I've been listening to episodes of The Cluster F Theory that we've recorded to get them ready to release and weirdly three of our guests have mentioned pockets, including Caroline Criado Perez this week.
The best thing I ever did was learn to sew, now I make sure I always make clothes with big enough pockets to not need a handbag. Occasionally I'll wear something pre-made and spend my whole time annoyed at the lack of pockets.
I've made two coats - one is brilliant, but I didn't put in breast pockets, the other one... well... let's just say it was a failed experiment that ended up in the charity shop... Let's just say, I can sew, but I'm not a tailor.
I haven't braved making coats yet, keep putting that project off. I've made one tailored garment (Victorian waistcoat) and it turned out ok but definitely not my best work
I don’t know why we don’t have more pockets options when I think it’s quite well known most women would like them - surely an opportunity for someone to make some money!
My other annoyance is men who like to think they are all streamlined and efficient but actually rely on their female partner carting round everything in their bag for them - painkillers, plaster, sun cream, tissues, phone chargers etc.
hmmm I'm sometimes guilty of relying on my Wife's bag as even though I can find the space for a multitool with screwdriver bits and a corkscrew, card wallet, Ubikey, trolly coin, mic shield for my phone, phone, small meshtastic messaging node and car keys... I don't tend to find space for my water bottle :-/
Weird to read this right now as a moment ago I was hanging up the washing and pondering the fact my daughter had put two pairs of dungarees in the wash. As an artist she loves keeping a notebook and pen in the front. She might even love pockets more than I do, and I have a number of scott-e-vest garments. Even their undies have pockets (one that can hold a passport). Disclaimer - I have a patent for a pocket in a scott-e-vest gilet. It was initially designed so you could use your phone in dangerous places without it getting snatched. As you can imagine, it was so niche it never earned me a penny. It is still found in some jackets though.
I wonder why designers don't think practical pockets can exist in women's clothes. Even though she designed clothes herself and said... "A woman needs pockets. Why do you think we carry a bag?" I'm not sure Diane von Furstenberg designed any clothing that was particularly pocketey.
Great post. Thanks for sharing and I shall await your new GIA line of practical woman's wear aka 'Generous Innovative Apparel'. ;-)
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO PUT ME ONTO SCOTTEVEST!!! I still wear my trench coat, but I’d love a gorgeous, tailored winter coat or a leather biker jacket or a floaty spring jacket with all those pockets…
They are still going. Just had a look and there appear to be more women's options today. The Rhonda Jacket looks pretty swish, as do their cardigans. But yes. Still aimed at travel or the outdoors.
This annoyed me to much that I set up a website to find clothes with pockets, because setting up a clothing range would have needed an eye for fashion and an ability to sew ( neither of which I have). Here it is
But to your point, it's ridiculous that we have to spend so much time troubleshooting just to be able to bring lip gloss and a phone with us on a walk.
For years I used a bum bag (or "fanny pack" as your friends and relations across the pond no doubt insist on calling them :-) ). I first used this for travelling and found it so convenient that I took to wearing it all the time. My daughter told me in no uncertain terms, however, that I was not allowed to wear this to her wedding so I started to look for alternatives. My suit (for the wedding) had lots of pockets but they were all sewn up for some reason.
In these post-cash times, I find I can often manage with one of those slimline wallets that only take a few cards and which you can put in an inside pocket. But then I forget to take it out and have to search though all my jackets to find it.
Mobiles are a big problem - cos they are all so big nowadays. It's fine when I'm out and about because, being a man and not usually attending a wedding , I can wear a jacket with lots of big pockets. Round the house, however, it's a real pain. T-shirts don't usually have pockets and my phone might get crushed if I put it in my trouser pocket. I always tell people to ring our landline, but they never do. So, when at home, I put it down somewhere and then spend much of the day searching for my mobile. I usually have to ring it on my landline to locate it - just about the only thing the landline gets used for these days. The problem is that my phone connects to my hearing aids and rings in my ears over wifi. So I have to take out my hearing aids and put them on charge before ringing my mobile and listening for the tone coming from (often) underneath one of the cats.
All this is a pain so I've invested in a phone holster which I wear on my belt around the house. This probably makes me look like a twat, though less of a twat than my bum bag.
In short, I'm trying to say that I feel your pain - even as a man with lots of pockets.
I only discovered after I’d complained online about a new coat having sewn up pockets that it’s quite common and you’re meant to unstitch them. Maybe that was the same with your suit?
Perhaps! But I only discovered the problem as I was trying to set off to the ceremony. It was a bit late to get my scissors out. And I didn't want to cut through anything that would result in my suit falling apart. So I put everything in my wife's bag - despite the loud protestations.
Really remember reading this piece at the time and thinking I needed that top! Great to read it again. I finally gave in to a handbag at the age of 22 when I got a job in London, but I really resented it - and how women end up carrying the whole family’s crap round with them.
The best thing I ever did was learn to sew, now I make sure I always make clothes with big enough pockets to not need a handbag. Occasionally I'll wear something pre-made and spend my whole time annoyed at the lack of pockets.
I've made two coats - one is brilliant, but I didn't put in breast pockets, the other one... well... let's just say it was a failed experiment that ended up in the charity shop... Let's just say, I can sew, but I'm not a tailor.
I haven't braved making coats yet, keep putting that project off. I've made one tailored garment (Victorian waistcoat) and it turned out ok but definitely not my best work
I don’t know why we don’t have more pockets options when I think it’s quite well known most women would like them - surely an opportunity for someone to make some money!
My other annoyance is men who like to think they are all streamlined and efficient but actually rely on their female partner carting round everything in their bag for them - painkillers, plaster, sun cream, tissues, phone chargers etc.
Oh. Very much this.
hmmm I'm sometimes guilty of relying on my Wife's bag as even though I can find the space for a multitool with screwdriver bits and a corkscrew, card wallet, Ubikey, trolly coin, mic shield for my phone, phone, small meshtastic messaging node and car keys... I don't tend to find space for my water bottle :-/
Weird to read this right now as a moment ago I was hanging up the washing and pondering the fact my daughter had put two pairs of dungarees in the wash. As an artist she loves keeping a notebook and pen in the front. She might even love pockets more than I do, and I have a number of scott-e-vest garments. Even their undies have pockets (one that can hold a passport). Disclaimer - I have a patent for a pocket in a scott-e-vest gilet. It was initially designed so you could use your phone in dangerous places without it getting snatched. As you can imagine, it was so niche it never earned me a penny. It is still found in some jackets though.
I wonder why designers don't think practical pockets can exist in women's clothes. Even though she designed clothes herself and said... "A woman needs pockets. Why do you think we carry a bag?" I'm not sure Diane von Furstenberg designed any clothing that was particularly pocketey.
Great post. Thanks for sharing and I shall await your new GIA line of practical woman's wear aka 'Generous Innovative Apparel'. ;-)
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO PUT ME ONTO SCOTTEVEST!!! I still wear my trench coat, but I’d love a gorgeous, tailored winter coat or a leather biker jacket or a floaty spring jacket with all those pockets…
They are still going. Just had a look and there appear to be more women's options today. The Rhonda Jacket looks pretty swish, as do their cardigans. But yes. Still aimed at travel or the outdoors.
A good swing with my hand bag would see off any problems
It holds memories .
Where else can u put sea glass and special stones .
It carries coin and communication
Plasters and wipes
String
Sprays for heart and lungs
bites and stings .
It’s me
spare knickers just in case
I have never desired to be a neatly ironed ,pen in place male entity .
Woman we made men like that it was a duty to send them on their way looking shipshape .
And Gia why is your Prof not carrying your bag for you .
Thats not cricket is it .
I am enjoying the podcast it’s the first I have ever listened too .
This annoyed me to much that I set up a website to find clothes with pockets, because setting up a clothing range would have needed an eye for fashion and an ability to sew ( neither of which I have). Here it is
https://www.pocketsforwomen.co.uk/
Amazing!! Thank you!
An evergreen topic for me! I've solved the pockets problem a couple different ways:
- With dresses, wearing bike shorts with pockets on my bare legs or over tights
- With anything else, wearing a "waist pouch" like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K84FH6K or a small crossbody like this: https://www.target.com/p/anti-theft-travel-hip-pack-bag-dark-ivy-open-story-8482/-/A-87155193
But to your point, it's ridiculous that we have to spend so much time troubleshooting just to be able to bring lip gloss and a phone with us on a walk.
For years I used a bum bag (or "fanny pack" as your friends and relations across the pond no doubt insist on calling them :-) ). I first used this for travelling and found it so convenient that I took to wearing it all the time. My daughter told me in no uncertain terms, however, that I was not allowed to wear this to her wedding so I started to look for alternatives. My suit (for the wedding) had lots of pockets but they were all sewn up for some reason.
In these post-cash times, I find I can often manage with one of those slimline wallets that only take a few cards and which you can put in an inside pocket. But then I forget to take it out and have to search though all my jackets to find it.
Mobiles are a big problem - cos they are all so big nowadays. It's fine when I'm out and about because, being a man and not usually attending a wedding , I can wear a jacket with lots of big pockets. Round the house, however, it's a real pain. T-shirts don't usually have pockets and my phone might get crushed if I put it in my trouser pocket. I always tell people to ring our landline, but they never do. So, when at home, I put it down somewhere and then spend much of the day searching for my mobile. I usually have to ring it on my landline to locate it - just about the only thing the landline gets used for these days. The problem is that my phone connects to my hearing aids and rings in my ears over wifi. So I have to take out my hearing aids and put them on charge before ringing my mobile and listening for the tone coming from (often) underneath one of the cats.
All this is a pain so I've invested in a phone holster which I wear on my belt around the house. This probably makes me look like a twat, though less of a twat than my bum bag.
In short, I'm trying to say that I feel your pain - even as a man with lots of pockets.
I suppose our grandchildren will all have chips planted in their brains (or something) and won't need to carry anything with them.
I only discovered after I’d complained online about a new coat having sewn up pockets that it’s quite common and you’re meant to unstitch them. Maybe that was the same with your suit?
Perhaps! But I only discovered the problem as I was trying to set off to the ceremony. It was a bit late to get my scissors out. And I didn't want to cut through anything that would result in my suit falling apart. So I put everything in my wife's bag - despite the loud protestations.
Really remember reading this piece at the time and thinking I needed that top! Great to read it again. I finally gave in to a handbag at the age of 22 when I got a job in London, but I really resented it - and how women end up carrying the whole family’s crap round with them.