Spawn has this thing about tags in clothes. Actually, the kid has a thing about tags, period. If it has a tag the tag needs to be removed. Doesn’t matter if it’s a tag in a shirt or on a stuffed animal, the tag is an abomination and it must GO.
This can cause problems. First off, if there’s a tag and I’m not around to remove it, then Spawn will take the scissors to it personally. I have become rather adept at sewing up holes because of this. But a hole in the neckline of a brand new shirt will cause me to lose my shit, a little. And then of course the tag that’s removed has all sorts of information on it, things like — oh, I don’t know — the size and the care instructions and the fabric contents. Things that I might want to know for future reference, like when I’m doing the omnipresent mountain of laundry or sorting through things to give to my sister-in-law’s kids. And hey, did you know a lot of consignment shops won’t accept clothing without size tags in them? Amazing!
Even more amazing is that this is the same kid who loved tags as a baby. I’m only sorry they came out with those little Taggie blankets after Spawn was out of that stage, because I could have saved myself a ton of money and just bought the kid a Taggie rather than the national debt in toys. It would have been the one thing the kid played with nonstop.
I don’t know where the tide turned for Spawn when it came to tags, but there came a point that I had to say “Enough. Call me if you want a tag cut off.” I was doing far too much mending.
I get it, though, I really do. I don’t care for tags much myself. It seems as if I’m forever tucking a tag back into the neckline of my shirt. Worse yet is that little tag that manufacturers sew into the side seam of a shirt or dress, the one that scritches you along the waist or leg. Number one, that’s just plain uncomfortable, and number two, “see side seam for care” seems to be a bit like passive-aggressiveness to me. Whoever the genius is who came up with the idea of screenprinting info in the back of a piece of clothing, that person deserves an award. Because seriously, underwear does not need tags.
Apparently the apple does not fall far in this case.
Something else that I’ve developed an issue with is sleeve length. In the summer I want to be as sleeveless as possible, and in the winter I just want for my sleeves to be out of the way. My best friend’s mom used to say that as long as her elbows were covered she was fine, and I am starting to see the wisdom of that. When the weather gets too airish for tee shirts I will opt for 3/4 length sleeves more often than not. Because, you know, if my elbows are covered then technically I’m warm.
The fashion industry has to go to great lengths to please me.
– Mox
