things you wish you'd bought more of before they disappeared

[comeondover]

Am mourning the loss of my Merrell Terran Lattice II walking sandals. Very comfortable, and once on, pretty nice for sandals you could walk all day in. The straps were arranged just so - I don't know why Merrell have changed the design in the updated version. I've looked for ages and can't find them now, apart from second-hand on ebay. Second-hand sandals are a bridge too far, alas.

Sometimes when I come across, say, a t-shirt or a jumper that turns out to be just the right cut or whatever, I might buy another one while I can. Wish I'd thought to do that with these Merrells. Oh well. Tell me I'm not alone?

OMG I will never forgive Waitrose for discontinuing this. Ex MIL bought it for me / us when DD was born nearly 13 years ago. I bought about six pots of the stuff just before it disappeared. Never found an adequate replacement. It was so soothing just rubbing it into my elbows and heels on a Sunday night and inhaling the delicious scent.

Pantene miracle shots.. not available in the UK anymore. Managed to find some in Spain recently so bought as many as I could.

Amanda Harrington Natural Rose self tan mousse. Quick drying, pleasant smell, minimal transfer, natural looking, perfect shade for my (horrible) skin tone. I've only just found out the company's gone out of business and I could honestly cry.

Oooh yes this was a joy to use.

Also a good way to qualify for the GWP of old as it was a cheaper (relatively speaking) product to buy for the "1 item must be skincare " rule

Aveda Smooth Infusion hair treatment. It was a clear, slightly viscous liquid and you just needed a few drops worked through damp hair before blow-drying to get it really straight and to stop frizz. Worked beautifully on my hair which blows up into a puffball at the merest whisper of damp in the atmosphere.

The bastards changed the formula to a nasty fluid that now Does. Not. Work. Properly. I was absolutely gutted and was moaning to my hairdresser about this when she said ‘oh, I can get you some, don’t worry, I’ll order it for you!’ It came, I handed over ££ (Aveda stuff isn’t cheap) aaaand…..it was the same new bloody formula. So now I have two bottles of the horrid stuff. Gutted all over again.

I even went onto Aveda’s own website to leave a complaint and there were others saying exactly the same thing.

Back in the 90s I used to drown myself in O2 from Impulse ...and it's recently been put back on shelves! Yay!

Reminds me of girls holidays in Malia ...

Hotter Blenheim boots. The Blenheim 2 upgrade was hideous - much wider and more grandma like. The original were the comfiest, hard-wearing, waterproof and nice looking boots I've ever owned. Still get compliments on it and I'm in my 30s and in east London where biker boots are a uniform. So it passed the vibe check too.

The Gap 1969 straight jeans. The only denim without stretch, thick denim, medium waist and straight not tapering. Never found a pair of jeans as good. Gutted I didn't stock pile.

The Gap v-neck T-shirts that were 100% cotton and so soft. Replaced with a polyester mix now!! Same with the Uniqlo v-necks that were very flattering as slim fit rather than boxy.

Clarks leather wedge sandals. OMG so comfy and a supportive sole AND all leather, in bright colours. So flattering too. I ration use of turn as I want them to last forever. They did half sizes and no sandal has fit as well. Obv discontinued and none of their other wedge sandals come close.

Bare Minerals Ready Pressed powder. It had SPF and looked like skin but better. Their replacement has talc, no SPF and is cakier. Also shade range not as good.

Just thought of another. Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser. This was my go-to and I hadn’t clocked that BB no longer owns her brand, and that they’d changed the formula. It now has a weird smell, like scented geraniums, which I think is supposed to be a good thing, but actually makes me feel a bit queasy and also - more disappointingly - irritates my eyes. Used it a few times then had to give up. £39 down the pan.

A cream blusher by MAC called lilicent, and a turn back sleeve plain black t-shirt that river island did about four years ago, I bought one, then four more a week later but they're starting to look a bit knackered now after daily wear so the holy grail of black t-shirts continues.

A particular shade of Body Shop lip stain. I have skin that it's hard to get the right lip colour for (quite sallow - really only a kind of dark brownish red/mahogany works). This stuff was perfect! I can find the right colour quite easily in lipstick but not lip stain which I much prefer - I usually end up just smearing a tiny bit of lipstick on but it just doesn't look as nice. I loved that lip stain, used it loyally for over a decade and then one day with no warning... gone! 😔

Oh and H&M used to do a particular style of basic cotton tshirts with a boat/scoop neckline and cap sleeves in loads of different colours that were soooo flattering. They still usually do something similar but the neckline isn't quite as nice and they're made out of clingy jersey rather than cotton so a fair bit less flattering! I used to have them in about 8 different colours but they all eventually got holes etc. I swear I nearly cried the day I had to bin the last one 😭😅

I had some longline wide strap vests from H&M, perfect for layering and particularly yoga/Pilates where I combine with a looser tshirt but want something that won’t ride up/expose me underneath.

they were thick fabric and I wore throughout my pregnancy so super stretchy. I got 10yrs good wear out of them and then hung on for another 5year until they were almost translucent. have never seen anything like them again

Second-hand sandals are a bridge too far, alas.

I buy second-hand things all the time that I've loved and can't get new.

Finesse conditioner

L'occitane lipsticks

Waitrose clementine and ginger range of toiletries. It was incredibly popular why did they discontinue it?? Just bring it back and people will come into your stores to buy other things too.

M&S sideseam-free knickers (high rise). They had 2 seams, each a third of the way across the front. I don’t like the entirely seamless no VPL like knickers, I just like not to have seams at the sides.

They did them in black, white and nude and I need enough for the rest of my life but they discontinued them a few years ago :(.

Armani's Sensi perfume. I used to wear it for work when I was childless and carefree and I still like the smell to remind me of those days. It's been discontinued so I keep the little I have to give it a sniff every now and then but don't put it on so I will have it forever😢

Primark used to do strappy tops in 100% cotton in every colour under the sun. They were about £2.99 each.

@xanadu123 I remember those Gap jeans. They were perfect weren't they. Mine wore away after years of faithful service. Went to get a new pair thinking they were a staple of their jeans but by then it was all cropped jeans and jeans with waistbands that tickled your boobs!! The hunt continues.

Prescriptive lipgloss in a sort of deep rose/ mauve colour. The only lipgloss that I repurchased a number of times.

I bought about 6 of these when I heard they were discontinuing it. On the last one now 😢

Yes, same! Also such thin denim that barely lasts a year. And I don't know who is fitting into these super high waist jeans other than teenagers. I'd have to remove my rib cage to breathe in them. If you do find anything as good, please share.

Adjustable black longline vests in H+M-they were a staple buy at about £2.99, but seem to have stopped making them completely! You can get longline vests in other places but not with adjustable straps…

Tu black lace-topped knicker shorts with no VPL in packs of 3. Why would you stop making those-they were the best knickers in the whole world :(

In about 2006 & 2007, Boden tops were the perfect waist length for me and the cut at the top gave a hint of cleavage without me having to worry about it.
I still have three of them even though I haven't been able to get into them for about 10 years

Lipstick Queen Prince Frog - the most amazing green lipstick which turned pink in the lips