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.

Oh god not broad hips!

I always wonder about dresses with pockets as I've bought them in the past and they really are not designed to actually put anything other than your hands in! Maybe one single key (not a bunch) and a tissue or a single credit card, but unlike jeans they aren't designed to weight bare are they?

I don't mind the bilk of things in jeans pockets but when I tried putting phone and wallet in a dress pocket it was pulled ridiculously out of shape.

This puts me off dresses except for lounging around the garden on a hot day tbh.

I think it's the entire construction of a dress that makes the pockets unusable for load bearing 🤣 not the pockets in isolation.

What's the secret jellybe?

weight bear not bare 😱😳

Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn discussed pockets for women the other day. It was very entertaining:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001d51w

I don't get how a couple of layers of thin fabric add any noticeable bulk to anything other than a catsuit or similar! Even if they did, it is easier to shorten a pocket than lengthen it.

So true - very easy and quick to shorten or remove the innards of a pocket you’d prefer to be smaller or not functional.

But a total pita to extend them, or add them where there wasn’t one at all.

@MinervaTerrathorn yes, obviously, but isn’t the idea of wanting big pockets based on the fact you want to put stuff in them?

keys, wallets, packet of tissues etc

it’s these things that would make it look bulky

not the pockets, but how they are used 😁

Or do people want big pockets but then also not use them? Maybe I just don’t get it 🤣

@SimonaRazowska No, I mean they hardly add any bulk for those who don't want pockets. So better to have decent pockets for those who want them.

the theory is it was a way to keep women in line and have men keep the possessions/money

That makes no sense since women carry handbags (and apparently their husbands give them possessions to put in those handbags).

Well it does. I also think sticking everything in pockets is far less secure and more of a faff than carrying a cross body pocket bag. I grimace seeing phones stuck in the back pockets of jeans- looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Most of my skirts and dresses have pockets but I only use them for a tissue or my reading specs. So far as outer wear no way would I ruin the line of my coats by stuffing keys etc into the pockets.

My husband now has to carry medication with him and is very much enjoying how handy a "man bag" is.

That's just ridiculous.

Well it does. I also think sticking everything in pockets is far less secure and more of a faff than carrying a cross body pocket bag. I grimace seeing phones stuck in the back pockets of jeans- looks like an accident waiting to happen.
I don't like the look of a cross body bag on myself, and have never liked handbags so it's backpack or pockets for me. I usually have my phone in my back pocket as my front pockets are useless. Nothing bad happens. It doesn't fall out if I sit down. I would only take it out if I was climbing or something. I would like deeper front pockets for my keys and cash so they are more secure!

Pockets are often too small on boys' clothes too. Full size pockets are really needed on all clothes from age 10 as you still need room for a phone and house key!

I also think sticking everything in pockets is far less secure and more of a faff than carrying a cross body pocket bag. I grimace seeing phones stuck in the back pockets of jeans- looks like an accident waiting to happen

I think if I split up my belongings over 4 pockets, that's better than having everything in a bag that can very easily be pickpocketed or plain old stolen.
I also know that my keys will always be in my front right pocket, my phone rear left, so I'm not scrabbling around in a bag to find these things (inevitably my bags slowly fill with receipts and scrunchies and an open tube of something and pebbles)
And if we had bigger, better pockets our phones stuck in the back pocket wouldnt look like an accident waiting to happen. That's the whole point of this thread.

Also I am no kind of designer, but those that are should maybe think outside the box, give us pockets in some way, it doesn't have to be the original way that apparently make my hips look big(ger)

The corollary to not being able to find things is watching people rifling through pockets trying to find things.

My pocket bags are small enough that there's no difficulty finding anything. Re security , sorry but I think a small, zipped pocket bag is far securer than pockets. That type of bag can be worn under a jacket or coat if you're really worried

For bigger bags like Longchamp Pliages I use separate zipped small bags (mostly the free make up bags from Clinique and the like) to keep keys, cards, phone separate and easily found.

My husband was never keen on using pockets of suits or formal coats to keep things in. He thought it spoilt the line, made things sag and the pocket lining always tore but he put up with it because "men don't carry bags"

His "man bag" which he needs to carry medication is a revelation.

Women's jeans pockets are ridiculous! It's one of the reasons I rarely wear them. I have several pairs of fantastic dungarees with amazing pockets. I can fit everything i need to carry in them. Only thing better are the Zimbabalooba trousers I love for the comfort and absolutely amazing pockets - they are huge! We can them my festival trousers absolutely can carry even a bottle of cola and ball of yarn and crochet hook in there!

My DD had full sized pockets on her teeny jeans when she was a baby, which was baffling to me, sitting there in my pocketless jeggings. Now she’s 2.5, none of the “girl’s” jeans I’ve found have functional pockets, or for that matter, appropriate fitting/material/comfort for an active toddler. We always get her jeans in the “boy’s” section.

I get sad about tiny or fake pockets. Big pockets on dresses and trousers are a must! I think pyjamas with pockets are also ace

I likey, sadly my workplace would have a fit. I can wear Jeans and shorts but plain blue or black only. I ended up with mens shorts (cos hot and who cares what I look like) and the pockets were a revelation, so many, so big, so deep, flap covers and velcro closings, the works man.
So til my workplace initiate jazzy trousers as standard, I'm stuck with mens shorts and womens Jeans with fuck all pocketage.

I have pockets in my pyjamas.... just saying... 😌😬

I will join the march. Off to make my placard...

I usually find Next jeans pockets are fine.

Regatta coats too. I have a lovely one with plenty big poppered pockets :)

I am slightly in love with my Joe Browns tunics
with pockets , though yes the pockets could be bigger!

I'm just curious - if you can wear men's shorts why can't you wear men's black jeans?

I can, they look ridiculous on me just as the shorts do. However in the summer like we just had I didnt give a hoot what I looked like plus the pockets held all my stuff. The mens jeans that are provided at my workplace are I think reinforced. The material is horrible and they are heavy. Oh and the knees are weird, like hard plastic that bangs around just below my actual knees, leaving bruises. Soo if I'm buying my own I'm going to buy a decent fit/cut that I can also wear outside of work.
I have bought mens previously, and may do again some times. But in general it's a price and wear comparison. And the womens jeans win mostly.

@pastabest if it is commercial skirt pattern, would you be able to share the name please?

I added specific phone and pen pockets to my work shorts, so I can crouch down without the pen stabbing me in the leg, the phone falling out or its volume button getting pressed, and it makes things so much easier.

As a next project I plan to make pockets attached to a belt, to wear with those dresses where it's not so comfortable to carry much in the sewn-in pockets. (Yes, basically a bumbag!)

I like quite like the sound of a pocket belt - like a chatelaine

Out tonight in a dress with plenty of skirt, and huge pockets. Bliss.