What's the point of dress pockets?

[Draculina]

Basically as the title reads: why do so many people prefer dresses with pockets in them? In my mind, they just make your hips look wider, and if you actually use your pockets to store things in them, you look bumpy and, again, wider than you really are...

Do you prefer dresses with or without pockets, and why?

That's not true. Feminism isn't just about "equality of the sexes" - if that was the case, most non-feminists wouldn't object to feminism. Equality of the sexes may be the main slogan or selling point of feminism, but there are a hell of a lot of ideas, causes and core viewpoint that define what feminism is all about. Most of these ideas, causes and core viewpoints just don't resonate with me AT ALL. In fact, I believe feminism cripples women a lot, and is extremely counter-intuitive to womankind. Therefore, I'm not a feminist.

It's a bit like when a company has catchy slogans and one-liners about how effective or environmentally friendly (or something else that's positive) they are, but their policies and practices are anything but. Feminism is like that. At least in my opinion and experience.

Feminism is just about equality and there are lots of different types of feminists. Tbh shame on anyone who wouldn't support sex equality.

I'm not someone who needs my phone with me all the time, especially when I'm at home. I just leave it somewhere and occassionally check to see if I have received any texts. Phonecalls, I can hear.

When I'm out and about, I keep my phone in my cross-body bag (I don't like carrying bags on my shoulders or in my hands) - or if I'm at work, I keep it on my desk. If I leave my desk, I put the phone back in my bag and I take my bag with me - not for the sake of my phone, but because I have my purse with all of my cards and cash in it, and there have been thefts at work before. Plus, my bag is small and quite light, so it's no problem taking it with me.

I can clip my walkie talkie to my pocket at work. Best thing ever.

It is possible to be FOR equality of sexes, but NOT feminism, you know.

I wasn't addressing you, though, and you can do whatever you want for whatever reason. Someone on the first page mentioned wanting to do as men do, hence wanting pockets and filling them up - my comment was based on that particular poster's comment.

No, not at all. As mentioned, I just didn't think anyone would deliberately want to look wider and more bumpy. So I was confused about why so many people want dress pockets. From reading the responses from this thread, I now understand that there are various reasons for it. Good to know!

I don't think pockets do make you look wider anyway unless you are stuffing them full.

A small bag is indeed a solution to not having pockets in clothes, and of course the original meaning of pocket was a small bag or pouch, later extended to one sewn into clothing.
I mostly use a small shoulder bag for keys, cards and phone when I'm out, but sometimes it's more convenient to have decent pockets. Nightwear for instance, really needs pockets if you want to carry a phone, reading glasses and a tissue around.

It's not about wanting to look like men, or "do as men do", it's about having the same advantages as men.

I do have somewhere to put my stuff. A variety of bags, backpacks etc. Stuffing stuff in your pickets looks untidy and destroys the clothes. And I don't care if pockets are the default for men's clothes. I'm not a man and I have no desire to dress like one. Besides the majority of men and boys in my life have been brought up to not stuff their pockets to the brim. Because it's improper. And looks like shit

But several posters have LITERALLY mentioned what men do as a reason behind their own wants and doings...

This!

I'm a bit shocked and saddened that some women on this thread think feminism means anything other than striving for equality of the sexes.

Pockets are handy imo, but equality is absolutely essential...

It certainly ruins the line of an outfit in fashion terms, but boy are they useful. I usually have a handkerchief and lip balm in mine. Maybe my phone, but I find a lot of dress pockets aren’t robust enough. I don’t put keys in my dress pockets because I find them annoying.

No it isn’t.

Any woman who says she isn’t a feminist is doing her sex a disservice.

Yes I don't care about looking wider or lumpy you see - that's how different people can be

You are not the authority of anybody. It's not up to you to decide on behalf of another person what they can and cannot be for and against.

Who has disputed that people can be different?

As I said, looking wider and bumpier is just not the look people USUALLY go for - so I was curious to know why people would want to look that way. By all means, no one is stopping you from wearing dresses with pockets, and filling them up. I just asked why anyone would, because I didn't understand it. Now I do. Thank you.

Just practical for a tissue or lip balm when I'm around home, not carrying a bag.
Obviously not suitable for every dress, but yes for everyday ones!

As per PP, a pocket was historically a small pouch worn tied around the waist and close the skin and accessed via a small slit in the side of your skirt. With the numerous petticoats and wider hipped look that was fashionable, it didn’t show at all. Does sound practical.

I personally like pockets. Out and about I wouldn’t put much in them apart from a phone perhaps, but I have rejected trousers and PJs in the past that don’t have them. I love to put hands in pockets.

@Draculina As an aside, if you aren’t a feminist OP, i’m curious as to why? Perhaps definitions and views of the word vary?

Love pockets!!!

Im a Supply Teacher, they are great for assuming a hands in pocket nonchalant demeanour when required, great for diffusing a potentially explosive situation.

Also resting my shoulder injury when my arm gets too heavy!

That's quite aside from the assorted selection of toilet passes, pens whiteboard pens, phone....

Being able to walk through bag searches. Zipped pockets in theme parks. So much easier than bags

Big enough pockets don't ruin the outline if the dress or trousers (I don't wear super tight Or skinny trousers). Although personally I don't really care.

I'm slowly retiring non pocketed clothes they are just annoying after you experience the pocket

Thank you for your question. I would be more than happy to explain why I'm not a feminist, but to be honest...from past experience with feminists, I'm a bit worried that my words won't go down well.

Anyway, I now have a better understanding of why people like dresses with pockets. I also learned that there's a feminist aspect to pockets, which I genuinely did not know. Thanks to everyone who's responded.

It's not about wanting to look like men, or "do as men do", it's about having the same advantages as men.

Or just not being disadvantaged by the world being too much designed by and for men. Men generally expect clothes and footwear that don't sacrifice function for fashion. It's perfectly rational for women to want that - not identical clothes but ones which don't sacrifice practicality for the sake of pleasing the male gaze.
For many women, something as simple as having a pocket large and secure enough for keys, phone and a couple of other small items is preferable to a perfectly sleek silhouette.

I only buy clothing with useful pockets, except for evening clothes.
Why would I buy something less useful voluntarily?
I'm a hospital consultant and must have phone on me at all times, faffing around with little handbags is irritating.
Well designed clothes have pockets that hold a phone without making you look wide anyway.