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30 Posts That Show How Much Women Want Pockets In Their Clothes
Interview With Expert
Pockets. They hold our stuff so we don’t have to juggle it while walking down the street like professional circus performers.
Pockets are great. They’re perfect for putting your hands into when you don’t know what to do with them in an awkward social situation. Or if it’s cold outside.
Pockets are fantastic. They’re extra-dimensional doorways that transport loose change and candy into our clothes whenever we need them most. Need a quarter for the jukebox? No worries—your pockets have you covered. Feeling peckish? No problem—there’s a piece of candy from when you were a teenager in your jeans.
But not all clothes are sewn equally. Liberty, equality, and justice for all do not apply to all clothing. Especially when you take a look at women’s clothes. Either women’s clothing doesn’t have pockets at all, or their pockets are smaller than men’s, or their pockets are fake. Honestly, fake pockets are a scourge for men and women both and can go jump in a river. I once bought a suit that had fake pockets. I don’t think I’ve ever cursed louder.
There are plenty of women online demanding #PocketEquality, as well as joking about the topic left and right. We at Bored Panda have collected some of the funniest and honest memes about pockets in women’s clothing and we hope you enjoy them. So scroll down, upvote the posts you found amusing, and share this list with your friends whom you know have a pocket-deficiency.
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Bored Panda spoke to Roxanne, an expert in sewing and design, who doesn’t think that the lack of pockets has anything to do with politics or social reasons. Here's what she had to say: "I think women love pockets for the functionality. We don’t always want to carry things in our hands, especially our phones. When I wear a dress with pockets, my hands naturally gravitate toward the pocket. I’m not sure why. It’s just comfortable.”
She continued: “I think a lot of women’s clothing lack pockets for one simple reason: women have curves. When there is an opening at a stress point, such as at the hips, the fabric will naturally flare out. This is particularly evident in form-fitting clothing.”
#4
Helen Haley 6 years ago
Somewhere there is a clay tablet with a drawing on it depicting womens disappointment with lack of proper pockets. There is also a tin press, papyrus, and scrolls. We should make a comprehensive timeline of how long women have wanted proper pockets. Here we already have the example from the 50's.
“There are several ways to solve the problem: redesign the garment with a looser fit, secure the fabric with a zipper or button closure, relocate the pocket, or, here’s the big one… redesign the pocket shape.”
Roxanne explained exactly how the pocket shape can be redesigned. “Shaping the opening into a slant or curve will allow the opening to wrap around the curve without resulting in bulging, excess fabric. This pocket style does change the original look of the garment, so the designer would ultimately decide if it works with their vision. I recently drafted a curved pocket pattern for a form fitting dress, demonstrating that it is possible!”
“I don’t think there is any political or social reason for the shortage of pockets. Most designers are trying to appeal to the desires of their target demographic, in this case, usually a slimming silhouette that doesn’t draw attention to areas many of us want to minimize. A meme is simply an entertaining way to celebrate a feature many of us adore: pockets!”
#7
#9
After analyzing popular blue jeans brands in the United States, researchers found that women’s pockets are, on average, 48 percent shorter and 6.5 percent narrower than men’s. That means that a lot more stuff fits into men’s pockets than into women’s.
Some argue that this is ‘evidence’ of systematic sexism ingrained into our society; others state that men need bigger pockets to balance out not having handbags. While a third group of people thinks that we’re living in truly prosperous times and don’t have any real problems if we’re arguing about pockets.
According to Vox, the topic of pockets is not just about ‘sexism’—it’s about politics as well. Once upon a time, men and women used to carry bags with them.
But around the late 17th century, pockets became part of men’s clothing, while women kept using bags. Vox states that, eventually, a line of reasoning formed that men’s clothing is meant for ‘utility,’ while women’s clothes are meant for ‘beauty.’
What do you think about the lack of decent pockets in women’s clothes, dear Readers? What’s your favorite thing about pockets? Would you like to have a pair of pants made entirely out of pockets? Share your thoughts with everyone in the comments.
#11
Cat on a bike 6 years ago
I hate bags. I'd rather buy mens pants with 5 or more pockets, perhaps even cargo pants, than carry a bag everywhere.
#15
#17
#21
Lauren Misek 6 years ago
More pockets = more weapon storage = fewer creeps. That's a win win win!
#24
Odina Rose 6 years ago
Someday my pocket prince will come... I'll be patient for a little while longer though. Give 'em -2 years or so.
#25
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago
Yes. Now, I ask you, which one keeps the phone from falling out and being damaged, or worse yet being stolen? Yeah, the man’s—-the one making 15%-20% more money, and doesn’t have to also contend with pink tax (Google pink tax, it’s systemic misogyny at its worst), so can more easily afford to repair/replace his phone.
#26
Vaida Kuodytė 6 years ago
The small pocket inside the slightly bigger pocket has a zipper, so it's threatening to scratch my phone (that only fits about halfway) every time. F**k that very much.
#30
Tiny Dynamine 6 years ago
And God made women's pockets out of Adam's spare little toenail clipping. And His work was done.
#42
#43
GenXandEarnedItAll 6 years ago
And, of course, the pocket is useful for carrying around their child. If the male kangas had pockets they would carrying around a second girlfriend!
#51
Random Panda 6 years ago
The most magical moment is when you think a blazer/jacket has fake pockets but it turn out nope, they're just sewn up.
#56
MADELEINE KIMBALL 6 years ago
k unrelated but I love this style of drawing. props to the artist
#57
Ann Abdelzaher 6 years ago
what's worse is you buy pants with pockets... real pockets but they are freakin sewn shut!!!
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What do you think ?
John L 6 years ago
I read an article once called "30 conspiracy theories, I actually believe". They mentioned this one. The reason why designers don't put pockets on women's clothes is so they can make them buy handbags. I don't know, but I can't think of a more plausible theory.
Bob Beltcher 6 years ago
It's 100% true. It started in the 1929s. There was a documentary about it.
Load More Replies...
Ola Polowczyk 6 years ago
Me when shopping: "No no no, I am not paying this amount of money for a basic dress". The dress has pockets. Me: SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!
OhForSmegSake 6 years ago
Yep. I have bought dresses and skirts that I didn't really like because they had pockets. Function over fashion in the end.
Load More Replies...
Nea 6 years ago
My husband is the most annoyed because i never hve pockets to keep keys. He cannot believe lack of useful pockets in womens clothing is a real thing.
Aleksandra 6 years ago
Then show him...? How can he not believe his own wife...
Load More Replies...
FloC 6 years ago
The other day I was looking at a nice coat, reasonnable price when I figured that the pockets were fake... At first, I thought that they were sewn as it is often the case on new clothing, but someone had tried to unsew the pocket on another similar coat (probably to check if the pockets were real) and they were fake !!! on a coat ! seriously. I did not buy it.
Sunzilla 6 years ago
Happened to me too. Nice jacket. Fake pockets. I had to sew that little baby back up...
Load More Replies...
Caroline Driver 6 years ago
Of course, it is often possible to sew new, bigger pocket linings into clothes that already have tiny pockets, or into the seams of dresses and skirts. Just saying. I've done it, though it's fiddly
Daniel Wang 6 years ago
lady with a dirty skirt: omg what a lovely skirt you have! lady with pretty skirt: thx I wish my skirt has pockets! lady with a dirty skirt: I have pockets in my skirt! lady with a pretty skirt: TRADE WITH ME!!!!
Effseven Six 6 years ago
I have a big puffy, not so stylish jacket that I call my "purse jacket". It has 5 awesome pockets. 2 outside, 3 inside. I will own it forever, and wear it in any weather with zero F's given.
Angela Jester 6 years ago
I sew my wardrobe, I always have pockets. Even if it isn't part of the pattern :)
IWishIWasBob 6 years ago
I was at a dance the other day and my cousin had pockets in this huge fufu dress and it was so amazing! Not only was there pockets to start, they were HUGE! All of us stuffed as much as we could it it held 7 phones. Insane. Meanwhile, I put the little bit of extra stuff I had in the normal shorts I had under my dress. Surprise surprise I could only fit a lip gloss container and my keys. Why fashion industry, why???
Lemon Garnished Potato 6 years ago
Today I will make a new pattern, get all my favourite dresses and skirts and guess what I will do! I will add pockets >:D
Marnie 6 years ago
It's actually getting worse. At work, there are access apps one can put on one's phone, but women aren't carrying their purses around with them everywhere at work! Actually, I'd refused to use my phone for work-related activities in any case, but even if I wanted to, women are at a serious disadvantage in this area.
Mieke Sorée 6 years ago
I guess the bigger the pant size, the bigger the pocket are...? Because I never seem to have this problem. Finally my size has a positive haha!
SusanS 6 years ago
The reason women's clothing doesn't have pockets is because today's women's clothing is meant to be SKIN TIGHT - you know to show off assets - and useful pockets wouldn't work. Once women decide they don't want to have a second skin and want pants instead, there will be a change. The women's house dresses, had pockets. My gran kept all kinds of things in there. The 'sexualization' of women's attire is the root problem.
Hyde and Seek 3 years ago (edited)
Me with my scrubs at school:pocketssssss how I missed thee. My best friend:WTF ,why are you so weird
De Burke 3 years ago
My 18mo has trousers with bigger pockets than some of mine. Like, he's not even physically capable of using pockets! I started buying jeans in the men's section, my SiL was like "putting things in pockets ruins the line of your pants". I don't care, I have to bend down to reach the bottom of my pocket now :D
Pacific Pockets 4 years ago
This post shows the tip of the iceberg. Women want pockets, women need pockets, women deserve pockets. Now they can have pockets, anytime and without sewing. Check it out at http://pacificpockets.com #wewantpockets 20201228-N...95-png.jpg 
kersey_goff@yahoo.com 5 years ago
Made myself a promise NEVER buy another pair of jeans,sweats,slacks without POCKETS. And preferably ones I can put something in!!
Mangle the Fox 6 years ago
My 2nd favorite leather jacket has tiny pockets that can legit only fit my iPod Nano.
Maria Rohlen 6 years ago
Why buy jeans without pockets? I grew up with pockets, I want pockets, where should I have all my stuff if I don't have pockets?
Dorothy Parker 6 years ago (edited)
It's because designers want the clothes to hang well on a woman's body and not add bulk. Women supposedly want to look as thin as possible so wouldn't use the pockets. That, of course, is stupid and patronizing. And there's nothing cooler than pockets on a wedding gown.
Amanda Reicha 6 years ago
I found a pair of bed shorts with really nice pockets. It saddens me while they wait in the laundry.
Ross Hamilton 6 years ago
I am a guy, and I too am frustrated by the lack of functional pockets in many clothing items. Like, suit jackets for instance - WHY DID YOU SEW THE POCKETS SHUT!!??
SusanS 6 years ago
The pockets aren't meant to stay sewn shut. The do that so the pocket doesn't bulge out during shipping and handling.
Load More Replies... Tiny Dynamine 6 years ago
On another note, why do men's and women's shirts button up on the opposite sides?
Laetitia Astolfi 6 years ago
That's historical, dating from when buttons were introduced on rich people's clothes. Men were supposed to dress by themselves, so buttons on their clothes were on the side most practical for them. Rich women were dressed by a maid, so buttons on their clothes were on the side most practical for the maid.
Load More Replies...
Pittsburgh rare 6 years ago
Dresses with pockets are pretty and stylish, but I'm not at all for bulges in trousers. I'd rather use a handbag
Hanzo Hattori 6 years ago
you give them pockets now, and they will ask for more, please don't :p
Marnie 6 years ago
@Michal: There has to be enough out there that HAVE pockets that women choose them for it to become a supply/demand thing. The clothes still have to fit, be appropriate to its intended use (e.g. work). It's hard enough to find pants that fit. You go into a store and see oodles of pants in there. For me, there might be 3 out the dozens of pants there that will fit. Of those, probably NONE have adequate pockets, so either I go without pants or buy pants without pockets, so supply/demand for pockets does not come into play.
Load More Replies... Michał Jastrzębski 6 years ago
there's not much demand, because looks > function, very often.
Load More Replies...
Michał Jastrzębski 6 years ago
as a guy: I'll carry what I want, and you can gently f**k off :)
Load More Replies...
John L 6 years ago
I read an article once called "30 conspiracy theories, I actually believe". They mentioned this one. The reason why designers don't put pockets on women's clothes is so they can make them buy handbags. I don't know, but I can't think of a more plausible theory.
Bob Beltcher 6 years ago
It's 100% true. It started in the 1929s. There was a documentary about it.
Load More Replies... Ola Polowczyk 6 years ago
Me when shopping: "No no no, I am not paying this amount of money for a basic dress". The dress has pockets. Me: SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!
OhForSmegSake 6 years ago
Yep. I have bought dresses and skirts that I didn't really like because they had pockets. Function over fashion in the end.
Load More Replies... Nea 6 years ago
My husband is the most annoyed because i never hve pockets to keep keys. He cannot believe lack of useful pockets in womens clothing is a real thing.
Aleksandra 6 years ago
Then show him...? How can he not believe his own wife...
Load More Replies... FloC 6 years ago
The other day I was looking at a nice coat, reasonnable price when I figured that the pockets were fake... At first, I thought that they were sewn as it is often the case on new clothing, but someone had tried to unsew the pocket on another similar coat (probably to check if the pockets were real) and they were fake !!! on a coat ! seriously. I did not buy it.
Sunzilla 6 years ago
Happened to me too. Nice jacket. Fake pockets. I had to sew that little baby back up...
Load More Replies... Caroline Driver 6 years ago
Of course, it is often possible to sew new, bigger pocket linings into clothes that already have tiny pockets, or into the seams of dresses and skirts. Just saying. I've done it, though it's fiddly
Daniel Wang 6 years ago
lady with a dirty skirt: omg what a lovely skirt you have! lady with pretty skirt: thx I wish my skirt has pockets! lady with a dirty skirt: I have pockets in my skirt! lady with a pretty skirt: TRADE WITH ME!!!!
Effseven Six 6 years ago
I have a big puffy, not so stylish jacket that I call my "purse jacket". It has 5 awesome pockets. 2 outside, 3 inside. I will own it forever, and wear it in any weather with zero F's given.
Angela Jester 6 years ago
I sew my wardrobe, I always have pockets. Even if it isn't part of the pattern :)
IWishIWasBob 6 years ago
I was at a dance the other day and my cousin had pockets in this huge fufu dress and it was so amazing! Not only was there pockets to start, they were HUGE! All of us stuffed as much as we could it it held 7 phones. Insane. Meanwhile, I put the little bit of extra stuff I had in the normal shorts I had under my dress. Surprise surprise I could only fit a lip gloss container and my keys. Why fashion industry, why???
Lemon Garnished Potato 6 years ago
Today I will make a new pattern, get all my favourite dresses and skirts and guess what I will do! I will add pockets >:D
Marnie 6 years ago
It's actually getting worse. At work, there are access apps one can put on one's phone, but women aren't carrying their purses around with them everywhere at work! Actually, I'd refused to use my phone for work-related activities in any case, but even if I wanted to, women are at a serious disadvantage in this area.
Mieke Sorée 6 years ago
I guess the bigger the pant size, the bigger the pocket are...? Because I never seem to have this problem. Finally my size has a positive haha!
SusanS 6 years ago
The reason women's clothing doesn't have pockets is because today's women's clothing is meant to be SKIN TIGHT - you know to show off assets - and useful pockets wouldn't work. Once women decide they don't want to have a second skin and want pants instead, there will be a change. The women's house dresses, had pockets. My gran kept all kinds of things in there. The 'sexualization' of women's attire is the root problem.
Hyde and Seek 3 years ago (edited)
Me with my scrubs at school:pocketssssss how I missed thee. My best friend:WTF ,why are you so weird
De Burke 3 years ago
My 18mo has trousers with bigger pockets than some of mine. Like, he's not even physically capable of using pockets! I started buying jeans in the men's section, my SiL was like "putting things in pockets ruins the line of your pants". I don't care, I have to bend down to reach the bottom of my pocket now :D
Pacific Pockets 4 years ago
This post shows the tip of the iceberg. Women want pockets, women need pockets, women deserve pockets. Now they can have pockets, anytime and without sewing. Check it out at http://pacificpockets.com #wewantpockets 20201228-N...95-png.jpg
kersey_goff@yahoo.com 5 years ago
Made myself a promise NEVER buy another pair of jeans,sweats,slacks without POCKETS. And preferably ones I can put something in!!
Mangle the Fox 6 years ago
My 2nd favorite leather jacket has tiny pockets that can legit only fit my iPod Nano.
Maria Rohlen 6 years ago
Why buy jeans without pockets? I grew up with pockets, I want pockets, where should I have all my stuff if I don't have pockets?
Dorothy Parker 6 years ago (edited)
It's because designers want the clothes to hang well on a woman's body and not add bulk. Women supposedly want to look as thin as possible so wouldn't use the pockets. That, of course, is stupid and patronizing. And there's nothing cooler than pockets on a wedding gown.
Amanda Reicha 6 years ago
I found a pair of bed shorts with really nice pockets. It saddens me while they wait in the laundry.
Ross Hamilton 6 years ago
I am a guy, and I too am frustrated by the lack of functional pockets in many clothing items. Like, suit jackets for instance - WHY DID YOU SEW THE POCKETS SHUT!!??
SusanS 6 years ago
The pockets aren't meant to stay sewn shut. The do that so the pocket doesn't bulge out during shipping and handling.
Load More Replies... Tiny Dynamine 6 years ago
On another note, why do men's and women's shirts button up on the opposite sides?
Laetitia Astolfi 6 years ago
That's historical, dating from when buttons were introduced on rich people's clothes. Men were supposed to dress by themselves, so buttons on their clothes were on the side most practical for them. Rich women were dressed by a maid, so buttons on their clothes were on the side most practical for the maid.
Load More Replies... Pittsburgh rare 6 years ago
Dresses with pockets are pretty and stylish, but I'm not at all for bulges in trousers. I'd rather use a handbag
Hanzo Hattori 6 years ago
you give them pockets now, and they will ask for more, please don't :p
Marnie 6 years ago
@Michal: There has to be enough out there that HAVE pockets that women choose them for it to become a supply/demand thing. The clothes still have to fit, be appropriate to its intended use (e.g. work). It's hard enough to find pants that fit. You go into a store and see oodles of pants in there. For me, there might be 3 out the dozens of pants there that will fit. Of those, probably NONE have adequate pockets, so either I go without pants or buy pants without pockets, so supply/demand for pockets does not come into play.
Load More Replies... Michał Jastrzębski 6 years ago
there's not much demand, because looks > function, very often.
Load More Replies... Michał Jastrzębski 6 years ago
as a guy: I'll carry what I want, and you can gently f**k off :)
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