three things you’re supposed to remove

In honor of Cyber Monday, I would like to make a public service announcement benefitting shoppers and gift givers everywhere. As coat season and giving season are in full swing and I’m out about in the world going about my business in total denial that Christmas is in 23 days, I’m noticing a few things that shouldn’t be there.

Nothing that would get you a black bar across your face in the back of Glamour Magazine – do they still do that? Just a few little things. So I’m going to go all Martha Stewart here and tell you how it’s supposed to be done. Maybe, just maybe, people simply don’t know that these items are supposed to be removed. Or maybe they are already feeling frazzled by the season or had one too many the night before at the old holiday office party.

Whatever the case, here are three things you’re supposed to remove:

1. Gift Bag Hanger Tags. Everyone knows that if you’re using a gift bag it’s probably because you waited until the last minute to buy a gift and just grabbed a bag at the store to throw your present in instead of trying to inconspicuously wrap it in the back seat of your car which is a lot harder than it sounds. If you need to go the gift bag route, no guilt, we’ve all been there, just take the extra two and a half seconds to remove the little clear plastic tag that the store uses to hang the gift bags. It just makes your gift look a tad less like you just ripped it off the store’s shelf. It’s like saying, “Thanks for understanding that I went the gift bag route, it wasn’t because I don’t care – see I even took the plastic tag off!”

2. Pleat Stitching. You bought a brand new outfit for your holiday party and are feeling like a million bucks. And we all know it’s new because you forgot to remove that little string. If you buy a dress, blazer, skirt, or anything with a pleat in the back, there’s usually a little bit of thread loosely sewn in to hold the pleat in place. It’s up to you to cut it and pull it out before you wear the garment. I’m always behind the person who didn’t take out that thread. It screams Amateur Hour. Snip and discard the the thread people.

3. Exterior Clothing Labels. So you scored the biggest deal of all deals and bought yourself a new winter coat at 86% off. You don’t have to wear it on your sleeve. Sometimes an item will have a label sewn on in a very obvious place where everyone can see it. This is not so that you can impress us with your Calvin Klein. If there’s a label on your coat sleeve that says Fine Merino Wool or 100% cashmere or more likely cashmere blend, you are supposed to remove it. Even if it says, Kenneth Cole, you are supposed to remove it. Don’t go wearing labels around on your sleeve. I also believe that  you should always remove a label on a scarf, but this seems to be up for debate. I just don’t like a scratchy label up around my chin.

Whew. Glad I got that off my chest. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter.