# What;s Up With Leaving Labels on Coat Sleeves? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029 "2011-01-26T06:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/21 "2011-01-27T05:06:39Z")
I think it looks odd, but then I also take those leather Coach tags off my plain leather Coach bags. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/22 "2011-01-27T05:08:24Z")
> [@chela](#): > > :p:p > > The thing is, one needs a thread cutter or very small pointy scissors to snip the threads without cutting a hole in the fabric, Why the 'ell do they sew those labels in place. My sweaters (bought two, in different colors) have the makers label sewn on the outside lower right hip area. It’s tacked in there pretty tight, and I would hate to rip a hole in it. A seam ripper works very well. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/23 "2011-01-27T05:19:03Z")
I truly believe these people have no idea they’re supposed to take the tag off. I know so many people who have no idea how to sew a button or fix a seam, there’s no surprise to me that they wouldn’t own a 99 cent seam ripper or know what to do with it if they had one. If it’s sewn in with thread, they really have no idea they’re supposed to remove it, or how. These are the same people who can barely boil water. Raised by wolves? Dunno, but definitely raised by parents who couldn’t bother to teach the basics. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/24 "2011-01-27T05:22:41Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > A seam ripper works very well. Yeah, those things are great. I’ll use a steak knife with a really fine point in a pinch. Is it weird that no one removes the leather tag on the back of Levi’s and (to a lesser extent) Lee jeans? The Lee tag is sown on to work as a belt loop - probably so the free advertising isn’t covered. Levi’s also have that little red tag on the pocket. When I’ve killed a pair of Levi’s, I have a habit of cutting off and saving the leather tag. Someday, I’m going to make myself a wallet out of the them or sometime. Until then, it’s flipbook of my ever-changing waistline. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/25 "2011-01-27T06:29:13Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Is it weird that no one removes the leather tag on the back of … jeans? I do, (Wranglers) before the first washing. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/26 "2011-01-27T08:13:52Z")
A lifetime ago, I bought a “real suit” just before I graduated college. I went to a place in downtown LA in the garment district (“Acadamy Award Clothier” or someshit) and got a 3-piece. The old dude (probably was the wardrobe guy for _Stagecoach_)told me not to remove the small label on the left sleeve of the coat (I don’t recall just why exactly). I did anyway. I thought it looked tacky. It was a pretty nice suit, however. Wore it to many sucessful events. Might still have it somewhere. Never bought a new one since. Did get a real nice silk coat for a funeral a few years back at a thrift store. My lifestyle doesn’t call much for suits of that type. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/27 "2011-01-27T12:03:46Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > I was thinking about starting a thread on this very topic the other day! Sleeve tags, pockets still sewn shut, and my personal favorite…the vent on the back of a coat still tacked shut with a big X of thread. I have seen kick pleats on the back of straight skirts still tacked shut, and even the bottoms of the pleats on a fully pleated skirt tacked down (with loose threads everywhere). I notice this all the time too, I’m considering carrying a pair of tiny scissors with me everywhere and offering my assistance. These people have no home training, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![jamespmondo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@jamespmondo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jamespmondo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/28 "2011-01-27T13:00:19Z")
I’ve also seen this on men’s suits. It is a little stupid for me too. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/29 "2011-01-27T14:34:39Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > That raises a good question: Why are the pockets on mens suits sewn shut? Because pockets on the outside of a mens suit are decorative. You can open up the top pocket to put in a pocket square, but if you start using the side pockets to actually hold things for a while they’ll start to bag out and ruin the lines of the suit. I have two suits where there are only the seams or flaps for the pockets and no actual pockets underneath. If you’re carrying enough stuff with you while wearing a suit that you’d need to actually use all of the pockets you’re either carrying too much stuff or you really need to get a breifcase. As for sleeve lables, your tailor should be removing them. Wearing a suit or a coat with it still attached is gauche in the extreme. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029/30 "2011-01-27T19:19:15Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Because pockets on the outside of a mens suit are decorative. You can open up the top pocket to put in a pocket square, but if you start using the side pockets to actually hold things for a while they’ll start to bag out and ruin the lines of the suit. I have two suits where there are only the seams or flaps for the pockets and no actual pockets underneath. If you’re carrying enough stuff with you while wearing a suit that you’d need to actually use all of the pockets you’re either carrying too much stuff or you really need to get a breifcase. I use them for business cards when I have to go to an industry function. Mine go in the right, and the cards I’ve been given go in the left. The inner pockets are too deep to easily grab a business card. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-leaving-labels-on-coat-sleeves/569029.md?page=1)