8.13.2009

The one that got away.



When my mother and I went to the antique show last month, one of the very first booths we came to had this set sitting on a chair.
Now, at the last antique show, I found a swimsuit within the first two minutes and shelled out $65 for it. I have yet to wear it.
So I decided to be very cautious and not go crazy as soon as I walk in. Well, I regret that caution.
You see I picked this up, slipped on the collar, snuggled into the hat, and gathered my hands in the silk lined muff. They were made of real leopard. They were in excellent condition. They were from the 30s or 40s. They all matched!
My mother snapped a quick photo and I thought it would be wise to not look in the mirror just in case I loved it. I took them all off to resist the temptation of spending all my money before I even got 50 feet into the show. By the way, it was $125, a total steal.
We wandered the show, and I got some pretty wonderful things, but only spent half the money my mother gave me, thanks to my caution, and that with everything I considered nothing could quite top the jazzy leopard set.
At the end of the show we went by the booth that was selling the stylish accessories, with high hopes that no one had noticed it's stunning presence. I asked the seller if the set was still there and she told me it sold right after I left the booth. Ok, well it's a loss, but no big deal.
Then my mother showed me this photo, and I realized why the other person was smart enough to snatch up the set right after I tried it on. It's absolutely stunning, and surely a once in a lifetime find. A real leopard muff, collar, and hat set, literally at my fingertips, and I decide to pace myself. What a dummy.

So there you have my little story, and I hope that if you ever come across such a wonderful gem you are smarter than I.

23 comments:

AlicePleasance said...

How sad :-( I hate whe things like this happen!

Unknown said...

What a sad story! I hate shopping regrets. Keep an eye out in the area incase the buyer sells it on!

Andi B. Goode said...

It does look gorgeous on you - the print suits you so well! (I'm just really sad it's a real leopard). I hate when things like that happen, though!
-Andi x

Heidi Bjerg Gundmann said...

Funny thing is I also had a leopard that got away... I found a real leopard fur coat from the 40's in a thrift store about ten years ago for about $80 -but I was in school and completely broke at the time and had already borrowed money from my mom for food and didn't have the nerve to ask her for more for a fur coat. It still haunts me though...

Louise said...

Buyers remorse does suck, but I'm sure the $125 saved will be spent on something equally as amazing in the future. I'll have my fingers crossed for you.

Casey said...

Oh Solanah! I don't know how many times I've passed things up just like that... I think it's part of the vintage hunt; sometimes you get so focused on not getting carried away with something, that you pass up a total treasure. :/

Not to rub more salt in the wound, but you did look gorgeous. ;) Making a faux leopard set wouldn't be that hard--even though I know it would be not hold a candle to the real thing. :)

MissRedLips said...

oh no! my vintage-loving heart literally ached as i read that the other person bought the items!:-(

Kitten loves vintage said...

Oh, no! So gorgeous...! Och well, maybe something even better is waiting around the corner *fingers crossed*

The Glamorous Housewife said...

There are a pair of shoes that still haunt me. I didn't buy them in the mid 90s and every now and again I think about those beauties and a little tear forms at the corner of my eye. Ok, I exaggerate, but I really wish I had bought those shoes.

Thanks doll,
The Glamorous Housewife

Gracie said...

how sad. i hate it when things like that happen ):

niki said...

It's so heartbreaking when you mistakenly pass up something wonderful.

Sydney B. said...

Oh no! I feel your pain. This regretful feeling has happened to me once or twice. I know exactly how you feel. On the bright side though, when you feel bad about it. Something just as fabulous or better always shows up when your not expecting it! At leastgive yourself credit for having will power!

XOXO,
Syd

Angel said...

That's a shame, maybe it'll come around again.

I missed out on the most beautiful vintage camel hair coat. I wish I hadn't.

Meaghan Kelly said...

I agree with Casey! I think you should try to put together a faux leopard knock off! It definitely won't be quite the same as the real thing, but you look so stunning I can only imagine it being worth while! :D
I'm not sure anybody else would pull the ensemble off quite as well as you though my dear! xo

Oldilox said...

I always walk back to things and they are always gone. We walked away from a Canon EOS 5D at 700.00 and basically lost 500.00 bucks.

poet said...

Sad. But console yourself with the thought that you won't be the one that animal activists shoot hating glances or paintball bullets at... :)

Greetings,
poet

Ms. B @ Millie Deel said...

Oh non-buyer's remorse, is always much worse than buyer's remorse to me. There are pieces that I exercised control on that are haunting me years later. Oh well, just take comfort in that you aren't alone, almost all of us have gone through it, especially lovers of vintage pieces.

xoxo

Lizzy said...

Oh! so sad.....but that happens but I'm sure you will find something like that someday..well not exactly the leopard stuff but something as good as it,

amy said...

arrgghh. totally understand. have had the same thing happen! it is indeed gorgeous. there will be more. not the same, but more :) sounds like i'm writing about a break up. or the one that got away!

Witchcrafted Life said...

Ooohhh, that is rough indeed. But for what it's worth, I'm reminded of the words my mother always said to me when similar situations occurred, "it simply wasn't meant to be, something you love even more will come along soon". This simple message has helped me through many situations in life, not just when items I wanted got away, but in terms of jobs, relationships - you name it.

You have the most amazing luck with vintage finds, sweetie, I'm sure something even more amazing will come your way soon!

Big hugs,
♥ Jessica

jasmine.kadabra said...

congrats! i just saw your item listed on the storque spotlight!
http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-release-your-inner-mad-man-4670/
you always post the best stuff and as soon as i get a job i'm going to buy you out :)

Solanah said...

Oh Jasmine thanks for letting me know, I could not for the life of me figure out where all my hits were coming from ;)

Jessica thats a lovely way of looking at it and actually made thinking about it better! Because you are right, there's lots of wonderful things out there to be found, and that was just no meant to be :)

avintagespirit (Lizzy) said...

I'm sorry that you lost such a find! I often lose good vintage finds through indicision, especially on pricier buys.
I hope that you find something even more gorgeous soon. You seem to usually have quite the good lucky at finding beautiful vintage things!