Regrettable Purchases of 2017 & Lessons Learned

Hello friends, Happy Friday!

Sorry for MIA, I caught the flu that everybody has last weekend, but finally got over it! I might have gone a little crazy with all the supplements at Costco, which went something like this:
Vitamin C? Duh! Zinc? Yes! Turmeric $5 off? We'll take it!
After taking all these supplements and water with ACV every morning, I feel much better this week!

I've previously written about My Best Purchases of 2017, but I think it's also interesting to look back on my regrettable purchases and what I learned. After years of shopping, I can tell pretty quickly whether or not something is going to work for me, so we are not talking about items I've returned. Rather, we are talking about items I thought I would get a lot of use out of, but didn't, or things that are just not worth it in my opinion. Below are 5 things I regret buying that are fashion, beauty, and lifestyle-related, since I tend to spend quite a bit in that category ;). I hope you can learn from my experience and let's get started!

1. Henri Bendel Marquis Tote Bag:

You might remember from my Instastory a while back that I got my very first Henri Bendel bag when I visited D.C. I wanted to do a handbag reveal, but never did. Well, because I never used it!

I don't have anything bad to say about this bag. The details and quality are amazing and it looks stunning in person. It can be hand held, in the crook of the arm, over the shoulder, or crossbody with the removable chain. It's very functional.

But the problem is I should have gone with what I really wanted, which is the mini size!

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4

I fell in love with it at first sight and thought, wouldn't it be perfect for holiday parties? On the other hand, the practical side of me was concerned with the small size and the lack of a zipper, even though it does fit all the holiday party essentials (phone, keys, lip product). So for $10 or $20 more, I ended up getting the tote, which has a zipper. I also thought I would use it more, not only for special occasions, but also casual ones. Unfortunately, I found it to be too big as a holiday party bag and gold is too dressy for me to carry as an everyday bag. When I was getting ready for the holiday season last year, I really wished I had the mini in my collection. It would go with so many outfits!

Lesson Learned: Go with what you want. It's okay to have a special occasion bag that you only use a few times year. If it makes you feel special every time and satisfies your need, go for it! 

2. Chiara Ferragni Flirting Wink Glitter Flats:

The story of how I discovered these flats/the brand was in 2016 when I was on my way to J Crew Factory one day and spotted a girl wearing a pink glitter pair. I cannot stop staring at them, so I walked up to her and asked where she got them from. She said she got them from Nordstrom on sale, but didn't know how to pronounce the brand correctly. Then I asked if she could spell it. I guess she really didn't know, because she had to take them off (yes, in public) to show me.

After this somewhat awkward (for her, not for me) conversation, I went on Nordstrom, but could no longer find them. Nonetheless, I knew I wanted a pair and also read some reviews. Some say that they weren't the most comfortable to walk in. So I thought I could just wear them when I'm not walking a lot (like the office) rather than shopping in them. Finally at the beginning of 2017, I saw these 50% off online at Nordstrom Rack.

They were the prettiest flats I've ever seen, but so uncomfortable to walk in. The sole was not flexible, so it was hard to walk, even in the office. I also find the back digs into my foot and doesn't stay on very well. I much prefer an elasticated back. I ended up wearing them only 3 - 4 times last year, which is such a shame. I still love the look of them and the flirting line. I hope they'll be more comfortable the more I wear them, so I want to give them another chance this year.

PS: I see there are mules in her collection this year. I think they would be more comfortable and worth considering if you love the look of these flats, but want something more wearable. 

Lesson Learned: When it comes to shoes (or clothing in general), the first priority should always be comfort. People will only see how cute they look; only you know how they feel.

3. La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water:

Credit

First of all, not sure why it's $7 right now, but I definitely paid $11 or $12 back then. This is a very popular La Roche-Posay product. It's supposed to be very gentle, which is great for sensitive skin, and also contains minerals. When I saw this at Target in the spring, I thought, hey, I could use it as a face mist! It would be so refreshing for spring and summer!

Well, I should have known, it's nothing special (because it's just thermal spring water duh!). Unless you have the most sensitive skin or need to take water on the go, seriously save your money on this. If you want a face mist to refresh throughout the day, filling a small spray bottle with spring water or coconut water will do the same. Now every time I see this at Target, I think of how stupid I was to spend that much on a can of thermal spring water...

Lesson Learned: Just because it's a popular product doesn't mean you need to try it, especially when it's just thermal spring water in a can.

4. Elizabeth Taylor Deluxe Limited Edition Box Set: 

I've mentioned last year that I'm getting more into and was reading about fine jewelry. This Elizabeth Taylor (ET) book has a pretty high ranking on Amazon. Unfortunately, it's been out of print for a few years, so the ones I saw were not new. I eventually found it new on QVC, then I saw this deluxe limited edition set (only 2000 of them!), which also included a Christie's auction catalog from one of the evening sales.

Deluxe, limited edition, AND almost 60% off? The shopaholic side in me thought, I should get this! What a great deal! It was also my birthday month, so more excuses to treat myself. Everything in the set feels good quality, nice weight and deluxe. The catalog, which is exclusive in this set, has more pictures of ET, close-ups of her jewelry pieces, and a lot more details (since it's for an auction) about each piece and certificates. While I enjoyed flipping through the pictures, the texts don't really add much value for me. Unless you are an ET jewelry collector or biggest ET fan, you don't need this set, just get the book! The $155 price difference is honestly too much to pay for a purple box and look at more pretty pictures!

Lessons Learned: Words like deluxe, limited edition, and X% off are always a trigger for me. Remember that it's not a good deal, if it doesn't add much value to you. 

5. Kate Spade Agenda:

At the beginning of 2017, I wanted to get a planner to be more organized. So when I saw this adorable pink one at Kate Spade outlet, it was calling my name. I loved it so much that I ignored the fact that this is too much for someone who's new to a planner! 

As you can see, it's a medium-sized planner. It's too big to carry with me every day, unless I'm wearing a tote or backpack. So most of the time, it ended up staying home, which defeats the purpose of having it. Secondly, I realized that I only needed the monthly page, where I can see everything at a glance, and never used the daily page. Now, I know I want a small monthly planner that I can easily fit in my handbag.

Lesson Learned: Start small. Figure out your needs first, then get the right product. 


So there you have it - 5 things I regret buying in 2017. I hope you find it interesting!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend! :)