Oftentimes we skip over purchases only to be thankful that we didn’t buy them in the long run, but sometimes there are those bags that we skip out on that haunt us like a bad dream. We’ve all got at least one bag that “got away”. Maybe it was a limited edition release, or a special collaboration, or maybe it was a rare vintage find that you wish you had pulled the trigger on. Either way it’s likely that you sometimes still think or dream about those unicorn bags. Today I’m taking a look back at three of mine. Which bags do you regret passing up?
Valentino Maison Studded Baullato Bag ($1,088)
The year was 2008, and I fell in love with this studded bag when I saw little J carrying a bold purple version of it on season one of Gossip Girl. The show premiered when I was still in high school and I used to watch it weekly with my mom. I remember being in awe of this bag at first sight, falling in love with the color immediately, which matched my childhood room, and then the ruched, studded body after. At the time Gossip Girl style blogs were huge, and it was incredibly easy to find the exact bag online. I knew it would never actually be mine, and though I wouldn’t carry a bag like this today, I would have cherished it then.
Louis Vuitton Monogram Stephen Sprouse Roses Speedy 30 ($1,815)
The year was 2009 and I had just began my freshman year of college. My collection of bags was so small it’s hard to even justify calling it that. Yet even then I knew that bags would be part of my life forever, and when Marc Jacobs released a limited edition collection of bags for Louis Vuitton I needed to have one. The collection was an ode to the late artist and designer Stephen Sprouse, and the bags featured some of Sprouse’s most iconic motifs.
The collection included various versions of popular LV silhouettes like the Neverfull, Speedy, Keepall and Pochette. Despite the fact that just a year prior I had gotten my first Louis Vuitton bag (a Monogram Speedy 25) as my graduation gift from high school, the bag I wanted from the collection was the Monogram Speedy 30 in Rose Print. I had no means to purchase the bag and no business asking for it for my birthday or other event either. I remember going into the Louis Vuitton store after one of my shifts working at the local mall to talk to an SA about the bag. Even though the responsible decision was the one I made—not putting myself into debt and swiping my newly acquired credit card—I still wish I had purchased the bag when it was available at retail price.
Chanel CC Logo C Drawstring Bag ($3,838)
The following year I studied abroad during my summer break and was one of 16 students to be accepted into a global fashion merchandising program. The course allowed me to study in 3 European cities: London, Paris and Florence. It was my fist trip to Europe, and I knew I would want to spend, and spend big. My bag collection was still small at the time, and though I should have been conscious of diversifying my collection a little bit, I knew I wanted to purchase another Louis Vuitton bag at the brand’s iconic flagship store. I started saving every penny I made nannying from February to when I departed in May, and I had saved enough to purchase a bag and then some.
My first day in Paris was a whirlwind, it felt like a dream and I can almost feel the butterflies of excitement flitting about in my stomach if I stop and think hard enough. I came upon a little consignment store that was filled with hidden treasures. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, YSL before it was Saint Laurent and more. I spotted an adorable Chanel 90s era drawstring bag. If memory serves me it was nearly identical to the one below, but more more affordable.
I had never bought anything Chanel before and at the time pre-owned items were not nearly as loved as they are now. The bag was in good condition and priced around 1500 EU. I was young and naive and I didn’t understand the rarity and value in such a find. I knew I wanted to spend my hard earned savings on a new LV bag, so I passed it up. That Chanel bag is probably my greatest bag regret to this day, especially given the fact that I’ve since sold the bag I ended up buying instead—a Louis Vuitton Verona PM.
LV Multicolour and a taupe Balenciaga City bag at Barneys in 2002 (they had just come out and were still under the radar) that was on sale for 75% off. I think I ended up with an MJ bag instead. In hindsight it so angered me I missed that Balenciaga that I refused to EVER buy it. Don’t you hate when you spite YOURSELF?
Oh this is heartbreaking…my first one was a classic chanel flap. Was in Paris 10 years ago. They didnt have any other color available except black. Price was only around 2500 euros before tax refund for the medium double flap. I decided not to buy because i really wanted to get one in pink my favorite color. I had no clue it will triple in price now. Biggest regret. This still haunts me until now even if i was able to buy a vintage single flap. My second one was the louis vuitton multicolor speedy. Love everything rainbow colored stuffs. But i was lucky with this. Found one in ebay just 2 years ago in excellent condition and luckily i won the bid.
What was the retail price of Louis Vuitton Monogram Stephen Sprouse Roses Speedy 30 in 2009, if you recall?
I want to say low-mid 1000s? I can’t recall specifically but I’ll have to do a good search and I’m sure I can find the price!
It was $1310 USD in 2009! Now, to find one in good condition, it’ll cost you $1500+
For me it is the LV Chapman brothers collection. I was still in school and not making money. Can’t get myself to indulge on what I thought was an expensive bag back then.
1. Louis Vuitton Multicolor Audra
2. Gucci Jeweled Dragon bag (Tom Ford Era)
3. Christian Dior Speedway Saddle Bag
I’ve been buying a lot of vintage bags lately, and I love them. They’re different and cool. It seems now that every design house is duping each other.
The speedway bag is available right now on What goes around comes around NYC if you’re still looking for it!
Thanks! I just looked at it. More than I can spend right now. Sigh. Years later and still can’t afford it! LOL!
Understandable, especially right now!
I totally agree with you! I have my eye on either a vintage Gucci or Fendi next. I was just talking about this with a friend.
Most I’ve managed to cycle back and get, but there is one that still evades me. I’m a micro bag lover. I pre-ordered and pre-paid for the mini jewelry size of the Tod’s D-cube. While I was waiting for mine to arrive, it appeared on Farfetch in different colors. I was tempted to order another one, but convinced myself to wait as I didn’t need two. When mine finally arrived, I found the one they’d produced for me was larger than the version I’d confirmed the measurements of and that had been of the then sold out Farfetch version. It’s amazing quality and I kept this larger version, but I still search for the smaller one.
Probably none. I’ve gotten obsessed over certain bags, passed and never thought about them again. I wish I lived in an area that high end vintage existed. There are some brands that I can’t even get my hands on new. So glad for Youtube, at least can get a bit of what they look like.
There’s quite a few for me but the one that I remember solidly is passing up on a Chanel East West flap bag at a Chanel store while on vacay in early 2000s. It was (only) $2000+ then. Sigh.
My biggest bag regret is seeing a really cool bag on a woman that was grey suede, cross body, which was rare at that time, and not stopping her to ask who made it. She was walking past me and it would have taken two seconds, but I didn’t do it and have forever regretted it. Also not buying a Fendi Mini Peekaboo Selleria handbag. You can still buy one, but that day I chose a less expensive bag and should have just gone with the Peekaboo as I would have gotten more use out of it for more years.
Prada Frankenstein Print Belt Bag (Summer 2019)
Mine’s being in undergrad and having the money for (yay part time jobs) but refusing to spend that much on a Chanel Jumbo – was like $3600 or so at that point.
Thought I’d grow up, get a career and then buy it. Turns out, I’m taking the long way to get to a career path and doing an MD….meanwhile, Chanel doesn’t seem to want to support that plan with their price increases either. I still can’t justify their prices.
Mine is the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collaboration in 2012, specifically the Papillon pumpkin dots in yellow.
Yes!! I remember that one too.
Currently hunting for the Stella McCartney denim poppy seed Falabella! I loved it when I first saw It 5 years ago but was in my early twenties and couldn’t afford it. Now it seems to not be available on any secondhand website
BV medium Cabat in carmel. My friend was selling hers
for some quick cash at a very great price, and I didn’t take advantage of her offer. 5 months later, my poor decision still haunts me!
I regret selling my Louis Vuitton Denim Mini Pleaty a few years ago. I originally purchased it for $300, which was a killer deal to begin with, but I lost interest. I’m kicking myself for it.