The Fashion Industry Shares Its Biggest 2012 Shopping Regrets

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As 2012 draws to a close, we're surveying our friends in the fashion industry about the year's biggest news stories and most exciting developments. So far, we've looked at the best and worst trends, and biggest surprises; now, our experts share their biggest retail regrets. Readers, let us know what you think in the comments.

Bridget Halanski, director of runway at Factor Women: Not buying the Rag + Bone Cape I saw at a Barneys Outlet in Florida. I still think about how that wool and leather mix would be perfect for Chicago fall weather!
Amalie Drury, editor of Pure Wow: The glamorous--but way too heavy--vintage clip-on earrings from LuLu's at the Belle Kay that I bought to get married in. They just hurt too much. Luckily the shop's owner let me make a last-minute exchange.

D. Graham Kostic, creative director of Glossed & Found: My nervous breakdown immediately upon entering the Jayson home Warehouse Sale when the doors opened. Total shutdown.
Lynn Okura Bey, editor of Sales Check at Chicago Magazine: Not finding the perfect pair of leather leggings.
Suzanne Kopulos, editor and style director of Garmental: I failed to buy one super luxurious present for myself this year. I wish I had made at least one investment, but I guess I still have one week left, right?
Emma Arnold, creator of Tres Awesome: That I got the Margiela candy clutch in pink and not silver.
Eric Himel, fashion stylist: A leather hat that looked liked Freddie Krueger.

And in response to one commenter's question in our Favorite Purchases of 2012 post which asked what [this editor's] favorite purchase of 2012 was. Well, it would have to be a Gant Rugger blazer originally at the $800 mark, which I (drunk) bought for $49 at the Gilt Warehouse Sale. The biggest shopping regret of the year (also a drunk shopping trip) is only matched by some ill-fitting denim I bought at Urban Outfitters for $10 at 1:50AM on Black Friday. [Liveblog is here] This was not overshadowed by the most gut wrenching buyers remorse of 2012--which was felt over the summer shortly after I realized bought bad RAM at TigerDirect. Alas, the cost of RAM is minimal to the years of regret I'll have for consoling myself in a basket of Popeye's fried chicken and cajun fries with a tear-soaked biscuit.
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