Those of you who have been playing along at home will know that I don't think much of fashion. I'm all for looking nice and changing out of the baby puke stained sweater before you head out for dinner at the Ritz, but as far as caring who made your t-shirt, I think it is ridiculous. Do you like the t-shirt? Then wear the t-shirt and who cares. (You know what really cracks me up? Designer track suits. I mean hello? It's a track suit for pete's sake! Hilarious.)
So anyway, you must realize that if I am stooping to giving fashion advice it must be very serious, and I assure you that it is. Now, I am sure that none of you lovely people need this particular nugget of wisdom, (have you lost weight? Your ass looks fabulous in those pants.) but I mention it as a reminder of that which you already know so that you can help those less fortunate than yourselves to stop looking like idiots.
You know how sometimes skirts and coats have a kick pleat or a slit in the back? And you know how sometimes when you buy the skirt or coat that pleat or slit is held closed with a single stitch? Well, and I know this may come as a shock to some people, you are supposed to remove that stitch before wearing the garment. Seriously. You are not required to take mincing little steps with your skirt bunching up around your legs. Even my husband, who I think it is fair to say is even less fashion-savvy than I am, understands that this is a fashion faux pas. I am frankly amazed how often I see people walking around with the stitch still in, especially considering how little I get out these days.
Share the love, people. Friends don't let friends walk around with an un-unstitched kick pleat.
My work here is done.
Comments (26)
ROFL! Words of wisdom indeed!
Posted by Rhodent | April 8, 2006 1:41 PM
I am always amazed. And I always find myself telling students RIGHT BEFORE THEIR INTERVIEWS that they've forgotten to cut that thread. Sheesh.
Posted by alektra | April 8, 2006 1:57 PM
I learned this lesson the hard way... but I was only 11 at the time.
Posted by Amber | April 8, 2006 2:04 PM
haha. i discovered this semi-recently myself, only with a corduroy blazer. i was whining to my friend "why in the hell doos this thing have pockets if they're just going to sew the bitches shut??" and she's like "ummm... yeah, you're supposed to cut those." oops. :)
Posted by Manda | April 8, 2006 2:34 PM
you know, i've heard of this faux pas before, but i don't think i've ever been witness. unless, of course, i've done it myself without knowing, which is very possible.
Posted by crystal | April 8, 2006 2:44 PM
Wow! I learn something new everyday. Skirts? After kids, those are no longer part of my wardrobe. haha
Posted by Magnolia Mom | April 8, 2006 3:20 PM
Want to hear something worse? At a job I had a few years back our extremely tacky secretary bought this cute new skirt, which we were all amazed about. Except she wore it with the kick pleat in front. She thought it was decorative. GAH!
Posted by donna | April 8, 2006 5:09 PM
I ALWAYS see people wearing skirts or coats with the pleat sewed shut, and feel so bad for them! Another similar peice of advice? When you buy a wool coat and it has that fabric tag sewn in on the sleeve right above your hand -- that's also supposed to come off.
Posted by T | April 8, 2006 5:26 PM
Just found your blog and love it. I recently did this by accident and whoa was I embarrassed. Wore a nice new suit, went to a meeting in the corporate office. Got back to MY office later to go potty and somehow when I slid my skirt up, I saw the giant WHITE "x" on the back of my black skirt! I don't know WHAT I was thinking because I KNOW to cut those. LOL
When I related this to co-worker, she said once she went out with new jeans and they had that sticky tape with the size on the leg. She'd been out with hubs most all day before a kind lady told her. LOL
Posted by NewGirl | April 8, 2006 6:56 PM
i can honestly say i don't think i've owned one piece of clothing that has a kick pleat. i'd like to blame my ignorance on that, thank you. for real.
but now i know. and now i want to buy something with one!
Posted by Sarcomical | April 8, 2006 9:11 PM
Yeah, and you know that tag on every mattress that says "do not remove under penalty of law".
Go ahead and remove it. It's for the seller, not the buyer.
From one who never removed a mattress tag for fear of the police knocking down her door.
Posted by ann adams | April 8, 2006 11:28 PM
Ok, I fess up to being one of those unfortunate people who didn't remove one and discover the stitch until going down stairs at my old job. The heel of my shoe - yup, you guessed it - got tangled right in that tacked-together slit. I clattered down about 6 steps and almost pulled my skirt down to my ankles - thankful no one else was in the stairwell - got my diet pepsi, went back to my desk and cut the damn thing!
Posted by Traci | April 8, 2006 11:59 PM
I don't think I've ever had that. But now I'll be on the lookout!
Posted by Heather | April 9, 2006 12:17 AM
Haven't stopped by since the birth of the Mia Bean - amazing to see what a gorgeous little girl she has grown into.
I always forget to cut those stitches and when I put the skirt on I just end up ripping them by taking a big step because there is NEVER a pair os scissors around when you want some!
Posted by song | April 9, 2006 7:44 AM
This brings to mind all the homes I've visited where the occupants did not know that the elasticized plastic on their lampshades wasn't a "dust cover." Sheesh.
Posted by Re‚ | April 9, 2006 8:42 AM
I'm with you on the designer stuff- who cares! I recently cut the pleat stitch out of someone's blazer. Apparently she'd been wearing it for more than a year that way.
Posted by Heather | April 9, 2006 9:39 AM
Haha, I learned this lesson when I was about 20 and had my first office job, I bought a skirt like that and I was like, damn, this mo-fo is hard to walk in, and then the stitch just came out on its own and the lightbulb went on over my head. Excellent fashion advice!
Posted by mrsfortune | April 9, 2006 3:09 PM
Well, that was a total LOL post! Love it!
Posted by Jodi | April 9, 2006 8:46 PM
We had this receptionist once (no it wasn't me..shut up Beth!) and she had this LONG LONG to the ground denim skirt and did not unstitch the kick pleat. it was VERY tight and totally needed a KICK pleat cause you could hear her walking in that thing ALL DAY LONG. I kept hoping she'd fall and would NEVER be able to get back...no luck
Posted by Pamalamadingdong | April 10, 2006 8:48 AM
I was interviewed once by a guy who hadn't cut the stitch on the back of his suit.
He was such an arse that I didn't tell him anything about it...but told everyone I saw on the way out.
They didn't offer a job.....I know, I was surprised too...
Posted by the speckledpup | April 10, 2006 10:08 AM
No kidding.
*But my slits always end up getting more slit (is that the correct way to say that?), so I always end up having to sew up my slits even more. In an attempt to not be a slit slut.
(I slay me. Actually...I just need to go into labor!)
Posted by Isabel | April 10, 2006 1:08 PM
I went to a group job interview and one of the guy candidates there had left the tag on the sleeve of his jacket. I think he bought the suit just for the interview. Too bad it made him look really unprofessional and inexperienced. He should have totally read your site for great fashion tips!
Posted by Karen | April 10, 2006 1:27 PM
I sometimes see people who still have the sticker on their clothes. Cause I really needed to know that they were a Medium Tall. Really, I think people just get too busy and don't notice the obvious.
Posted by Melissa | April 10, 2006 2:15 PM
somehow i always remember to take out the stich out. but did i remember to remove the tag on the jeans? nope. i was in full public display for half a day, until some good woman pointed it out to me.
Posted by liz | April 10, 2006 9:31 PM
Oh, God, I hope I've never done that.
Although, jeans don't come with that, so I'm pretty sure I'm safe.
Posted by Stephanie | April 10, 2006 11:41 PM
Wow1 i learn something new everyday - I'm a fashion disaster!
Posted by Marie | April 13, 2006 11:49 AM