What is this strange buttoned-on loop on the inside of my coat?

November 7, 2008 9:14 AM

What is the purpose of this weird detail (a button-on loop of some kind with wool on one side and velvet on the other) on the inside of my new coat?

I just picked up a new winter coat and it has a weird interior detail which I've never seen before, and I can't seem to find reference to what it might be in any fashion dictionaries or bespoke sites, and the curiosity is starting to get to me.

As you can see in this crappy cameraphone photo, it is a buttoned-on loop of some kind, right next to the edge of the inside lining, and is basically positioned near enough to the belt line that I suppose it could be a belt loop, but I can't imagine what the possible use of belting your belt to your coat could be. The inward-facing side of the loop is velvet. Is it for securing my sidearm? I hope so. Anyway, please let me know what it is, if you know. Thanks!

(Bonus note to Berlin mefites: Karstadt Schnäppchen-Center on Karl-Marx-Str. 92 has a good coat sale right now).

posted by Your Time Machine Sucks to clothing, beauty, & fashion (18 comments total)

maybe a place to clip one's ipod or thread the earbuds? my friend had a tailor custom make something similar into a coat for that purpose. or a place to stow your eyeglasses? your guess is as good as mine.
posted by wowbobwow at 9:20 AM on November 7, 2008

Can you use it to bridge a gap, like maybe a tab across your throat, buttoned on one side, tucked in at the other?
posted by Good Brain at 9:30 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

Coat brand?
posted by Science! at 9:34 AM on November 7, 2008

My best guess: If it isn't something you unbutton and re-buttoned across the throat of the coat, which is most likely - there is probably an extra external button under the collar - than it's the adult equivalent of mitten strings. You can loop your scarf and stash your gloves in it when you take them off.

(Technically you should never un-stitch the pockets, and thus those items should not be placed there.)
posted by DarlingBri at 9:35 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

Can you use it to bridge a gap, like maybe a tab across your throat, buttoned on one side, tucked in at the other?

You got it. I hadn't noticed until you suggested it, but the underside of the lapels are the same velvet, and there are corresponding buttons to the mystery loop at the first lapel notches on the lapel undersides. You could turn up the lapels and bridge them with the matching underside of the loop. That's pretty groovy. Thanks, Good Brain!

Bonus question for clothing geeks: does it have some kind of special name?
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 9:38 AM on November 7, 2008

Technically you should never un-stitch the pockets, and thus those items should not be placed there.

Really? On a coat? wtf?
posted by ghost of a past number at 9:56 AM on November 7, 2008

Technically you should never un-stitch the pockets, and thus those items should not be placed there.

That's strange. I thought pockets are sewn shut because then people wouldn't put crap in it before it's purchased. I mean, some lazy guy might throw his candy wrappers in them if they were open, and then the purchaser will have to deal with them. Eck.
posted by curagea at 10:05 AM on November 7, 2008

the pockets are stitched when you purchase so they'll hang right on the rack. You should unstitch once you purchase
posted by mumstheword at 10:05 AM on November 7, 2008

Throat latch.
posted by milkrate at 10:06 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

Don't mean to continue the derail, but DarlingBri, are you joking? If pockets aren't meant to be unstitched, why on earth would clothing manufacturers go to the trouble of putting pockets in things? They're stitched so they look neat in the store.

Also, any coats that have vents in the back that are stitched closed in the store should have those stitches removed before wearing. Biggest winter pet peeve.
posted by doift at 10:11 AM on November 7, 2008

doift, I share your pet peeve. Also irritating are those who leave the giant "100% Cashmere" label on the coat sleeve. Why does it never occur to these people that it's loosely basted on for a reason?
posted by i_love_squirrels at 10:23 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

thanks, milkrate! Derail-y ranting, carry on.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 10:30 AM on November 7, 2008

Don't mean to continue the derail, but DarlingBri, are you joking?

No, I am not joking. Look, there is very little useful knowledge to be gleaned from having gone to debutant camp, but the most useful pieces are - in no particular order - as follows:

1) A sound understanding of crab forks and oyster forks;
2) The ability to get out of a vehicle without flashing your knickers (unless you particularly want to);
3) The knowledge that one is not to stuff things in one's outside pockets because it ruins the lines of the coat or jacket.

The last is more true of suit jackets than of coats, but still - that is the rule you are free to disregard. The fact that coats and jackets come with pockets is irrelevant.

Having said all that, I'm the last woman in the universe who refuses to wear white after Labor Day, so I'm probably a relic. Like pocket lint.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:45 AM on November 7, 2008 [3 favorites]

Suit jacket pockets should not be cut, except for the breast pocket for your pocket square.

Overcoat pockets should be cut. The "line" of the coat in this case is not nearly as important.
posted by zpousman at 12:07 PM on November 7, 2008

But surely you can slip your platinum money clip into your pocket? I mean, a couple hundred dollar bills won't ruin your lines, will it?
posted by amanda at 3:14 PM on November 7, 2008

A roll of 75 hundred dollar bills will not hurt your chances.
posted by yclipse at 3:45 PM on November 7, 2008

Aside from ruining the line, a lot of coat pockets are cut on a slant meaning that putting your wallet in there will lead to it being left on the bus. I speak from experience.
posted by mippy at 1:47 AM on November 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

Leave all slanted pockets stitched so you'll never be tempted to put anything in them. The only thing you can put in them without losing it is your hands.
posted by variella at 10:57 AM on June 15