The First—and Most Important—Thing Every Guy Should Do When He Buys a New Coat (2024)

There is a scourge upon this land. OK, not really. But, seriously, there is one persistent issue that I see all the damn time when it comes to men's overcoats, and considering how easy it is to remedy, it's time we band together and fix it once and for all. What is this fiendish problem? Guys aren't removing the "X"-shaped tacking stitch holding the vent together. You know the one I'm talking about:

Yep, that one. It serves a purpose, in that it keeps the coat from being pulled out of shape and getting wrinkled when it's shipped to the store and hung on the rack for your perusal. But that's all it's there for.

Listen, I get it: You just got a new coat, and you're eager to show it off (and warm up). Once you've purchased the coat, though, the tacking stitch is no longer necessary. In fact, because the coat was designed for the vent to be open—it helps you move, and preserves the shape of the garment—leaving it on there is doing both your comfort and your style a disservice.

So, what to do? Simple: Just snip the stitch with a pair of scissors, pull out the thread, and go on your merry way. It was designed to be removed, so you shouldn't run into any issues. Oh, and remember that the same principle applies to suit jackets and blazers. Like the brand tag on the exterior of the sleeve, it's a temporary thing that's meant for the store—not your life. Cut the thread. Be free.

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