To want to snip people's coat tacks?

[ColonelSpondleClagnut]

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 🧐😆

This is very much a check your privilege thread

Surely it's a check your thread thread.

I agree in general about keeping the shape, but it's useful to have them open for ID/Oyster cards which won't make a visible bulge.

Why? There are lovely people on here who let people know when they see them.

I've done that in the past, let junior colleagues in the office know about snipping the stitch. I draw the line at snipping threads in the bottom area myself....lol!

One of my managers only snipped one pocket, and it was a women's jacket so much more fluid so it sagged down. I can see why she left one stitched, it sat neater. But in that case she should have left both stitched.

Pocket stitches usually have about 1 cm unstitched, that's how you can tell the difference between a stitched pocket and a fake pocket.

You mean they're not fake pockets?

They might be - check very carefully before you start snipping.

Ha - St Mary thank you. I was probably gonna procrastinate the day away ruining all our jackets

Gawd I hate visible ribbon hanging loopz on tops. Looks awful! Cut them off! Get velveteen hangers instead, nothing slips off them.

Live and let live OP. Don't bother strangers with your wisdom r.e. this.

It's not about them slipping off it's about taking the pressure off the garment and helping it keep its shape

I was at a wedding and I saw a guest lean forward to the lady in front and snip off a hanging price label from
her hat and then handed it to her saying "you left your price tags on lovey"

If looks could kill! I imagine that she was planning to return the hat after the wedding for a refund 😁

I did wonder who would carry scissors with them as a matter of course but it would seem I'm in the minority on this! 🤣

A lot of women carry a file or small nail clippers around if they have weak nails that tend to break. I carry a safety pin after all the years of having children. These are tiny items that I happen to have on hand.

I’m not trying to intrude on people or be judgy. But I notice people and I generally like people. If a mother needs help getting a pram up a flight of steps, I help. If someone drops something that scatters everywhere, I stop and help. I hold doors for people, etc. I was brought up to believe this was a perfectly normal attitude to hold about other people. When people hold doors for me or offer seats on the tube, I look them in the eye, smile, and thank them. Cutting an errant thread for someone is another small favour. Someone not knowing about the tacking stitches in more formal clothing to keep it neat for transport and sale is a small, small thing. No one one should feel embarrassed. I learn new stuff all the time myself.

Nothing about the comments on this thread indicate snobbery or privilege by anyone. It’s ok to not know things so why get chippy about it? Clothing has become a lot more casual over recent years and I can imagine someone not encountering more tailored clothes until they’re off to a job interview or wedding. Once you know about it it is distracting though… it kind of catches your eye. ( usually because the garment isn’t moving in the way it’s supposed to )

I often carry a tiny sewing kit around with me for those button emergencies in the office - it also has a safety pin in it. Shoot me now.

Cor - never expected this many replies! Sorry for not coming back
I didn't realise I was privileged to know this but there you go 🤷🏻‍♀️ Surely we all only know stuff if someone has told us at some point 🫤 I wouldn't judge anyone badly for lack of knowledge.
Totally agree with choosing to leave pockets sewn up btw, and/or having a good rummage to check they're real pockets before unpicking them!
Must admit I did get a bit teary at the thought of all the young lads at funerals, especially those at their friend's funeral. 😢

Oh no, this wasn't even the price tag, it was a massive tag that said 'non-returnable if removed' clearly designed to stop people buying dresses to wear once and then returning them.

And yes were was my mate who carries everything when I needed her? DH frightened to pull it resorted to biting it off.

Yanbu. Not so much the pockets as I do understand why people don't use them and make them misshapen. But I work in a school and the majority of boys come in wearing their blazers for the first time with the vent stitches still in place.

I let them know they're supposed to be taken out and the blazer will feel less restrictive at the bottom once done. Often they'll then ask if I can take them out.

As @Divebar2021 said, when you know they shouldn't be there, they and the unnatural movement of the garment catch your eye.

I have a sewing kit, Swiss army knife (I have them in most bags - people keep giving them to me as presents 'because I know you like to be prepared' 😁), sewing kit, iboprufen, toothbrush & toothpaste, bottle opener, nifty can opener (one of those tiny flat army ones), so many things.
And over the years? They have all been asked for (in the office, pub, train, bus etc etc)

My bag is really heavy though.

Love this thread as this drives me mad! It's not just younger colleagues but I once had an older female colleague who could barely walk in her skirt because the tack was left in the back split. As she was walking past my desk I stopped her and mentioned that the tack was still in the skirt. I got some scissors and snipped it off but she said she thought it was part of the design. I was a bit nonplussed that she thought that at her age but at least she could walk better.

Spotted one today. You've got me looking for them now

It's not always lavish of knowledge. Sometimes I'm just in a hurry and I forget. I rip off the label and throw it on.

🙄

Not sure when I learned this or how I know. Probably my parents. Many school uniforms have blazers, I think I assumed most folks would just know this. However, I spotted a member of management 'un-snipped' today. I didn't say a word I let the twit be a twit!

My school uniform did not have blazers, nor do the schools of my DCs.

I didn’t have functional parents past primary school age.

I’ve never really had any formal or tailored clothing, never had a suit, never had an office job or a formal job interview.

I have never worked in clothes shops or anywhere to do with tailoring.

Ive never thought to google tailors tacks.

But now I do know!

What a thing to get worked up by