Part of today's Criticrew email chain had to do with closet regrets: those pieces of clothing you give away or donate to the less fashion fortunate and live to regret.  JenisA wished she had never gotten rid of those leopard pumps the summer before grad school.  AdriPS missed her old can opener; the new one just wasn't the same.  But me, I had nothing to regret giving away ... I just wish I had bought two things.Closet regret #1: Tom Ford era Gucci black wool pea coat Season: Fall-winter 2003 Price: approximately $429 after second markdown and employee discount. Rationalization: I was working at Gucci and living in Miami.  It was December and I was going to Paris in January with my boyfriend at the time.  It seemed like a great "investment."  But after Paris, when would I ever use that coat again?  And I was going to Paris. I needed shopping spree money so I could find some amazing uber-exclusive French nothing and say "Oh, this? I got it in Parisssssssssss! (And you can't have it.)" Nine months later ... NO,I wasn't pregnant.  My bf and I were exes, I had been awarded a scholarship to go to law school, declined that and I was spending my first winter as a NY resident and shopgirl. Epic #failCloset regret #2: Prada kelly green patent leather loafers
Season: Spring-summer 2005
Price: $200ish on sale
Rationalization: That fall, after my first end of season sale in NY, I had a closet stocked with all sorts of geek chic Prada goodies and dandy YSL duds.  I had saved 40-60% on all the stuff butI had bought 60-80% more than I should have. I was warding off the wintry chill with a handsome YSL tweed coat, but I was eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in my studio apartment.  Because of this meager diet, I was fashion starved as spring rolled around.  I quickly spied the apple of my eye at Prada: a marvelous pair of shiny happy green patent leather loafers (similar to those pictured).  Then I met their midnight blue twins.  For a few months, I debated whether I should buy the green or the midnight blue pair.  The midnight was SO much more wearable, but the green was more ME. Maybe purchasing both was the answer.  I tried to be responsible, musing: "who needs green patent leather loafers?!" Duh.com — I do!! But my sense of responsibility won out.  Well, actually the lack of funds in my bank account won and I missed my chance at love.  Over the past six years, I've gotten dressed on numerous occasions only to find a hole in my outfit where those smart green loafers would have completed the look flawlessly. Dammit!
After recovering from the financial setback of stocking my designer wardrobe (read: paying off my credit card debt), I became more selective and sometimes wiser about my purchases.  I have learned to live without the seasonal addition to my designer wardrobe.  I also re-discovered Zara and took advantage of my clothing allowance at work. 
But these two pieces continue to tug at my heart strings every now and then.