Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

What Wendy Wore: Alleviating Non-Buyer’s Remorse

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I rarely suffer from buyer’s remorse.

In the past five years, there have been two inexpensive vintage dresses from eBay that even the talented Jean of Ghost Tailor couldn’t get to fit right. Then there was one unflattering dress — Oscar de la Renta, I believe — that a vintage-store owner with whom I’d had a long business relationship schmoozed me into, despite my very vocal worries that Jean couldn’t redeem it. She couldn’t and the store owner wouldn’t make an exception to his no-return policy. (I later sold the dress through my friend Evan at Frock.)

Other than those instances, most fashion acquisitions turn out well for me, though I am sometimes in sticker shock during the purchase. I was terrified when I spent $300 on a pair of Prada Mary Janes in the mid-’90s, but I still wear them 15 years later. I’m not going to admit how much I paid for the gray, ruffled, beribboned Valentino sweater seen in the 2007 photo below, but I love the sweater more and more as the years go by. I’d rather have this one beautiful Valentino than 100 ordinary J. Crew sweaters — or a thousand Forever 21 sweaters.

At Hever Castle in England.

I’m much more likely to experience non-buyer’s remorse. Sometimes it happens because I don’t find out about a thing of beauty until it’s too late. This weekend, I fell in love with the glitter Jeffrey Campbell Lita platforms on Hippie Couture‘s blog. I could see the Runaways wearing these. But, more importantly, I could see me wearing them … except both styles are sold out in my size everywhere. If Hippie Couture wears a 6.5, she better hope she doesn’t across me in a dark alley because I will mug her feet.

The boot version, courtesy Hippie Couture.

The shoe version, courtesy Hippie Couture.

More typically, my non-buyer’s remorse stems from momentary miserliness. This year, I passed on rainbow Ferragamo wedges because they seemed too expensive, before I realized that they were $106,497,500 less than a Picasso and, therefore, relatively affordable. Back in 2006, it was the huggable-looking Fendi/Moncler Spy bag that was the target of my tightwad ways.

Fendi/Moncler Spy bag, courtesy PurseBlog.

I adored that bag. I tracked it as it was marked down on Bluefly, but decided it could go lower. Instead, it sold out and I’ve been stalking it on eBay ever since.

In 2003, Philip Treacy’s Warhol hats caught my eye. I passed on those for a few reasons:

  • Price.
  • I don’t wear hats very often.
  • They were awfully bold.

I’ve thought about those hats for seven years, during which time I got a lot bolder with my fashion choices. When I found the perfect Treacy/Warhol hat online a couple of weeks ago, I hesitated over the price again. Then I thought, “REALLY? After seven years?” I got it.

It had the original tag on it …

I almost hate to cut off an original tag.

… and a Warhol soup-can lining.

Voila!

Liz Taylor: painted by Warhol, hatted by Treacy, worn by WendyB.

Maybe I didn’t wear hats in 2002 because I didn’t have one I loved as much as this one. I expounded on the perfection of my hat to MrB all the way to and from a movie Saturday night. (The hat watched The Social Network while carefully perched on my knee.)

What Wendy Wore to the Movies
Hat: Philip Treacy (new in 2002, new to me in 2010)
Trench: Zang Toi (not sure what year; need to check with Zang)
Jeans: Acne (2008)
Sweater: Nordstrom private label (mid ’90s)
Boots: Prada (2008)
Lip color: MAC’s Pro Longwear Lipcolor in Lasting Lust

Now tell me where I can get a pair of glitter Litas, bitches!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. I know … the pain of NOT getting is worse than going wrong. I still have an ebay search for a Romeo Gigli (’80’s) crocheted wrap around way too long sleeves top. Mine disappeared and I am still very sad.

  7. Non-buyers remorse happens to me all the time, particularly with shoes. I wait for them to go on sale, but being a size 5, they always sell out first. I’m so glad you finally got your hat. It’s pretty damn amazing!

    xo,
    Marissa

  10. I learned my lessons of non-buyers remorse early and, for a while, often. At 6 feel tall (all leg) with size 10 triple narrow feet, I’d finally find a pair of jeans/shoes that fit, and only buy one. They’d be perfect, eventually wear out, and then it’d be years before I could find something suitable again. Now I buy in bulk and store away for a rainy day.

    And I thought it was cool that I can see a giant Warhol Campbell’s soup can (signed by him and everything) outside my window everyday. But wearing them in the lining of your hat wins, hands down (heads down?).

  11. The Lita shoes are spectacular. I suffer from can’t buy-ers remorse. I’d be about 6’5 in those things…

  15. Love the hat! I am glad you were able to track it down. I will often have both buyers remorse and non-buyers remorse. I had a momentary bit of buyers remorse after buying a Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress at Barney’s Warehouse sale but I love it and know that I definately would’ve had non-buyers remorse had I not snatched it up.

  17. I love your wardrobe, though I couldn’t imagine spending that much on clothes. Bags? Perhaps. Cameras? Definitely! But clothes, meh! Not for me :o/

    • As my mother says, everyone has their priorities!

      Someone needs to tell me how their Forever 21 stuff is holding up in 10 years. I won’t hold my breath. 😉

  18. I totally get you with those Litas. Sa-weet. I’ve been on the hunt for the Steve Madden version of the glitter Louboutins in silver, closed toe with the bow on the back in a sz8 – to no avail.

    Tis the season for glitter!

  19. When I spend well i.e. high and on great items I never suffer buyers remorse. That’s why no more rubbish for me – I’d rather go without. Love the hat!

    • When I buy quality pieces, I keep them forever. When I didn’t have any money I haunted sample sales. Now it’s eBay. All the ordinary, basic, practical stuff I used to get was gotten rid of long ago. Nothing worth saving. Nothing even worth wearing at the time I wore it, but what did I know back then? Ah, youth.

  20. Love hearing about the Wendy shopping chronicles!

    Ive had not buyers remorse when I passed up on a Norma Kamali flannel dress at a thrift store 🙁

    And buyers remorse when I bought a MJ stam bag from Buffalo Exchange at a really great price it was too good to be true cause I discovered it was fake AFTER I got it, luckily they were nice enough to return me my money!

  23. Hot cha! So glad that marvelous hat is finally in your hot little hands. Or on your hot little head. OK, that sounds wrong.

  24. One of my favorite blog posts… ever. You’ve put it far better than I could, but I, too, love it when I buy something unique and very me that I know will still be in my closet and loved and worn by me in ten, fifteen, twenty years. Non-buyers remorse is the best!

  25. OMG to the hat and its Warhol Campbell Soup lining. And for a second I thought Lita Ford? Would she have worn these in her metal years? But Runaway years, yes, of course!

  28. The hat is great! I’m so happy to hear you resisted not buying it, and that you are happy with it. It deserved a place of honor on your knee at the movies. I hope you will give it a seat of honor at a dinner soon.

    And that sweater is one of my favorites on you. I remember when you wore it out one day when I was in NY with you in January. We were gray sweater/beret twins!

    I’ve had non-buyer’s remorse a few times; once over a Swatch, if you can believe that. Also, I’ve had donated-to-charity remorse several times. Oh, how I’ve regretted two pairs of shoes I let go. Ugh.

  29. This post makes me sad about the trilby my mother never wore so said I could have, but then decided I looked ridiculous in, so took it back. It makes me sad because of how awesome you look! I think I’m going to have to buy myself my own hat now. x

  31. Oh that bag really is huggable!

    Ah I always get that indecisiveness over something and then decide not to buy it…only to discover it sold out the next time I look! Sometimes I guess it’s worth taking the plunge! Oh gosh, this makes me want a jacket I passed in Zara today. Destined not to be there when I visit tomorrow I’m sure!!

    Love that Valentino cardigan on you, it’s really gorgeous!

  32. haha okay so now that i’ve seen those crazy shoes all i can think about is dressing up like some crazy disco superhero and kicking some ass!

  33. woah, bold move with the hat!
    haha, i have my own personal non-buyer remorse,
    always waiting for sales or the right price and realizing i should had purchase them before they ran out of size/stock!

    yes, i went to apply for a job as a gift wrapper to will my time away, well, if you call gift wrapping under the creative department. haha!

    With Love,
    Sabrina

  34. Glitter Litas are the way to go as I know most fb’s won’t go near them. But alas, I would be 7+ feet tall in them.

    JD
    iplayfaves.blogspot.com

  41. OMG, WB. Those ROCK!!!! The litas (and the warhol hat, and your sweater, etc.). As for the shoes. Could you get a pair of averagely colored litas and glitter them yourself? I remember Annie Spandex had a great mod-podge DIY to glitterize your shoes without leaving glitter dust behind every time you walk.

  42. One of my key questions when I’m waffling over a purchase is, “Will I regret it if I don’t buy it?” – I’ve missed a few things that I still think about (a Persian rug in a garage sale for $60, a vintage green dress that still calls to me across the years).

    I love the hat – it totally suits you. 🙂 I’m glad you found it.

  43. oh that hat was made for you!

    And don’t you hate those fashion ones that got away?!! they always haunt me darling!
    xoxo
    marian.

  44. Finally! I’ve been having trouble getting your blog to load for the last couple of days…grrrr.

    Anyhow, the hat is perfect. It’s so YOU.

    Non-buyers remorse is much worse than buyers remorse, IMO.

  45. I liked the fendi/moncler spy too. I liked the spy bag in general. I like your zang trench too. I know I’ve made some pricey purchases but there have been the few that ending up being worth every penny.

  47. My best guess would be Solestruck, but I really have no idea.

    I’ll remember this post when I find my holy grail of leather jackets…or those clear Prada sunglasses.

    How did the hat enjoy the movie?

  48. Like so many, I’ve had too many non-buyer’s remorses. Never again! Everytime I pay a bit of cash for something, I treat it better, love it more, and use it more.