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.

I actually agree.

DH regularly complains about his clothes not having zip up pockets. He has lost many a bank card thanks to a lack of zips. And he still needs to take his phone out of his jeans pockets to sit down. So I don't necessarily agree that pockets are the answer unless they have zips and you have a phone that bends.

I hate big pockets in jeans. They always end up adding bulk. I just dont understand the pocket rage.
Carrying stuff in pockets just leads to blocked washing machines

It's a great shame that designers can't cater for both 'schools', but I suppose they must assume that all women care about the cut and hang of their clothes, whereas men don't usually care at all. Take it to extremes and you get those weird new leggings that are individually shaped around each separate bum cheek. Most men wouldn't even know what a VPL is, let alone care about it.

I also think there may be something in the theory about clothes designers also often selling (overpriced) handbags as well, so why would they want to kill the golden goose and help you to spend less with them/across the industry by making one 'standard' product obsolete?

I wear 501s almost every day - I work in a setting where they're the perfect work trousers (informal dress code, need to be able to run, lift, kneel / crouch down, sit, stand - and to have both hands free and carry multiple keys and phone, tissues, surgical gloves...)

Nothing ever falls out of my pockets.

Yes, of course full pockets add bluk - when they're empty they don't. If I'm going into town after work I do take a bag (to also transport water bottle, spare jumper or raincoat) and the jeans are a flattering fit on my specific frame (tend to apple if I put weight on) with anything much in the pockets.

Even the teens rarely leave things in their pockets when they put them in the wash any more, through years of reminding as smaller children.

Full pockets add bulk but that's literally the one and only down side of proper pockets, and you don't have to fill them Branleuse - they provide choice.

that should have been "flattering fit on my frame without anything much in the pockets... with the pockets in use they're simply incredibly practical.

I don't forget my phone or keys are in my pocket. The most that has ended up in the washing machine is the odd coin.

I dont have to fill pockets, no, but they almost always affect how jeans fit and look on me. Its not an easy bodyshape to dress. Nor are boobs. Likewise I dont tend to choose chest pockets on tops either.
If you have narrow hips, then jeans designed for men would probably suit as theres such a great selection of styles already, but tbh, most jeans for women are not shaped for wider hips and bums anyway.
You can get bags that are the size of a big pocket and they are so practical if you just want wallet and keys. Added bonus is that you dont have to remember to empty it every time you change trousers. My kids use these if wearing joggers which often just have small pockets too.
Jeans with big pockets already do exist plentifully. If you want massive pockets, have you considered cargo pants. They are so practical if you hate carrying a bag.

Just saying that the desire for massive pockets is nowhere near universal. Its an idea thats getting popular on the internet, yet a huge amount of women would not buy them either because im sure, like fir me, they affect the two basic things i want in jeans - how they fit on me and how comfortable i feel in them.

Jeans with big pockets already do exist plentifully. If you want massive pockets, have you considered cargo pants.
I know you said pants but when I was looking for cargo shorts none would fit a phone.

I am lucky I can wear men's IF I can get a 26. Many women can't, they should be able to have proper pockets too.

Running gear with no pockets or else pockets so small I can’t even fit my house key in! Wtf is that about?

coats without an inside breast pocket to put a train ticket in.

manufacturers must know we want pockets, we’ve been moaning about it long enough.

I also suffer from this rage. I have started sewing inside breast pockets in my jackets (or extending the lining of the existing ones). I've never had to see pockets on DHs jackets!

Am now embarking on (the probably fruitless) search for DD1's move to 6th form next Sept with a "work wear" dress code. So we need to find DD1 a jacket / blazer with a good number of pockets to replace her school blazer which has all her stuff in it. Suggestions for jackets with a minimum of an inner pocket & min of two outer pockets would be great.

I got really annoyed with small pockets when reading the O2 arena's bag policy earlier this week. It asks us to consider whether we really need to bring a bag, giving the impression they think we really ought to be able to manage without one. Well let's see if I do shall we. The ticket for the event is mobile so I'll need to take my phone. I'll also need house keys. I'd very much like to take tissues and hand sanitiser (I'm one of those weirdos who was using it for years before covid). Will those 4 items fit in my clothes pockets? No they won't. Would they fit in a man's pockets? Very probably. So yes O2 arena I'm afraid I will need to bring a bag.

I agree with you OP and would love my jeans to have bigger pockets. But I actually believe this is a case of supply and demand.

As crazy as it sounds, most women don't want large pockets on their jeans. Large pockets add bulk around the hips. If a shop sells women's jeans with large pockets and jeans with small pockets, they will sell more of the ones with small pockets.

It IS a feminist issue (women wanting to show off their hips with tight clothing etc.) but it's driven by women, not by retailers.

@UnconscionableSnacking haha you may be onto something there, I don't use a handbag, I actually have a nice array of handbags from when I was in an office but now I stuff everything into my pockets. I have next jeans and manage to put my phone in one back pocket and car/house keys in the other. I then cover this with my longish jumper. I have a big bulge in backside look but cba to give a monkeys! I don't have enough room in front though. Coat season soon. All items will be duly transferred to coat pockets asap.

@Jibberstanley

Slightly off topic... but where do you get your jeans (pockets aside) they sound exactly what I'm looking for!

"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."

Pocket obsessed here too and I've drummed it into DD's.
I was told by a policeman years ago never to put keys and purse (this changed to phone over time!) in a handbag. Since then I won't buy a coat unless I can put these in pockets. I think it's especially important when travelling and I end up deciding on outfit based on what coat/jacket is best.

Barbour is good for outerwear with pockets - zips or poppers usually on pockets and some have interior pockets or a ?map pocket with zip

I got 2 m and s single breasted coats with interior pockets. Jigsaw coats sometimes have them.

I was looking for a cheap shower proof summer weight jacket with a hood. I went to Primark and none of the womens ones had decent pockets or hoods so bought 2 from mens/boys.

I’m not bothered about pockets except in jackets/coats and prefer a bum bag/cross body bag or whatever is most suitable for the activity. Agree that zip pockets are preferable in some circumstances.

It’s something I can’t get worked up about. I probably find them irritating as often as I find them useful. It depends on the what’s clothes they are in. I just removed the pocket out of a new pair of gym leggings and sewed up the external pockets on a jacket.

There is nothing stopping men from carrying a bag though. They are least have the choice. I prefer to not wear something that makes me an easy target for mugging.

Jenna Fischer talked about this on the 'office ladies' podcast- it was a while ago, maybe season 2. But basically, the theory is it was a way to keep women in line and have men keep the possessions/money. She said it much better but this explains it

medium.com/verve-up/the-bewildering-and-sexist-history-of-womens-pockets-1edf3a98117

So infuriating we are still lumbered with tiny, useless pockets. My 2 year old son has more functional pockets in his clothing than I do.

Evianoff either your DH's jeans are too tight or his phone is too big 😜 I can sit down with my phone in my front pocket comfortably - I'm up and down non stop at work and would lose my phone if I took it out.

No, we end up carrying bags because we have no pockets.

I asked my son recently to carry my phone while we clambered over some rocks and fallen trees and such. My phone actually disappeared into his pocket, you could no longer see my phone at all. You couldn't even see the shape of it through the thicker material. Stick that same phone into my pocket and the top third is visible and the entire shape is there to see. You can see coins if I have any in my back pocket, you could tell the difference between them too because the material is so thin. Its unnecessary.
Carrying a bag while your clambering around over rocks and stuff seems a tad impractical no?

What do we want?
Pockets, now.

This is one of the reasons I started making my own clothes. I add pockets to all my skirts/ dresses/ trousers as I like the option. I like to walk with my hands in my pockets and hate it when I buy jeans that you can't even fit a small tube of lip balm in the pockets never mind a phone or a hand.

A WHOLE BOTTLE OF WINE

Swoons, frantically wonders if sewing could become my next hobby.

I hate pockets. Pockets add bulk, making thighs and hips seem broader. I don't mind carrying a bag over my shoulder.