If there’s anything worse than buyer’s remorse, it’s non-buyer’s regret. Those lingering feelings about a beautiful piece of clothing or an accessory haunt some of us for years to come. It might be that one-of-a-kind sneaker drop that sold out in hours or a Carhartt jacket that you spotted at a vintage store while on holiday and still dream about. For me, it’s a hot pink and orange bandhani sari whose price tag made me hesitate just long enough for it to get snapped up by the shopper right next to me.
You might find a perfectly suitable alternative or rationalise that it was good you saved that money, but sometimes, that perfect item just can’t be replaced in your heart. Ahead, fashion industry folk share the stories of their ‘one that got away’.
Shahili Gomes-McCoy, co-founder, The Design Collective
“I was in Japan in 2018 for my honeymoon, and of course, shopping in Tokyo was a must. It’s an incredible city with amazing vintage stores and I stumbled across one called Amore, in the Omotesando area. That’s where I saw it: a small Chanel Classic Double Flap Bag in emerald green with shiny gold hardware. I love the colour green and wear it often, and this bag was amazing! I didn’t buy it because it was costly, and we were already on a very expensive two-week trip to Japan, staying at very nice places and eating at some of the best restaurants. I regret not buying it then, because the prices are now so crazy for Chanel that it’s not even worth it anymore. I should have bought this bag then!”
Avanti Nagrath, model
“My thing that got away was the New Balance X Miu Miu sneakers I saw at the Miu Miu store in Milan, when they had just launched it. I loved the different shades of brown with the bright coloured laces, the whole design of the shoe. But honestly, at that time, I was rushing around town for meetings and I barely had any time to try them on. I thought I would go back, but it was too late. There was limited stock and my size was sold out everywhere. I wished I had grabbed them when I had the chance!”
Akshay Tyagi, celebrity stylist
“This keeps happening and it really gets to me: when designers in their moment make things with great thought and care and you think it’ll be available later, but it isn’t. Either the piece has gone or the designer has moved on. The Louis Vuitton Mini Soft Trunk crossbody bag for men by Virgil Abloh is something that always plays on my mind. I saw it in Paris, liked that it was an inventive take on the classic and that it appealed to my more practical approach to acquiring things. I didn’t buy it because I thought I’d wait for the right time or colour, and then it was sold out. I wish I’d bought it because it was part of his legacy to have made something iconic fresh again.”
Antara Motiwala, fashion stylist
“I just love everything that Pieter Mulier has done with Alaïa, from dresses to jeans. When I was in New York this summer, I did see some of the brand’s dresses in store, but at that time I didn’t feel like I was in good enough shape to pull it off. I also wanted the ballet flats—the embellished leather ones in black—but Alaïa has only one store in New York City and these were sold out there. I still dream about those.”
Anchal Notani, fashion stylist and owner, Two Extra Lives
“The one item that haunts me is this jacket that I bought for my store, Two Extra Lives, and then actually sold. It was a great jacket, made from this really special peach velvet, with beautiful vintage buttons. I had found it in Barcelona. There were these two girls who had a small streetside stall with a couple of sewing machines and a lot of scrap fabric, and they were making the jackets right there. I usually just kept it on display at my store, but one day, I decided to sell it. I regretted it immediately. Later, I even found out who had bought the jacket and asked her if she was willing to sell it back to me, but she said only in the next 10 years. I always wore it only in the store, I never even got the chance to wear it out.”
Edward Lalrempuia, fashion stylist
“There are so many I regret not buying! But the one thing that I really loved—I saw it maybe in 2009—was a beautiful red leopard-print lace-up shoe from Dolce & Gabbana, like a brogue. It was from the women’s collection; that year, the brand had done a very androgynous line with the women in suits. But at that moment, I didn’t have time. I was in Milan for fashion week and we were at a Dolce & Gabbana store event. I eventually did buy a leopard-print brogue from the brand, but it was not the same red.
Smita Lasrado, co-founder, Feat. Artists
“It’s a purple trench by Vivienne Westwood I saw in Le Bon Marché in 2009, a year after I had moved to Paris. I have never seen a cooler or better trench since. I think about it often because it was everything you wanted in a piece of clothing—mystery, style, durability, and uniqueness. I think I didn’t buy it because I was just starting off as a model in Paris and was only starting to make money, so, I don’t know, maybe I felt it was too nice? 15 years later, I never find anything too nice for me! I don’t really regret it because in the end, it’s only clothes, but it would’ve been a truly special one-of-a-kind piece.
