should a graded item be replaced?

When wear changes how it looks: shine, thinning, or lost shape. Good care delays all three.