« CNG Asks: Have you ever unintentionally ruined a favorite garment? »

CNG certainly has.

Eyeing a pile of wrinkled laundry this past Monday evening, Chapeau Noir took hot iron in hand and buckled down for what would be a creasing session of epic proportions. Ironing is a ritual for Chapeau Noir, as it is supremely important not to look as though you've slept in your car - even if you have done so with good reason - for instance, to procure an early tee time at Bethpage Black or Torrey Pines North.

So, with the television tuned to Coronation Street, Chapeau Noir set himself to the task of ploughing through the weighty mass of eleven shirts, eight pairs of trousers, and one pair of shorts (what are they doing in there?).

Caution: the Oakley Take does not take well to a hot iron.Leaving the shorts to the very end, CNG was pleased to have reached the bottom of the pile, and in passing, could not recall ever having to iron the Oakley 'Take' shorts. The shorts did appear wrinkled, so they must have been pressed on previous occasions. Without further thought, it was soon very apparent that these shorts were NEVER meant to meet with a hot nor temperate iron.

As Chapeau Noir's eyes were affixed at the goings-on at The Rovers (why oh why is Steve messing about with Becky when he has Michelle!?!), melting plastic created an unpleasant olfactory medley, while the , and the previous sensation of iron gliding smoothly over welcoming fabric was replaced by the halting sensation of trying to run on a treadmill made of sticky-back plastic.

Ugh. Mea culpa.

With haste fabric was pulled away from the iron, but in only a matter of seconds the irreparable damage was done. A fist sized hole had been melted through the front left leg of the short, ruining what had become a summer favorite. The Oakley Take short is light and airy, characteristics born from the 94% Nylon / 6% Spandex makeup.

It is a wonder these didn't melt mid-round on one of our hot and humid summer days.

Chapeau Noir asks, what favorite garment have you unintentionally ruined, or had ruined on your behalf, and by what means?