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Original poster

To want to snip people's coat tacks?

164 replies

ColonelSpondleClagnut · 04/05/2023 18:26

You know the loose stitch that holds the back vent of a coat or blazer together when you buy it? They're there to hold the item's shape in the shop but supposed to be removed before you wear it.

So many times I've seen someone walking along with the back of their trench or blazer still with the tacks in - and I want to just sneak up and snip it open! 😆
I wonder if their pockets are still sewn up too 🧐😆

OP posts:
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6
Bloodynitpickingpixie · 04/05/2023 18:32

YANBU.
I just don’t know how people don’t know this, or have never been told this at least.
Teen got his first suit a couple of years ago so now he knows this is a thing so when he goes off into the wide world he will be one of us…rolling his eyes at people walking about tacked up.

Geneticsbunny · 04/05/2023 18:34

Why is there no voting! yANBU this annoys me so much and the sewn up pockets thing too! They are supposed to be unpicked!

girlwhowearsglasses · 04/05/2023 18:34

Yes and when they are on pencil skirts. If you haven’t bought a new jacket or skirt suit before you wouldn’t know about this stitch or that the pockets will be sewn up. I’ve seen many young adults on the tube over the years the look like they’re going to an interview and felt like saying something but never have. When I’m a mad old lady I’m going to say things like this like Miss Marple does

Saffronn · 04/05/2023 18:35

Yes! Often seen on interns in their first suit, bless them.

Also, people who still have the shop labels on the bottom of their shoes. They probably think it can’t be seen, but it can on every step!

RunThroughTheJungle · 04/05/2023 18:36

I snip the vent one but leave the pockets as it helps the coat retain the shape.

I hate it when people don't cut iut the coat hanger loops and then spend their lives tucking them in when wearing, just cut them out.

Quoronation · 04/05/2023 18:36

Maybe they like it like that

DaaamnYoullDo · 04/05/2023 18:40

Wait what? I have no idea what these are!

piglet81 · 04/05/2023 18:43

This drives me mad too!

Re pockets, my mum is very strict about NOT unpicking them so as to keep the shape better. I always feel like a daredevil if I do Grin

CommonSenseIsRare · 04/05/2023 18:46

Me too! I cut them on my brother’s jacket at his wedding. Then I noticed his trousers were too long - I am a seamstress!

Sissynova · 04/05/2023 18:47

I keep pockets stitches. It holds the shape better and I have a bag so I don’t like to keep things in trouser or coat pockets.

Whataretheodds · 04/05/2023 18:48

Bloodynitpickingpixie · 04/05/2023 18:32

YANBU.
I just don’t know how people don’t know this, or have never been told this at least.
Teen got his first suit a couple of years ago so now he knows this is a thing so when he goes off into the wide world he will be one of us…rolling his eyes at people walking about tacked up.

You wouldn't know if you'd never been told. You wouldn't know if noone in your family had ever owned/bought a brand new suit before.

Please don't be tempted to sneer at people for something like this.

Margrethe · 04/05/2023 18:49

I’m with you!

I tell young professionals on the tube all the time. I have a little nail clipper in my handbag. I always worry they might be offended. But I’m very discrete and polite and say something like “What a lovely new coat you have! It looks like the sales person forgot to take the tailor’s tack out for you. Would you like me to give it a quick snip for you?” I’ve never had a bad reaction. Usually a bashful smile and a head nod. Maybe my grey hair helps too. If it’s going well, and I feel extremely bold, I might mention they have pockets which can be opened too.

angelikacpickles · 04/05/2023 18:50

The tag on the sleeve of a suit jacket is another one!

Azealeasinbloom · 04/05/2023 19:07

I am another who prefers to leave the pockets, as they hold the shape better. I used to live in the US and leaving the brand tag on the sleeve was very much a thing.

Srin · 04/05/2023 19:21

Margrethe · 04/05/2023 18:49

I’m with you!

I tell young professionals on the tube all the time. I have a little nail clipper in my handbag. I always worry they might be offended. But I’m very discrete and polite and say something like “What a lovely new coat you have! It looks like the sales person forgot to take the tailor’s tack out for you. Would you like me to give it a quick snip for you?” I’ve never had a bad reaction. Usually a bashful smile and a head nod. Maybe my grey hair helps too. If it’s going well, and I feel extremely bold, I might mention they have pockets which can be opened too.

That is quite extreme! I’m not surprised you haven’t had a bad reaction. They probably think you are bonkers and don’t want to aggravate you when you are armed with nail clippers.

ColdHandsHotHead · 04/05/2023 19:24

I do sometimes wonder if it's the first decent garment they've ever bought.

GreeneryParsonage · 04/05/2023 19:26

Oh for me it’s the stitched on brand at the end of the sleeve, which is obviously meant to come off, but people just leave it on!

MrsMitford3 · 04/05/2023 19:28

I almost went up to a man in the supermarket-probably early 20's-looked so nice-like he was going to a wedding and I saw when he turned round that the vent was still tacked shut.

I didn't but it was painful

Quoronation · 04/05/2023 19:28

Whataretheodds · 04/05/2023 18:48

You wouldn't know if you'd never been told. You wouldn't know if noone in your family had ever owned/bought a brand new suit before.

Please don't be tempted to sneer at people for something like this.

Show quote history

I agree. It's one of those things that you will never know unless you're told.

MrsMitford3 · 04/05/2023 19:30

Quoronation · 04/05/2023 19:28

I agree. It's one of those things that you will never know unless you're told.

Show quote history

100%. When I saw the chap in the supermarket I felt like his mum

greensquirrel · 04/05/2023 19:31

Anyone got a picture of what on Earth this tacking stitch is

I like the hanger loops though I use them to hang my clothes

electriclight · 04/05/2023 19:32

I don't judge or sneer but I do wonder how it's not obvious that a single stitch on the vent needs to be snipped because surely it restricts movement. Similarly, I would've thought obvious that you don't leave the tag visible on the sleeve. But I've never told anyone, just silently hoped that someone else will. I do leave hangar tags in most things I buy that have them as they are often useful when hanging garments at home or in restaurants.

HoldingTheDoor · 04/05/2023 19:32

I tell young professionals on the tube all the time. I have a little nail clipper in my handbag. I always worry they might be offended. But I’m very discrete and polite and say something like “What a lovely new coat you have! It looks like the sales person forgot to take the tailor’s tack out for you. Would you like me to give it a quick snip for you?” I’ve never had a bad reaction. Usually a bashful smile and a head nod. Maybe my grey hair helps too. If it’s going well, and I feel extremely bold, I might mention they have pockets which can be opened too.

That is infinitely weirder than people not bothering to clip it or not knowing that they're supposed to do so. WTF?

WomanBitingATowel · 04/05/2023 19:33

Srin · 04/05/2023 19:21

That is quite extreme! I’m not surprised you haven’t had a bad reaction. They probably think you are bonkers and don’t want to aggravate you when you are armed with nail clippers.

Show quote history

And the rest of the time, you use your nail clippers to snip holes in people’s bags and pickpocket them, obviously. You’re the Piccadilly Line Snipper.

ObfuscationWithMenaces · 04/05/2023 19:34

I know how you feel!
But not as much as I yearn to tell those who have left the price sticker on the soles of their shoes to remove it! 1😀