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Between Friends with Bob Ann Breland

Few things aggravate me more than scratchy tags in the back necks of clothing.

I’ve been watching the wearing habits of the American woman for some time. I’ve concluded that tags sticking out of the necks of garments while being worn are a national disgrace.

Heaven help me, I’m determined to stamp out this evil. I have this thing about tags standing up against the neck like little flags. I’m not averse to stopping women and tucking their tags inside the back neckline. In fact, it is very hard to stop myself!

I must admit it is a little startling to have a stranger stop and tuck the tag into your neckline. I’ve had it happen to me on more than one occasion. I do try to take one last look in the mirror before I step out of the house to make sure the tag is properly tucked in, but sometimes I miss it.

There have also been times when my neck was so irritated by the tag inside the neckline that I have felt back and caught it and ripped it out in frustration while wearing the clothing. I have also asked a family member to snip one out for me on more than one occasion. It was such a relief to get rid of it.

You can’t always feel the tag against your neck as long as it’s sticking out, but in its proper place inside the neckline, it can irritate and thus aggravate. The more they are laundered, these tags get stiffer and scratchier. The metallic threads often used in the tags don’t help things.

Whose bright idea was it to place tags inside the back neckline of garments, may I ask? Whoever you are, it was a bad move.

Most people leave them in place because they sometimes include laundering instructions for the garment. And then again, it’s sort of like those labels on pillows that tell you not to remove the tag under penalty of law. They have finally added “except by the consumer.”

They’ve had us intimidated for years. I dare say most of you haven’t removed those tags yet. If you don’t believe it, check your pillows! We definitely have a thing about not removing labels and tags.

A major tee shirt manufacturer stopped putting tags in their tee necklines … printing them directly on the fabric inside the back neckline. Somebody with a gripe about tags probably got to them!

Is there a better place for tags? Under the arm in the sleeve seam would seem like a good place, but they could be uncomfortable.

What about a side seam? Some garments actually have tags there, but also have others in the back neckline. What about making the tags from a material that gets softer with age instead of scratchier and more irritable? What about putting them in the hem?

Some popular name brand labels serve another purpose. They are there to be seen. Those labels are the ones usually snipped out when sold at a discount store.  Hurray!

I suppose women will continue to put up with tags hanging out the back neckline and people like me will continue to tuck them in.

It ranks right up there with one’s lacy slip showing. You know what we did with slips, right?

You don’t know what a slip is?

I told you we took care of them!