Here’s what this loop on your shirt is for

The subtle details of clothing often hide interesting stories. Take a look at the back of your shirts, ever noticed that little loop? You’ll often find it on dress shirts for men, seemingly inconspicuous but with a couple of intriguing purposes you might not have known about.

While dress shirts are typically part of more formal attire, they can also be dressed down for a casual look when paired with the right pants and accessories. But that loop on the back? It wasn’t just arbitrarily placed there.

Originally, it was a thoughtful addition for those hitting the gym frequently. Its purpose? To make hanging the shirt on a hanger a breeze, especially when you’re on the go and need to transition from one place to another without fussing about where to put your shirt.

Interestingly, that little loop had a flirtatious function too. In the past, it was used as a subtle signal of relationship status. If the loop was out and visible, it supposedly indicated that the person was taken, hence not needing to hang around looking for a place to hang their shirt. However, over time, its significance has faded away, becoming just another mundane part of shirt design.

Fashion trends may have evolved dramatically over the last century, but some elements remain unchanged. Men’s clothing, in particular, holds onto certain timeless features. Case in point: the back-of-the-shirt loop.

Often termed a “locker loop” or even a whimsical “fairy loop”, it’s stitched onto most Oxford or button-down shirts. Its primary purpose? Hanging up the shirt. Legend has it that these loops trace back to U.S. sailors who used them to hang their shirts aboard ships.

During the 1960s, they became an integral part of mainstream menswear, especially on college campuses as part of the “preppy” look. Gant, a clothing manufacturer, is often credited with popularizing this button-down style across Ivy League campuses. The man behind the brand initially introduced this shirt design to Yale University’s shop for male students, and from there, its popularity spread far and wide.

Kate Middleton cancer update as decision made about Princess’s royal return

Kate Middleton is the center of attention as she fights cancer.

After causing a sensation with her public and media absence, Kate released a pre-recorded video in which she disclosed that tests conducted after her scheduled stomach surgery revealed the existence of cancer.

She has since freed up her calendar, and the Palace has not made any announcements about her possible return to royal duties.

A top assistant, though, appears to have more knowledge of what has been happening behind closed doors and made a suggestion on when Kate might resume her royal duties.

The Princess of Wales is “excited” to be at the center of the introduction of a new project that might grow the UK economy by £45.5 billion ($57 billion) annually, despite her attempts to avoid the spotlight. According to The Daily Mirror, a study from eight British companies will be released this week by Kate’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The research will outline five areas where businesses may provide help to children under five and their caretakers. Additionally, it will draw attention to the enormous long-term advantages of early childhood investment.