Purchases you regret?

[WineGetsMeThroughIt]

I think it's safe to say we've all made a few purchases that we retreat for one reason or another. I've been going through my wardrobe lately realising I've spent so much money on things I've just not got much use out of for one reason or another. I've also scored some great deals on eBay as a result of other people's purchases they've not even bothered to wear / use recently.

One of mine that has stood out is this LV Graceful bag. At the time I already had several other LV bags and was using my Neverful every day as my daily work bag. I got the Graceful, and while I do love it I think it's just too corporate looking for my day to day outfits now which are a bit more casual elegant I'd say. Wish I'd chosen a different style.

What do you regret buying?

A pair of red Kickers from eBay. They were brand new with tags for £30. I have worn them once and they are the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever worn. I have a very high instep so trying to force my feet into this type of shoe is a disaster. I will have to resell them on eBay. Hopefully they will fit someone else better.

Name changed for this as I still find it embarrassing.

Exh (while we were still married) wanted to treat me after he got a big bonus and talked me into getting a fur coat.

We went to a fancy furriers and I tried on coat after coat. I was still breastfeeding at the time and prone to hot flushes as well as having huge enforcement, so really not in a good place for trying on heavy coats.

I’m very vanilla in my taste whereas Ex likes glamour and showing off expensive things, so I ended up with a pearl mink (pale grey) with a flashy diamanté fastening. The sales lady could see my mortification and ex’s pushy manner, and tried to steer me into something much more practical (fur lined parka) and in my weakened state and not wanting to appear ungrateful, I went with ex’s choice.

Wore it twice, once to a fancy wedding where a kind stranger, a man, said to me ‘that coat makes you sad. Why are you sad?’ I must have looked deeply uncomfortable. He was nice. He could read me.

A few years ago, I went back to the shop on a whim, and the sales person said ‘I remember you. Have you split up?’ She offered to restyle it as a bolero with the bottom made into a luxury throw. It’s still intact in a wardrobe. It’s a disgusting waste, and a symbol of a life that wasn’t for me. I only have to see it when I open the spare room wardrobe.

PS it cost 10k.

Just being able to come back to this thread and catch up now. Gosh @OliviaNewtAndJohn that sounds terrible. Can you sell it on by any chance?

Reading everyone's posts has reminded me of a load of other silly purchases as well.

A large tan Mulberry Darley - I've only used it a handful of times. I wish I'd got the smaller one and I don't have anything in my wardrobe that matches the colour since most of my clothes are cool toned blues, and lighter pastel colours.

The Guerlain Meteorites as well!

An expensive faux fur black coat that's a dressier style, so only good for nights out. I rarely wear black and I haven't been on a night out suitable to wear it more than once since I got it

Countless pairs of ankle boots I've only worn once - rust coloured suede ones, white leather, cream leather, silver leather and black suede.

I love pretty and stylish clothes, and have continued to buy them during lockdown but have not been into the office since covid first began. Nor london for a night out. I have at least 7 dresses I've not yet worn - I don't regret them necessarily, but I just don't have anywhere to wear them anymore. I also have 2 stunning dresses I bought for Ascot that have sat in my wardrobe unworn - with matching shoes

Oh - and a £200 waist belt I've only worn once

So much
Including a Bayswater that is heavy and so dated now, it lives in the wardrobe in its dust bag. I swear it sniggers at me every time I open the door!
Highlighters from Hourglass, why I let the saleswoman convince me that the powders I was looking at wouldn’t suit me and that I should get the ones she suggested - they look grey and chalky on my skin. Dd now uses them 🙄
Some beautiful dark brown Timberland knee high leather boots with zips - both zips had buggered up within a month and I hadn’t kept the receipt (I’m also not someone who can ever be bothered returning stuff so even if I had kept the receipt the outcome would have been the same).
Bottle of jo malone purchase that I smashed after just two sprays. Clearly idiotic user error, I have repurchased - this was more of a regret than I’m a clumsy oaf…
The whole olaplex range (or to use their more obnoxious term, ‘system’). Really just feels very run of the mill to me. I have the same hair as I did when using Aussie
2 Ted baker dresses I got to wear for a couple of weddings that were cancelled/postponed during Covid - I’ve since lost weight and given them both to my sister.

Oh yes I agree with Olaplex. If it wasn’t so expensive I’d have just thrown it away but I can’t bring myself to be so wasteful. I was so excited for it to give me gorgeous hair as well

Denim jackets.

I’m not exaggerating when I say I have bought a denim jacket every Spring for the past 6, 7 (maybe more) years or so, thinking ‘that will be handy to pop on over a dress on cooler summer evenings’.

I never, EVER wear them and ALWAYS end up eBaying them. Rinse and repeat year after year.

It’s like my brain cannot and will not accept that denim jackets don’t suit me, don’t go with my style and aren’t comfortable,

Sort it out, brain!

(I used to do the same thing with white jeans, but have finally learned that lesson, so there is hope…)

I’m so glad I’ve found out olaplex is a waste of money... will continue to use Aussie

I regret buying a camel Max Mara coat when the George at Asda version served the same purpose & was more flattering.

HiGunny I know exactly what you mean - twleve years after leaving London to work from home in the depths of the countryside I still occasionally buy myself an office outfit in case I have to go and meet people. I never do.

I will use up all the random bottles of olaplex don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t bin them, but for the extortionate prices and all the ‘science’ that has supposedly gone into the development of the individual products, my hair is no different to when I use Aussie. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it if you haven’t already splashed out.
Maybe it’s different if you have chronically damaged hair, mine isn’t a total disaster in that although I do have it coloured regularly I very rarely heat style it.

This thread also gives me pause for buying “investment” pieces - the Mulberry bags being a key example! Stylebook gives me good insight into exactly how often you need to wear something to make it good value; for e.g. a Max Mara camel coat (which I am lusting after) - it would be decades of regular wear.

I don’t think Bayswaters are or ever will be dated @TheChosenTwo, they fetch good money on the preloved market. I’m giving mine to my stepdaughter but it would definitely be off to Vestaire or somewhere similar if she didn’t want it.

See I absolutely love olaplex. It really did save my hair after a hairdresser fried it leaving bleach in too long. However I’ve switched to Phillip Kingsley elasticizer as lovely DH found me a 1000ml pot on brand alley for £50 and I actually prefer that now.

I’m glad I’m not alone with the meteorites but my inner beauty addict is telling me the compact will be better which I know It won’t be but I can’t help it!

Those of you who have designer bags you regret could always sell them rather than having them sat in the wardrobe. There are lots of FB selling sites for Mulberry, LV etc.

RoyalAcademyOfFarts I was like that until a couple of months ago when I bought a collarless denim jacket from Hush and now can’t take it off. It’s such a revelation to have a denim jacket and be comfortable and be able to bend my arms.

@Mankini

HiGunny I know exactly what you mean - twleve years after leaving London to work from home in the depths of the countryside I still occasionally buy myself an office outfit in case I have to go and meet people. I never do.

I still have 2 pairs of smart black office trousers in my wardrobe for "just in case".

I haven't worked in an office since 2009!!!

WTF??! I'm putting them in the charity pile tonight!

@SwimBaby

RoyalAcademyOfFarts I was like that until a couple of months ago when I bought a collarless denim jacket from Hush and now can’t take it off. It’s such a revelation to have a denim jacket and be comfortable and be able to bend my arms.

I was like this with "leather" biker jackets until like you, I found a collarless one.

Collarless is an absolute game changer for jackets, I think. Makes you look thinner or something!

I bought a fancy footspa thingy. Visions of my heavily pregnant self having my feet gently soothed whilst kicking back watching tv.

The bloody thing was so loud I couldn't hear the tv & was a bit over excited with its jets so water went everywhere.

This 👆🏼

Allbirds shoes which were recommended on here a while ago. They are very comfortable but they size slightly big and my big toenails sort of poke the fabric up, even though they're short 😐

@SandysMam

L’Oréal wonder water! Not a great waste of money as only cheap but it literally did nothing for my hair other than make it worse!

I bought 3 bottles of that stuff as it was on 3 for 2. I was very pleased with myself for getting such a bargain. I just knew it would work. I would be gorgeous I envisioned beautiful silky hair. It did absolutely nothing. Made it dryer and more haystack like, if anything. A complete waste of money.

@Lamentations

95% of everything I've bought on eBay.

Yes. Apart from a ring I bought the rest has been tat.

@Blossomtoes I think they look terribly dated, bulky and boxy. Plus it really is just so heavy!! Ive asked my dds if they want it and they said definitely not
I might get it on vestiaire, I’ll never wear it again and I can’t think of anyone I know wanting to use it!

The new wonder water really did make my hair miraculously detangled, shiny and soft!