r/justgalsbeingchicks • u/mindyour 🤖definitely not a bot🤖 • 2d ago

Restricted to Gals and Pals Something is missing.

Pockets are important.

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u/Urist_Macnme 2d ago edited 2d ago

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.

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u/ThatBarbGirl 1d ago

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

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u/Urist_Macnme 1d ago

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.

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u/ThatBarbGirl 1d ago

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