Just lost my wallet the other day cause it fell out of my girl pocket. Those were pants I bought because they had large pockets, but when I tried them on, I didn't realize with the way the pockets...
Just lost my wallet the other day cause it fell out of my girl pocket. Those were pants I bought because they had large pockets, but when I tried them on, I didn't realize with the way the pockets were angled and shaped, everything falls out of them soon as I sit down. So I've just been living like that for months until finally my wallet fell out and I didn't notice, and now it's gone.
I've lost my keys before too, and that's not the first time I've lost a wallet. I'd carry a purse, but last time I tried that, I left it at the first restaurant I ate at. Same with just keeping all my stuff in my hands, I always end up setting it down somewhere and leaving it.
I wear guy pants in the winter, but the fabric they use is way too hot for me in the summer. Haven't been able to find any properly thin guy pants yet.
I have accepted purses as a necessary evil, but I stick to small crossbody bags. Just big enough to hold my phone, wallet, my 3DS and small spare necessities as the need arises. The small size...
I have accepted purses as a necessary evil, but I stick to small crossbody bags. Just big enough to hold my phone, wallet, my 3DS and small spare necessities as the need arises. The small size makes it easier to just keep it on my body while sitting out in public without getting uncomfortable, and the crossbody strap is comfortable and more secure compared to those single-shoulder bags. I also don't need to pull it on my lap to root around for just my phone like the behemoth my mom carries.
Though I will never get the appeal of clutch bags. Purses are a necessary evil at this point, but at least they have straps so you don't have to hold it constantly. Clutches are their even more inconvenient counterpart.
Also: you might want to check at a sports store like REI for hiking shorts and the like in the summer. Ended up going there after borrowing my aunt's shorts from there, purely because they had decent pockets. I think they're a bit on the pricey side, but as someone who loathes jeans, I found it worth it.
To tag onto this for u/snake_case, my wife got a pair of women's hiking pants at REI because she wanted a pair of pants that would be comfortable walking in for a long time on a trip. She put them...
To tag onto this for u/snake_case, my wife got a pair of women's hiking pants at REI because she wanted a pair of pants that would be comfortable walking in for a long time on a trip. She put them on and her first comment was how comfortable they were, and her second comment was about how deep the pockets were. She thinks they're reasonably stylish, but they've become a go to going-out pant of choice because of the comfort and pockets. They seem to be comfortable even in warm weather. Definitely worth checking out IMO.
Sounds like a fanny pack could do the trick! A smaller one could stay clipped on while sitting. I think there're still lots of different styles around after they "came back" in style a while ago,...
Sounds like a fanny pack could do the trick! A smaller one could stay clipped on while sitting. I think there're still lots of different styles around after they "came back" in style a while ago, too.
For me, though, 90% of the time I just bring a backpack - it's pretty comfy, big enough I'm unlikely to forget it, and can hold all my secrets.
This is why I wear men’s pants, and literally no one even realizes it. On a more meta note, I love this website so much. It keeps the spirit of the old internet alive, but works flawlessly on...
This is why I wear men’s pants, and literally no one even realizes it.
On a more meta note, I love this website so much. It keeps the spirit of the old internet alive, but works flawlessly on mobile. More websites should incorporate visuals in their articles.
Yeah, I switched to men's jeans even before I started otherwise transitioning and it was a game-changer. It's a little harder finding a cut that fits (tip -- when men have big butts they call it...
Yeah, I switched to men's jeans even before I started otherwise transitioning and it was a game-changer. It's a little harder finding a cut that fits (tip -- when men have big butts they call it "athletic"), but alongside the almost incomparably better pockets, the quality of the material has almost always been thicker and more durable.
As soon as she retired and no longer needed to dress like a businesswoman, my mom put on overalls and wore them as her primary wardrobe choice for the rest of her life. Bib pockets for small...
As soon as she retired and no longer needed to dress like a businesswoman, my mom put on overalls and wore them as her primary wardrobe choice for the rest of her life. Bib pockets for small things, belly, hip, and back pockets for a variety of larger things. She was a walking pharmacy, first aid kit, toolbox... if she wanted to have it on hand, it lived in her overalls. It made so much sense. I plan on following her example. They're not going to be the stylish choice, but they're a step up even from cargo pants when it comes to practicality.
I sew clothing for fun, and one of the best parts about it as that you can really customize everything. Everything. I can add pockets to anything, in the style and colour I want, and if I find a...
I sew clothing for fun, and one of the best parts about it as that you can really customize everything. Everything. I can add pockets to anything, in the style and colour I want, and if I find a particular pattern I like, I can make like 10 pairs of whatever using a variety of fabrics I like. I am pretty leisurely on finishing projects, but I've realized that it's really, really nice to be able to have agency. I do not have a "conventional" body shape, and so being able to make things that actually fit in the way I like is amazing. And I know exactly how the garment was put together, so if I need to fix seams or adjust anything, I know how to do it and where the problem is.
I haven't made my own "trousers" yet, but I have definitely added pockets to coats, jackets, and dresses (life-changing!). I've also made my own leggings, which costs about 20% of what it takes to buy novelty print ones online, and I can make them extra long so that they cover most of my feet. I highly recommend it!
While it's not my department but the place I work at deals in a lot of womens cloths. I asked the department head and based on her experience, it simply doesn't sell. To be specific, the value of...
While it's not my department but the place I work at deals in a lot of womens cloths. I asked the department head and based on her experience, it simply doesn't sell. To be specific, the value of pockets in women's cloths is not enough to become staple lines in our markets. Bare in mind that this is a Southern African, low-mid budget clothing so socio-chlture issues apply. But there seems to be demand for large women's pockets, we market the unisex pants based on the large pockets in the women's section and they actually sell worse because the few regular customers think that they will have smaller pockets now.
She framed it like this: women who need a large carrying capacity often opt for an oversized hand bag that holds far more than a conventional pocket. People that travel light and only need the utility of pockets have been long served by unisex or altered men's fits. If you start moving towards more formal/smart attire, those are styles that often prioritize form fitting cloths that will be ruined by a bulky phones or keys. They are also carrying several cosmetics in a purse so the pocket is redundant once again.
There is also more subtle cultural factors. Visible items in ones pockets often makes them easy to spot for potential muggers or pickpockets. And we were starting to see phone sized pockets for women's office wear but work-from-home just killed that. And "pocket bloat" has seen an explosion in men's bags so the pockets utility is drifting with the times.
And lastly, there's the industry inertia and that is a chicken and egg problem. Pockets on women's pants seem like an easy thing to fix, but they tend to have poor fits or look a little off or come in a bit more expensive. All these things could be fixed if the design and processes were refined. But because they don't sell well, there's no incentive to make them better.
However, beyond pants there are some areas that we are seeing larger women's pockets. Home-wear is starting to sport large and deep pockets for people to carry their devices and water bottles around the house. And utility clothing like heavy jackets and work pants are being made in better women's fits while sporting large practical pockets.
Fwiw, this problem is exacerbated with the style of small pockets in women's jeans. Bigger pockets make it far less obvious when they contain something. I'm also very curious by your continued...
Visible items in ones pockets often makes them easy to spot for potential muggers or pickpockets.
Fwiw, this problem is exacerbated with the style of small pockets in women's jeans. Bigger pockets make it far less obvious when they contain something.
I'm also very curious by your continued references to unisex jeans. I have absolutely never encountered a cut of jeans that was marketed as unisex, and that's as someone who switched from women's to men's jeans myself and thus would benefit from those unisex cuts. Perhaps their existence is a regional thing or something?
How unisex works with us is that a single style comes in a wide variety of sizes. Regardless of if it's marked for men or women, there'll probably be something in there that fits you. Like this...
How unisex works with us is that a single style comes in a wide variety of sizes. Regardless of if it's marked for men or women, there'll probably be something in there that fits you. Like this morning I was frozen in a warehouse, so I pulled from the junk pile a women's hoody in size 4XL. The same item is marked as men's XL for the same price.
For pants, it's a bit harder and don't think I mentioned jeans specifically. Most of the unisex lines will be your less precise styles. Track pants, cargo pants, baggy jeans and loose fit linens. Many women's cuts of them do not have reasonable pockets. But it's a style that doesn't have much difference between men's and women's cuts. So some women just buy from the men's section, often specifically for the pockets. But for some reason, bringing in the same male cuts in more feminine designs did not take very well.
Jeans and form fits are hard to get in unisex because the width and rise dont translate between men and women. But women can tailor mens jeans to fit. There are some of the regular jeans and uniform pant lines that are more ambiguously shaped. It's sold as men's but also meant for women with broader builds.
I am afab and buy men's jeans, so I do have a half-decent grasp on how to find ones that fit better (Levi's 541s are goat). I completely forgot about sweatpants and other similar items when asking...
I am afab and buy men's jeans, so I do have a half-decent grasp on how to find ones that fit better (Levi's 541s are goat). I completely forgot about sweatpants and other similar items when asking about the unisex question, so that makes a lot more sense to me now.
This was a great site. Really enjoyable. I don't know of anyone who isn't familiar with the indignation of women's pockets. I especially appreciated that 100% of their sample men's pants could fit...
This was a great site. Really enjoyable. I don't know of anyone who isn't familiar with the indignation of women's pockets. I especially appreciated that 100% of their sample men's pants could fit a man's hand. Any number below 100% of women's hands in women's pockets feels like a deal-breaker IMHO. Question is how individuals force this change on the market!
Be interesting to see this updated since it's 7 years old now. My wife simply doesn't buy clothing without pockets now except for the occasional thrifted skirt into which she adds pockets.
Be interesting to see this updated since it's 7 years old now.
My wife simply doesn't buy clothing without pockets now except for the occasional thrifted skirt into which she adds pockets.
I want an update too mainly because I know cell phones are a bit bigger now. I feel like there's a chance that even if women's pocket sizes have grown, they're still inadequate. And also a...
I want an update too mainly because I know cell phones are a bit bigger now. I feel like there's a chance that even if women's pocket sizes have grown, they're still inadequate. And also a possibility that men's pockets have grown to comfortably hold these bigger phones...
This is funny - right now, I'm wearing a pair of women's 30-inch waist pants with real front pockets that can hold my Pixel Pro (6.7" screen), hands, etc. I spotted these Banana Republic...
This is funny - right now, I'm wearing a pair of women's 30-inch waist pants with real front pockets that can hold my Pixel Pro (6.7" screen), hands, etc. I spotted these Banana Republic straight-leg chinos at Costco and immediately bought one of each color solely because of the pocket design. [Not to mention that they were comfortable, inexpensive, well-made, and I needed new work/casual pants thanks to some weight loss... victory all around.] I'm still SOL for anything summer-weight, unfortunately.
I remember when I was dating a girl. If she didn't want to bring a purse -- and there were def times where that made a lot of sense -- I'd have to put her phone, her wallet, her chapstick, her...
I remember when I was dating a girl. If she didn't want to bring a purse -- and there were def times where that made a lot of sense -- I'd have to put her phone, her wallet, her chapstick, her keys, whatever else in my pockets. And I already had my phone and wallet and keys and such in my pockets.
I know women's clothes tend to be less about function and more about form. But guys clothes can be, and often are, both. So I don't get it.
I'm pretty sure even men would be happy if pockets on women's clothing were bigger and deeper. Or existed, period.
My recollection is that in the designer world, the clothing line is a loss leader for the accessories, where the designer handbag market is in the tens of billions. Most runway clothing never goes...
My recollection is that in the designer world, the clothing line is a loss leader for the accessories, where the designer handbag market is in the tens of billions. Most runway clothing never goes to production, but the handbags and shades they model do. So from a luxury designer perspective, you want a functional and aesthetic need for your accessories. Since a lot non-designer brands chase styles set by the luxury brands, it makes sense that the lack of pockets follows suit. Plus the sheer inertia associated with social trends in how women should look creating demand for products that help women conform.
So vote with your wallet. Boycott handbags and buy unisex or men's apparel.
I don't buy this theory because way too many women's pants with bad pockets are made by companies that don't make luxury handbags and sold in stores that don't sell luxury handbags. This would be...
I don't buy this theory because way too many women's pants with bad pockets are made by companies that don't make luxury handbags and sold in stores that don't sell luxury handbags. This would be a market ripe for one manufacturer and one online retailer to disrupt if the problem really was that simple.
Answer In Progress went down this rabbit hole a few months ago and the answers they found paint a more complex yet weirdly unsatisfying picture of why women's pockets still suck.
I mean, I'm sure there are lots of factors for why things are the way they are. But some basic searching shows the factors I mentioned are suspected by some to play a part. As to why no one...
I mean, I'm sure there are lots of factors for why things are the way they are. But some basic searching shows the factors I mentioned are suspected by some to play a part.
As to why no one disruptor comes in, the textiles business is notoriously difficult to break into with tight margins. There are also plenty of customer money chasing designer looks that lack pockets helping perpetuate the status quo. Any real change will like have to follow change in consumer sentiment.
I've tried to do this, but men's pants are a tailoring job if I don't want them to fall down (yep, 10 - 12" difference in waist and hip circumference). Belting them just makes them look lumpy and...
I've tried to do this, but men's pants are a tailoring job if I don't want them to fall down (yep, 10 - 12" difference in waist and hip circumference). Belting them just makes them look lumpy and weird at the waist, though I could aim to make suspenders stylish?
Meanwhile, my manly pants marketed for manly men carry a 24-case of beer in their pockets. Fashion definitely screws over women's clothing in terms of storage capacity.
This is one of the many reasons I learned to sew. Pockets are essential, and I don't like skintight clothing or the current fashion fabrics used to make clothes for women. It's marginally better...
This is one of the many reasons I learned to sew. Pockets are essential, and I don't like skintight clothing or the current fashion fabrics used to make clothes for women. It's marginally better for men, but my body is not made for men's clothes.
Pants are especially hard for me to find, so I've made several pairs for myself with deeeeeep pockets that can even hold a 2L water bottle if necessary.
Bought some new skirts and a dress this week from a Japanese branded every day wear shop. They all have pockets! Ones you can put a whole hand in! I hope it becomes an obsolete question within my...
Bought some new skirts and a dress this week from a Japanese branded every day wear shop. They all have pockets! Ones you can put a whole hand in!
I hope it becomes an obsolete question within my life time, that pocket size/existence isn't gendered based but cut and material based.
Bernadette Banner just released a video about making some skirts and she had a whole section about making Victorian style pockets that had a ribbon attached between them to counterbalance them and...
Bernadette Banner just released a video about making some skirts and she had a whole section about making Victorian style pockets that had a ribbon attached between them to counterbalance them and prevent them from stressing the skirt fabric. It make this very masculine bearded man jealous of her skirt. 😸
Oh I wasn't familiar with the channel but am an instant fan. This was an older video about historic bags , where even a live chicken can fit! https://youtu.be/uaRoWPEUTI4?si=GS_RnvAdchIbm2-4
Oh I wasn't familiar with the channel but am an instant fan. This was an older video about historic bags , where even a live chicken can fit!
I haven’t seen all of her videos but I do subscribe to her on Nebula. I kind of have to be in the right mood to watch her stuff, but once I do it’s very interesting! See also the videos about...
I haven’t seen all of her videos but I do subscribe to her on Nebula. I kind of have to be in the right mood to watch her stuff, but once I do it’s very interesting! See also the videos about spinning thread, midieval bathing habits, and historical embroidery (which might be the most interesting, depending on your tastes).
If you're looking for more skirts with pockets and you're in the US I can recommend Maya Kern or Morning Witch. They have some nice patterns and all the skirts have pockets which can fit in quite...
If you're looking for more skirts with pockets and you're in the US I can recommend Maya Kern or Morning Witch. They have some nice patterns and all the skirts have pockets which can fit in quite a lot. There was even a meme thread on Tumblr about what people could fit in the Maya Kern skirt pockets - someone fit a bunch of rats in one. The skirts have a stretchy elastic band but hold very well even with something moderately heavy in the pockets.
I clicked on a random skirt on Maya Kern, and this was the description: This store is dangerous because it knows exactly what we want. My heart is full of yearning and my wallet full of pain ;_;
Without trying to minimize the very real pocket exclusion issue, I feel like this data would be more compelling if the width and diameter of the pants was included or adjusted for. My wife has an...
Without trying to minimize the very real pocket exclusion issue, I feel like this data would be more compelling if the width and diameter of the pants was included or adjusted for.
My wife has an apron with large pockets she wears around the house because so many of her pants pockets are inadequate.
They tested all pockets on "size 32" pants. Setting aside size variation within a given size between brands and styles, this is on a standardized(ish) sample.
They tested all pockets on "size 32" pants. Setting aside size variation within a given size between brands and styles, this is on a standardized(ish) sample.
Just lost my wallet the other day cause it fell out of my girl pocket. Those were pants I bought because they had large pockets, but when I tried them on, I didn't realize with the way the pockets were angled and shaped, everything falls out of them soon as I sit down. So I've just been living like that for months until finally my wallet fell out and I didn't notice, and now it's gone.
I've lost my keys before too, and that's not the first time I've lost a wallet. I'd carry a purse, but last time I tried that, I left it at the first restaurant I ate at. Same with just keeping all my stuff in my hands, I always end up setting it down somewhere and leaving it.
I wear guy pants in the winter, but the fabric they use is way too hot for me in the summer. Haven't been able to find any properly thin guy pants yet.
I have accepted purses as a necessary evil, but I stick to small crossbody bags. Just big enough to hold my phone, wallet, my 3DS and small spare necessities as the need arises. The small size makes it easier to just keep it on my body while sitting out in public without getting uncomfortable, and the crossbody strap is comfortable and more secure compared to those single-shoulder bags. I also don't need to pull it on my lap to root around for just my phone like the behemoth my mom carries.
Though I will never get the appeal of clutch bags. Purses are a necessary evil at this point, but at least they have straps so you don't have to hold it constantly. Clutches are their even more inconvenient counterpart.
Also: you might want to check at a sports store like REI for hiking shorts and the like in the summer. Ended up going there after borrowing my aunt's shorts from there, purely because they had decent pockets. I think they're a bit on the pricey side, but as someone who loathes jeans, I found it worth it.
To tag onto this for u/snake_case, my wife got a pair of women's hiking pants at REI because she wanted a pair of pants that would be comfortable walking in for a long time on a trip. She put them on and her first comment was how comfortable they were, and her second comment was about how deep the pockets were. She thinks they're reasonably stylish, but they've become a go to going-out pant of choice because of the comfort and pockets. They seem to be comfortable even in warm weather. Definitely worth checking out IMO.
Agreed on clutches - almost literally useless on space and I have to carry it around everywhere. But at least I'll look cute?! TT_TT
Sounds like a fanny pack could do the trick! A smaller one could stay clipped on while sitting. I think there're still lots of different styles around after they "came back" in style a while ago, too.
For me, though, 90% of the time I just bring a backpack - it's pretty comfy, big enough I'm unlikely to forget it, and can hold all my secrets.
This is why I wear men’s pants, and literally no one even realizes it.
On a more meta note, I love this website so much. It keeps the spirit of the old internet alive, but works flawlessly on mobile. More websites should incorporate visuals in their articles.
Yeah, I switched to men's jeans even before I started otherwise transitioning and it was a game-changer. It's a little harder finding a cut that fits (tip -- when men have big butts they call it "athletic"), but alongside the almost incomparably better pockets, the quality of the material has almost always been thicker and more durable.
Not until we bring back the style of cut-off jean shorts with the pocket bottoms hanging below the cut line, anyway.
As soon as she retired and no longer needed to dress like a businesswoman, my mom put on overalls and wore them as her primary wardrobe choice for the rest of her life. Bib pockets for small things, belly, hip, and back pockets for a variety of larger things. She was a walking pharmacy, first aid kit, toolbox... if she wanted to have it on hand, it lived in her overalls. It made so much sense. I plan on following her example. They're not going to be the stylish choice, but they're a step up even from cargo pants when it comes to practicality.
I sew clothing for fun, and one of the best parts about it as that you can really customize everything. Everything. I can add pockets to anything, in the style and colour I want, and if I find a particular pattern I like, I can make like 10 pairs of whatever using a variety of fabrics I like. I am pretty leisurely on finishing projects, but I've realized that it's really, really nice to be able to have agency. I do not have a "conventional" body shape, and so being able to make things that actually fit in the way I like is amazing. And I know exactly how the garment was put together, so if I need to fix seams or adjust anything, I know how to do it and where the problem is.
I haven't made my own "trousers" yet, but I have definitely added pockets to coats, jackets, and dresses (life-changing!). I've also made my own leggings, which costs about 20% of what it takes to buy novelty print ones online, and I can make them extra long so that they cover most of my feet. I highly recommend it!
While it's not my department but the place I work at deals in a lot of womens cloths. I asked the department head and based on her experience, it simply doesn't sell. To be specific, the value of pockets in women's cloths is not enough to become staple lines in our markets. Bare in mind that this is a Southern African, low-mid budget clothing so socio-chlture issues apply. But there seems to be demand for large women's pockets, we market the unisex pants based on the large pockets in the women's section and they actually sell worse because the few regular customers think that they will have smaller pockets now.
She framed it like this: women who need a large carrying capacity often opt for an oversized hand bag that holds far more than a conventional pocket. People that travel light and only need the utility of pockets have been long served by unisex or altered men's fits. If you start moving towards more formal/smart attire, those are styles that often prioritize form fitting cloths that will be ruined by a bulky phones or keys. They are also carrying several cosmetics in a purse so the pocket is redundant once again.
There is also more subtle cultural factors. Visible items in ones pockets often makes them easy to spot for potential muggers or pickpockets. And we were starting to see phone sized pockets for women's office wear but work-from-home just killed that. And "pocket bloat" has seen an explosion in men's bags so the pockets utility is drifting with the times.
And lastly, there's the industry inertia and that is a chicken and egg problem. Pockets on women's pants seem like an easy thing to fix, but they tend to have poor fits or look a little off or come in a bit more expensive. All these things could be fixed if the design and processes were refined. But because they don't sell well, there's no incentive to make them better.
However, beyond pants there are some areas that we are seeing larger women's pockets. Home-wear is starting to sport large and deep pockets for people to carry their devices and water bottles around the house. And utility clothing like heavy jackets and work pants are being made in better women's fits while sporting large practical pockets.
Fwiw, this problem is exacerbated with the style of small pockets in women's jeans. Bigger pockets make it far less obvious when they contain something.
I'm also very curious by your continued references to unisex jeans. I have absolutely never encountered a cut of jeans that was marketed as unisex, and that's as someone who switched from women's to men's jeans myself and thus would benefit from those unisex cuts. Perhaps their existence is a regional thing or something?
How unisex works with us is that a single style comes in a wide variety of sizes. Regardless of if it's marked for men or women, there'll probably be something in there that fits you. Like this morning I was frozen in a warehouse, so I pulled from the junk pile a women's hoody in size 4XL. The same item is marked as men's XL for the same price.
For pants, it's a bit harder and don't think I mentioned jeans specifically. Most of the unisex lines will be your less precise styles. Track pants, cargo pants, baggy jeans and loose fit linens. Many women's cuts of them do not have reasonable pockets. But it's a style that doesn't have much difference between men's and women's cuts. So some women just buy from the men's section, often specifically for the pockets. But for some reason, bringing in the same male cuts in more feminine designs did not take very well.
Jeans and form fits are hard to get in unisex because the width and rise dont translate between men and women. But women can tailor mens jeans to fit. There are some of the regular jeans and uniform pant lines that are more ambiguously shaped. It's sold as men's but also meant for women with broader builds.
I am afab and buy men's jeans, so I do have a half-decent grasp on how to find ones that fit better (Levi's 541s are goat). I completely forgot about sweatpants and other similar items when asking about the unisex question, so that makes a lot more sense to me now.
This was a great site. Really enjoyable. I don't know of anyone who isn't familiar with the indignation of women's pockets. I especially appreciated that 100% of their sample men's pants could fit a man's hand. Any number below 100% of women's hands in women's pockets feels like a deal-breaker IMHO. Question is how individuals force this change on the market!
Be interesting to see this updated since it's 7 years old now.
My wife simply doesn't buy clothing without pockets now except for the occasional thrifted skirt into which she adds pockets.
I want an update too mainly because I know cell phones are a bit bigger now. I feel like there's a chance that even if women's pocket sizes have grown, they're still inadequate. And also a possibility that men's pockets have grown to comfortably hold these bigger phones...
This is funny - right now, I'm wearing a pair of women's 30-inch waist pants with real front pockets that can hold my Pixel Pro (6.7" screen), hands, etc. I spotted these Banana Republic straight-leg chinos at Costco and immediately bought one of each color solely because of the pocket design. [Not to mention that they were comfortable, inexpensive, well-made, and I needed new work/casual pants thanks to some weight loss... victory all around.] I'm still SOL for anything summer-weight, unfortunately.
Let this be a lesson to designers.
I remember when I was dating a girl. If she didn't want to bring a purse -- and there were def times where that made a lot of sense -- I'd have to put her phone, her wallet, her chapstick, her keys, whatever else in my pockets. And I already had my phone and wallet and keys and such in my pockets.
I know women's clothes tend to be less about function and more about form. But guys clothes can be, and often are, both. So I don't get it.
I'm pretty sure even men would be happy if pockets on women's clothing were bigger and deeper. Or existed, period.
My recollection is that in the designer world, the clothing line is a loss leader for the accessories, where the designer handbag market is in the tens of billions. Most runway clothing never goes to production, but the handbags and shades they model do. So from a luxury designer perspective, you want a functional and aesthetic need for your accessories. Since a lot non-designer brands chase styles set by the luxury brands, it makes sense that the lack of pockets follows suit. Plus the sheer inertia associated with social trends in how women should look creating demand for products that help women conform.
So vote with your wallet. Boycott handbags and buy unisex or men's apparel.
I don't buy this theory because way too many women's pants with bad pockets are made by companies that don't make luxury handbags and sold in stores that don't sell luxury handbags. This would be a market ripe for one manufacturer and one online retailer to disrupt if the problem really was that simple.
Answer In Progress went down this rabbit hole a few months ago and the answers they found paint a more complex yet weirdly unsatisfying picture of why women's pockets still suck.
I mean, I'm sure there are lots of factors for why things are the way they are. But some basic searching shows the factors I mentioned are suspected by some to play a part.
As to why no one disruptor comes in, the textiles business is notoriously difficult to break into with tight margins. There are also plenty of customer money chasing designer looks that lack pockets helping perpetuate the status quo. Any real change will like have to follow change in consumer sentiment.
I've tried to do this, but men's pants are a tailoring job if I don't want them to fall down (yep, 10 - 12" difference in waist and hip circumference). Belting them just makes them look lumpy and weird at the waist, though I could aim to make suspenders stylish?
Be the change you want to see and bring suspenders back.
I mean, Rika is subject of much thirst in the Pokémon fandom and she wears suspenders. So, it's definitely possible.
I think I just won the lottery.
Beautiful
Meanwhile, my manly pants marketed for manly men carry a 24-case of beer in their pockets.
Fashion definitely screws over women's clothing in terms of storage capacity.
This is one of the many reasons I learned to sew. Pockets are essential, and I don't like skintight clothing or the current fashion fabrics used to make clothes for women. It's marginally better for men, but my body is not made for men's clothes.
Pants are especially hard for me to find, so I've made several pairs for myself with deeeeeep pockets that can even hold a 2L water bottle if necessary.
Bought some new skirts and a dress this week from a Japanese branded every day wear shop. They all have pockets! Ones you can put a whole hand in!
I hope it becomes an obsolete question within my life time, that pocket size/existence isn't gendered based but cut and material based.
Bernadette Banner just released a video about making some skirts and she had a whole section about making Victorian style pockets that had a ribbon attached between them to counterbalance them and prevent them from stressing the skirt fabric. It make this very masculine bearded man jealous of her skirt. 😸
Oh I wasn't familiar with the channel but am an instant fan. This was an older video about historic bags , where even a live chicken can fit!
https://youtu.be/uaRoWPEUTI4?si=GS_RnvAdchIbm2-4
I haven’t seen all of her videos but I do subscribe to her on Nebula. I kind of have to be in the right mood to watch her stuff, but once I do it’s very interesting! See also the videos about spinning thread, midieval bathing habits, and historical embroidery (which might be the most interesting, depending on your tastes).
If you're looking for more skirts with pockets and you're in the US I can recommend Maya Kern or Morning Witch. They have some nice patterns and all the skirts have pockets which can fit in quite a lot. There was even a meme thread on Tumblr about what people could fit in the Maya Kern skirt pockets - someone fit a bunch of rats in one. The skirts have a stretchy elastic band but hold very well even with something moderately heavy in the pockets.
I clicked on a random skirt on Maya Kern, and this was the description:
This store is dangerous because it knows exactly what we want. My heart is full of yearning and my wallet full of pain ;_;
Condolences for your wallet :(
Oh I want a pocket full of rats too!
What more could a girl want??
Without trying to minimize the very real pocket exclusion issue, I feel like this data would be more compelling if the width and diameter of the pants was included or adjusted for.
My wife has an apron with large pockets she wears around the house because so many of her pants pockets are inadequate.
They tested all pockets on "size 32" pants. Setting aside size variation within a given size between brands and styles, this is on a standardized(ish) sample.
Ope, I missed that. Thanks for the callout.