You might have noticed a loop at the back of some of your shirts if you’ve ever paid attention to your clothing. Men’s formal shirts frequently have this loop on them. There is something it can be utilized for that you might not have known about until now if you see it. One type of shirt that is frequently worn casually is the button-down.
It can be worn as a dressy component when paired with the appropriate pants and additional accessories. For people who go the gym frequently, a small loop was added to the back. Instead of locating a closet or making sure there is somewhere to put the shirt before interacting with others in a setting other than the home, it enables the shirt to be removed and put on a hangar with ease.
The loop has also been used to indicate a person’s relationship status or whether they are single. If the shirt’s loop is broken, it indicates that the wearer is in a committed relationship and doesn’t need to hang their clothes elsewhere. The loop is now just an extra piece of material on the back of clothing and doesn’t actually have much of a purpose.
American fashion has changed significantly over the past century, and sometimes it’s fun to take a trip down memory lane to learn a little bit about history. You’ll find that some things actually haven’t changed at all.
This is especially true with men’s clothing. The loop on the back of the garment is one unmistakable but subtle fact that you might have overlooked. It is there and is glaring at you from the center yoke, daring you to remove it or use it to spin the t-shirt on your finger.
Many oxford/button-down t-shirts have what are known as “locker loops” or “fairy loops,” which are stitches. The purpose? The loops are implied for hanging the t-shirts up, as you could have guessed. Some sources attribute the invention of the locker loop to American sailors who used it to hang their t-shirts from ships.
They eventually became a standard component of fashionable menswear in the 1960s at colleges as “preppy” attire. This button-down was created by clothing manufacturer Gant and is widely used on Ivy League campuses around the country. The business’s creator initially offered the t-shirt design to Yale’s recruitment of male trainees, and eventually it spread.