I love me a good pair of 7/8 leggings with pockets. I don’t always use the pockets, but I take comfort in knowing they’re there in case I need them.
I could blame my pocket dependence on my c-PTSD and my consequential need to always be prepared. Or I could blame it on my grandma, the woman who indirectly taught me pockets are essential for female freedom.
Either way, I, too, require pockets in everything I wear — from loungewear to formalwear.
Ready for a history lesson?
Women’s clothing wasn’t made with pockets until the 20th century! Pockets were deemed unnecessary. Why? Because women were expected to stay at home. They also weren’t allowed to carry important things like money, paperwork, or keys.
Until the 17th century, women had (very inconvenient) tie-on pockets under the poof of their big dresses. These so-called pockets were accessed through a slit in the sides of the dress, and were only large enough to hold things like lipstick or a small fan.
Then, when corsets and bustles came into fashion in the 1800s, tie-on pockets went away. Instead, women carried mini pouches (aka, the first purses).
In the 1900s, when women entered the workforce in droves during WWI and WWII, tailors finally gave women pockets for utilitarian reasons — but they were much smaller than men’s pockets, and far less functional.
In the 1950s, women’s fashion designers favored slimmer silhouettes and more feminine styles. Pockets were deemed ‘too bulky’ and only included for decoration, if at all. (Read: not functional)
Women started wearing pants more often during the feminist movement of the 1960s and ’70s. At that time, having functional pockets became a symbol of freedom and equality.
Today, most women’s pants and shorts have pockets. But according to this random survey I found online, the pockets in women’s jeans are on average 48% shorter and 6.5% narrower than men’s pockets.
This should be shocking, considering one in six people working in the fashion industry identify as women. But since over 85% of the top 50 major fashion brands are run by men (according to a 2018 study), it makes sense … The patriarchy is still in control.
I’m not sure if my grandma was aware of the history, but she was the MacGyver of pockets. Inside, she always had her prayer cards, lipstick, scissors, a pencil, and cash … All the things an independent woman needs.
—LJDT
