I wore it for maybe 15-20 minutes and it felt a bit uncomfortable. Then I noticed that my neck was red and I had hives. Really red and super blotchy! So off it went and I changed outfits. I have never had this reaction to an item of clothing ever.
My question is should I return the tunic or try and wash it to see if it was some sort of coating on the top that made me react to? My inclination is to return, I’m not sure I’ll ever feel comfortable wearing it after the reaction I had. I wish I had made the store make a tag. I probably won’t be able to return the item to the store I bought it at, the nearest store is a 100 miles away and I only go there a couple of times a year. I’ll be near a store over the Christmas holidays but not the one I bought it at.
My neck is itchy just thinking about last night! Ugh!
Hard to know if it is the fabric, a treatment on the fabric or if someone else wore it with perfume, etc. that you may be sensitive to and returned it. Your reaction was pronounced enough, that if it was me, it would be returned. Perhaps you could call the store and they would allow you to mail it back with the receipt, since it has no tag. Good luck!
I agree - call the store - either the one you bought it or the other one you will be visiting and tell them the situation - do you have a receipt or a credit card receipt? Maybe the 100 mile store away would even consider refunding the cost if you mail it to them - perhaps at your own cost - but I’m guessing that would be much less than the purchase price.
Was the reaction all the way around your neck or just where the manufacturer’s label was? Or was there some different thread there? (Just wondering if it was something besides the fabric, since you only had it on your neck.) I often have that sort of reaction to the stupid labels. If it were the fabric, I would expect you to have it in the underarm/shoulder areas as well, where the fabric would rub.
you should always wash any clothes before wearing them, and never IMO use fabric softeners.
I use only free and clear detergent (store brand, all, arm and hammer whatever they have on sale)
clothing from china is treated with stuff like formaldehyde and or pesticides, to prevent mildew and or bugs traveling with the clothes when it is shipped. there are also plenty of chemicals and dyes that are not removed after manufacturing… all of them may cause you issues.
The reaction was around my whole neck but was much worse in the front. I wore a cami underneath.
The tunic is pretty flowy and wasn’t touching that much of my skin other than the neck.
Yes I should have washed it and I always use tide free and clear. I had purchased it the day before and didn’t wash it.
Both my son and I are sensitive to the chemicals used in sizing/treating fabric and I always have to wash clothing before wearing anything, and in dye/perfume free detergent. I assume S does as well, and I always did so when he lived at home. You should try that first-it’s likely some chemical in the tunic affected you.
I react the same way to anything with wool in it other than a good cashmere.
Is there a label with the break down of the fabric?
I would call the store and see what they say. Or I would call their
catalog number and talk with customer service.
Wife has always found JJill to be very responsive and not nitpicky about any concerns. I’d wash and try it on and then call if it still causes the reaction.
@deb922, I would not try it on again simply because I would be experiencing low level …willies… I agree that J. Jill is a fabulous retailer and will definitely want to know what you feel about their product, and will more than likely send a prepaid label and have you return it at no cost to you.
My daughter had such a reaction, though to a school-issued jersey which had been washed and returned by the student who used it the previous year. My daughter wore the jersey for one practice, and has now for years had a splay of tiny red bumps, which sometimes look as if they want to come to a dry whitehead, but do not.
I have taken her to an allergist as well as her doctor, though not a dermatologist, and used every type of homemade treatment, OTC salve and many homeopathic/naturalist topical applications to no avail. She has had prescription creams and modified the heat setting in her shower, with no improvement. It is unsettling.
I hope you fare far better and this reaction is merely temporary.
D about age 15 had this reaction with a brand new black backpack for school. Broke out in hives on the shoulder straps area and the back. I guessed there was a spray on it for flame retardant. We disposed of it and she did not have it again.
I’d call the vendor on Monday and discuss. I’ve never had the reaction you described from clothing (despite sometimes wearing new clothing without washing the clothes first), tho I do get hives from food allergies and cold temps. Hopefully the vendor will want to do what you prefer and will be grateful for the feedback. If it were me, I’d prefer to get a shipping label from seller and send the garment back for a full refund rather than risk a repeat of hives. Our bodies are telling us they are very unhappy when they break out in hives.
@Waiting2exhale - I would take your daughter to a dermatologist. It kind of sounds like what my one son has keratosis pilaris. Anyway they should be able to help her.
I once bought a sleeveless knit dress made by Prana from the Title 9 catalog. I wore it in the winter (without washing first) with high waisted tights and a blazer. The next morning every part of my skin that had been in direct contact with the dress was red, inflamed and hot to the touch - you could clearly see the outline of my bra as all the skin covered by the bra was fine. I had never had that type of reaction to any fabric before. Upon looking at the fabric tag more closely it was difficult to determine the fabric content as all it said was 100% modal or something like that. I called Title 9 and they were more than willing to do anything - let me return it; let me keep it and wash it and wear it again and then return later, etc. I decided I was simply too afraid of having another reaction and just returned it.
Since then I had a similar reaction on my hands. I initially thought it was a new pair of knit gloves I had but later decided it was more likely the lining of the pockets of a new coat I had bought.
Fortunately this seems to be a rare occurrence but it is a bit unnerving to buy clothes and not know whether I will have a reaction or not. Although overall I’m a healthy person I have had more than my fair share of both common (acne, skin tags, cherry hemangiomas) and less common skin conditions (ringworm, folliculitis, some other bizarre infection in my armpits after shaving, etc.). I have somewhat accepted that my skin is my achilles heel if you will . . . my weak link in an otherwise health body.
@MichiganGeorgia: I have a kid with KP, and it is indeed quite different. Nothing for KP has worked for either of them, actually. I’ve been thinking about whether I’ve taken her to a dermatologist and now I’m not even sure. I will have to check the records. Somehow I feel as if I have not, but reading what I wrote above, I can’t see a reason I would not have exhausted that route. Thanks.
Could you PM me if you have gone a route with the KP that seems agreeable and successful?