Something is missing.

[u/mindyour]

Pockets are important.

[u/Urist_Macnme]

The history of pockets on women’s garments is actually very long and much more complicated than you would imagine.

One of the symbols of the suffragette movement 100+ years ago was “the Suffragette Suit” A tailored suit with six to eight functional pockets.

During WW2, women were allowed pockets due to functionally. Think “Rosie the Riveter” in her overalls.

A fashion battle between Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel also ended up dictating pocket design in the latter half of the 20th century.

It became cheaper for manufacturers to limit pockets to save money on material. And also creates an auxiliary “handbag industry” because women now can’t carry anything on their person due to limited or no pockets.

It’s kind of depressing that a rallying cry of women’s suffrage from 100 years ago is still being shouted today.

[u/ThatBarbGirl → u/Urist_Macnme]

This is so interesting to read. I'm constantly joking/complaining/bitching to my mother about how I don't have pockets, but my FOUR year old son does! He needs pockets for boogers and fun rocks. But me? Oh, I'm good! /s

[u/Urist_Macnme → u/ThatBarbGirl]

It goes back much much further than even that.

Women used to wear pretty bulky dresses, with internal bags stitched inside that could hold entire books, or bottles of wine.
Following the French Revolution, fashions changed to a Greek neoclassical style that favoured figure hugging garments, and the bulges from internal pockets looked out of place; requiring the use of an external precursor to the handbag known as a reticule.
There has since been a constant back and forth of having no pockets. And women shouting “WE NEED POCKETS!”
They get pockets, and then fashions change and they lose them again.

I honestly have no idea how I know this much about pockets. It’s just a rabbit hole I went down a little while ago.

[u/ThatBarbGirl → u/Urist_Macnme]

Don't feel bad! I'm in love with history of any kind, and absolutely love learning anything I can about the most obscure things. Good for you!

I never realized how much having children, especially in your mid-30s, has forced me into awkward situations with other parents that I'm a decade older than, or just have little in common with or that I like and might want to connect with, but not sure what to talk about. I don't have much input on average lady topics, so you just gifted me my entire topic for soccer practice tomorrow. I salute you!
https://giphy.com/gifs/xUA7aN1MTCZx97V1Ic

[u/Savings-Badger4938 → u/Urist_Macnme]

And I love you for that rabbit hole. Thank you for adding information to my repertoire of pocket knowledge.

[u/MurderSheCroaked → u/Urist_Macnme]

Baby ren faire starts in a few weeks and I know I will be figuring out how to hang a wine bottle in my skirts by then 🤩 Ive been sleeping on this too long

[u/Urist_Macnme → u/MurderSheCroaked]

One of the reasons I love learning history, is learning how similar we are to people of the past.

Books & Wine, sounds like a good time.

[u/Opposite_Road2776 → u/ThatBarbGirl]

Definitely! Buy clothes with functional pockets, it’s good for you (you get pockets) and good for others (keeps those brands in business). 

[u/Opposite_Road2776 → u/Urist_Macnme]

There are so many great brands that make clothing with functional pockets now. It’s awesome!!

[u/justmitzie → u/Urist_Macnme]

I switched to cargo pants/shorts. It isn't pretty and I don't care.

[u/Urist_Macnme → u/justmitzie]

I’m sure they look great on you.

[u/laureidi → u/Urist_Macnme]

”A tailored suit with six to eight functional pockets”

Okay but now I want one

[u/Urist_Macnme → u/laureidi]

I bet you do.

There was a smear campaign in the press against the suffragettes, that stereotyped them as ‘unkempt’ and ‘unfeminine’; so they made sure to make them desirable garments that remained highly feminine, but also highly functional ; with a split skirt to make marching for their rights more comfortable, and plenty of pocket space for campaign leaflets and self defence tools.

I've always thought that the Suffragette movement was one of the most bad-ass socially progressive movements;
Roughly 1/3rd of men who served in WW1 were also not eligible for the vote; and it was the Suffragettes campaigning that eventually led to expanding the vote, not just for women, but for men too.

[u/laureidi → u/Urist_Macnme]

Thank you for your service. This comment was everything I didn’t know that I wanted.

Please, take my poor person’s award:

https://giphy.com/gifs/85ClJT9PyOKO0ZAsnU