How are we still stuck with tiny pockets?

[Jibberstanley]

I’ve got pocket rage. Spent two hours at the weekend sewing pocket extensions in for pairs of jeans after weeks of not being able to fit my hand in, let alone keys, or a phone.

FFS. And these were properly pricey well fitting jeans, UK made, built to last and cut nicely. Lovely design, not tight but really well shaped for woman-shape bums and thighs.

There was no reason the pockets couldn’t have been the same size as on the mens.

Raaaaaaaage!

and breathe.

I don’t understand why this is still going on.

In the 80s I was grumbling about having to carry a stupid bag when my brother had pockets, or give him my purse to put in his pocket, and then he spent my money, the git.

But here I am at ridiculous age, having to give DH my car keys on a walk and keep my phone on my wrist loop because the stupid stupid jeans manufacturer can’t see why we want more than half a finger’s depth of pocket.

Do women carry handbags because they don't have adequate pockets?

M&S do jeans with GREAT pockets! I never carry a bag so wallet, keys, phone, lose change all go in pockets... I refuse to buy impractical clothing

I am with you completely with regard to Pocket Rage. Whoever decided that women don't need pockets?

I find M & S jeans are quite good for pockets, though could sometimes make them deeper. I won't buy trousers or shorts of any description if there is no decent pocket.

I a

Sorry, hit send accidentally. Was going to finish by saying that I actually have a couple of strap on bum bags to solve the issue of how to carry my phone, house and car keys and other stuff when I don't want to have to take my handbag out.

All the missing pockets have been transferred onto women’s tops because apparently what we really need is a pocket over one breast on longline t-shirts. Just the one.

I'll join too. I LOVE pockets and now have no bag in winter and just a bum bag in summer but I wish more manufacturers would GIVE ME POCKETS!

If I cannot get a few tomatoes and some peppers into my pockets I don't buy it.

My OH can't get his head around why I wouldn't buy something I liked due to the lack of pockets.

Vote with your pocket (pun intended).
All my trousers have decent pockets, I wouldn't buy any that didn't.

I don’t mind taking a bag when I need to carry extra clobber, but for my phone, I want it handy in a slip-in pocket where I can get at it easily, and loathe having to put it in some stupid swingy thing that gets in a tangle every time we go over a stile.

Women's and men's clothing is designed with the expectation that women will carry a bag to put their stuff in and men will not. It's actually a bit surprising that this assumption doesn't get challenged much from either side.

My OH can't get his head around why I wouldn't buy something I liked due to the lack of pockets.

I bet all his trousers have pockets. I bet he’s never even considered the possibility a pair of trousers might not have pockets.

Oh I tell him each time. They dont understand. Because they don't have to!

Plus the unbelievable annoyance when said ‘necessary’ handbag forever slips off my shoulders because I’m not build like a quarterback.

Or the rage when DH asks to put something in my bag- use your damn pockets! You’re wearing cargo shorts!

Start sewing x

You really need to hear Caroline Criado Perez who has written incisive women who has a podcast and one of the episodes is specifically on the lack of pockets

I just came on here to post that exact poem!

An old one but a good one

You’re getting the wrong coats! I bought a nearly new Helly Hanson beautiful green ski jacket for my winter coat this year and the pockets inside and out are phenomenal.

The short sleeves on jumpers are the bane of my life. It just looks like theyve shrunk in the wash.

And the fleeces and jackets where the pockets don’t have zips. WTAF 😱

I also want more, and better pockets. I know that we are supposed to think that pockets spoil the look of an outfit and maybe that's true for something really close fitting but at my age and size this is not a concern. Plus, I find that a handbag can look worse. I like to have my hands free so the only available handbag options seem to be a shoulder bag that slips off whenever I move or a cross body bag that bunches up whatever top I wear and usually ends up wedged under a boob (really, really not a good look). Plus I have had some of my favourite jumpers ruined by bags rubbing against them and/or buckles/clasps/zips getting caught in them. Surely a well designed, decent sized pocket would look far better.

As an aside, I recently had a go at sewing some trousers for DS (he has an odd shape so this was an attempt to get him trousers that fit). I found an amazing pattern that was simple to sew and had brilliant pockets. There was a women's version of the pattern available so I bought it for myself expecting it to be the same basic design as the mens but to fit a female body. But the women's version had no side pockets just a back pocket that was a) tiny, b) too complicated for me to sew and c) flimsy (the men's version had reinforced pockets). I have managed to adjust the patterns to give me a female shape with decent pockets but why did I have to???

This is why I just buy men's. Women's are usually too wide at the bottom for me anyway so the men's fit better.

This conversation happens waaaaaay to often in my house.

Me "can you put this in your pocket please?"

DH "why don't you put it in your pocket?"

Me "because I don't have any"

DH "why do you keep buying clothes with no pockets?"

AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH

I agree with start sewing, and I love that poem.

I sew all my own clothes. They all have massive pockets, I'm lost on the odd occasions I wear something without pockets.

on one of my favourite skirt patterns I can fit a whole bottle of wine in the pockets.

Simply as a safety issue I prefer to carry £/cards/phone in an inside pocket