WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL WITH POCKETS?
Every market it happens so many times — someone stops to look at the Pretty Pretty Bibs and I say, “It has pockets!” And then we have an exchange of knowing — we have a moment where we connect on a level deeper than the pockets we’re allowed when/if we get them. I laugh when the guys around me get to the end f the night and yell out with me, “They have pockets!” And now the women who have already bought one, if they are standing near by, make sure to tell them to. But why is this such a big deal? And why won’t I make anything without pockets?
That’s easy. It’s another p word — patriarchy.
The reality is, one of the ways that men have tried to control women through the ages is, as silly as it may seem, is through denying us pockets. Moves to more independence come with the increase of size and number of pockets. Moves to control us more come with a slimmer silhouette and the absence of pockets.
Let’s take a brisk walk through some history highlights —
In 2021 I bought a book called “The Pocket” - it set out to tell the history of women using items that were found in pockets of women. It’s an intriguing premise and I really enjoy the detail — both of the pockets and the contents.
Of course the first archaeological evidence of a pouch/pocket is from around 3,300 BCE and was a pouch attached to a man’s belt.
Fast forward to the medieval ages and pockets seem to have found some equal footing - everyone could carry a pouch and they were tied inside the clothing and accessed through a small slit in the outer garment so the wearer could reach inside and retrieve items.
Then in the 17th Century we see an early modern pocket but only for men. Not for women, Men’s pockets became part of the structure and function of the garment. Women wore layers of undergarments and petticoats and were expected to use the age-old slit in the outer garment to reach in and find the pouch somewhere amongst the layers. This left women unable to easily access their items while out and about. Another risk of the stilled tied in pocket was that, hidden as they were amongst the folds and layers of fabric, if the ties broke and the pocket feel off, it might not be noticed until much later.
As we move through the historical timeline we can track events to fashion styles and times of exerting greater control over women — the more control, the slimmer the silhouette, and the less room for pockets. For example, during the French Revolution pockets became illegal for women - it was replaced with a purse but an external purse that can be seen by all removes all of the privacy that would come with the pouch inside your clothing. Exposed. Vulnerable. Public. But don’t worry — the purses were merely adornment. They were too tiny to hold anything of substance. This worked perfectly for the goal of not allowing women to carry or distribute information about Revolution.
Women were convinced to embrace these tiny reticules through marketing that encouraged women to be dainty, docile, leisurely … women didn’t need a pocket. Let the men have them and all of the responsibility that comes with the things they need to carry in them. Shhh - don’t talk about the freedom that comes with them as well.
Since this is just an introduction to the importance of pockets, I’m going to give you some links in case you want to read more. But let me give you a few more historical highlights:
Suffragette’s fought for equality through demanding the right to vote AND demanding pockets through The Rational Dress Society. In fact, in 1910 we see The Suffragette Suit for women — up to eight pockets built right into the garment. Some were visible - so scandalous!
When we see war take most of the men away, and women have to step in and run things, women get pockets. Then the men come home and want their jobs again, women’s clothing gets less practical, slimmed down, and, wouldn’t you know it, the pockets are gone! It's not a coincidence. It's very intentional.
Coco Chanel used pockets in bold ways. They were placed in the garments to create a silhouette called the slouch. Until then slouching with hands in pockets was reserved for men and illustrated the confidence, privilege, and importance of what it meant to have pockets. Needless to say, men were not okay with seeing women slouching in a way they believed was reserved for them.
As men returned and wanted back those seats of privilege, Christian Dior was there to change the woman’s silhouette again. Of course there were no pockets. As his tagline went, “Men have pockets to put things in, women as decoration.” There is so much that is revealed in this statement.
Here we are in 2024 and so many pieces of clothing made for women still have no pocket — or pockets that are decorative, at best. I admit, through frustration, that so many really cute items in my closet — especially dresses — don’t have pockets. This is why I make my own pouches. But when I’m making the item of clothing, especially the Pretty Pretty Bib that can be worn with anything (yes - even out and about as an adorable addition to an outfit), they’ve got to have pockets. And I’m so grateful to say that I’m not alone!
Pockets represent freedom, the ability to go about where you need to, and to know you will have what you need when you get there …We don’t need to be jealous of the pockets of men. We just need to choose pockets for ourselves!
Since I don't have a degree in pockets, I got some great information from these sites - so some more reading:
The Pocket: A Woman’s History 1660-1900 (affiliate’s link )
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