Busting Pocket Myths- A Short History of the Women's Pocket

This video was inspired by all of the pocket myths circulating online in pop-history articles. More research is needed to fully understand this complicated history, but hopefully, you will learn some interesting tidbits from this video.
Pop-History Pocket Articles-
Vox- www.vox.com/20...
Medium (Verve)- / the-bewildering-and-se...
Mic- www.mic.com/ar...
Outsideonline- www.outsideonl...
(so many more...)
Pocket Histories to Check out:
V&A Article- www.vam.ac.uk/c...
Abby Cox Video- • 5 Authentic Victorian ...
CBS Video- • The 500-year history o...
Burman and Fennetaux, The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women's Lives- www.amazon.com...
(Not Amazon)- www.barnesandn....
Extant Pattern Books Used for 19th Century Research-
Arnold, Janet. Patterns of Fashion 2: Englishwomen's Dresses and their Construction c. 1860-1940. McMillan. 1972
Bradfield, Nancy. Costume in Detail 1730-1930. Costume and Fashion Press, 1997.
Bernard, Thomas John and Marcy Linton. Historical Pattern Archive: Women's Clothing 1837-1969. Routledge. 2020.
Costume and Conservation Videos Mentioned:
Bargello Pocket- • Making an 18th Century...
Pocket Hoops- • 18th Century Underwear...
Socials:
Instagram- @costumeandconservation
TikTok- @costumeandconservation
Inquires- [e-mail]

[@emilypirkl7212]

I feel like pockets (or lack thereof) are going to be the corsets of period pieces depicting the 2000s/2010s. Like Keira Knightley fainting from her corset in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, except it'll be an early 2010s business lady lamenting over the fact that her suit pockets are fake.

[@HelloVintage]

First thought: POCKETS!!! Second thought: Wow this video is amazing and so well-researched. Thank you for making it! I learned so much :)

[@wherefancytakesme]

Even one of my favorite myth-busting shows, Adam Ruins Everything, fell for the fabled sexism and classism of no-pocket clothing. (Using the exact articles you're talking about, which I would have believed too considering some are reputable enough.) I'm so glad the fashion history world has gotten me to question said myth and dig deeper, with historians' own experiences and linked sources. P.S. I tweeted Adam Conover about it because he always openly admits to the mistakes on his show and comes off as the type eager to learn about all misconceptions. Here's hoping he notices!

[@weresehlat]

Love this overview and the correlation between handbags and pockets that doesn't allege a grand conspiracy across time lol. It's so fascinating how, even in working clothes, the means for women to casually grab stuff and go have slowly disappeared from popular fashion. Particularly with the examples you gave of 18th century means of carrying things in women's fashion, like aprons and kerchiefs, let alone tie-on pockets, it was astonishing to me to realize that working women's clothes nowadays are so restrictive in so many ways. This is mostly due to the adoption of men's fashion styles into women's dress as you outline (since the example I'm personally thinking of is in agrarian and manual labor, and cargo pants replete in pockets reign supreme there), there *volume* of what a woman can carry casually has faded. A massive apron full of food, wool, flowers, etc is VERY different in terms of amount and ease of carrying than stuffing them in cargo pants or trying to haul them in your arms. There's probably a bunch of very tenuous connections I could draw between those changes and industrialization, shifting views of poverty, private property, and views on women performing manual labor, but mostly it just cemented a desire to invest in some proper linen kerchiefs and aprons to wear lol. Thank you so much for the thoughtful video!

[@costumeandconservation]

Thank you. There is so much more to be said on this topic! This video was three weeks of research and I still feel like I am just scraping the surface.

[@user-bo7ob1ek2x]

Bernadette Banner actually made a video about that topic. It's very interesting and I believe she did also talk about pockets in the 19th century. It's very informative and she even listed all her sources! The video is called "Women's Pockets Weren't Always a Complete Disgrace | A Brief History: England, 15th c - 21st c".

[@costumeandconservation]

I have seen that video! This one came out before that one but I thought she did a really great job.

[@susanmazzanti5643]

Men will not wear garments without pockets and women have been. I have refused to wear uncomfortable cloths that do not function well during my long life. A garment without pockets does not function well and makes me uncomfortable. My mother wanted my pockets empty but I used them. I check my pockets first when I want my keys. I can sew therefore I don't have to buy whatever is the current fad unless it fits my needs. I do answer sewing question to give others the freedom I have.

[@starsun6363]

Thank you for this video! I loved watching it, it felt really well researched and amazingly detailed and supprtive. Personally, I love the idea of a tie on pocket, I'm hoping to incorporate some into my wardrobe someday. (Also, I had a mini squee when I saw that you and I share a historical costuming book.)

[@peeperjo]

Loved this video! I learned a lot!! I'm working on a tie-on pocket now and it was nice to see how long-lived an accessory it was

[@costumeandconservation]

Have fun with you tie-on pocket project!

[@jeannegreeneyes1319]

Great video - thank you for covering this topic! Do you remember the Fanny Pack craze? I'm sorry they fell out of favour, because they were great "unisex" tie-on pockets 😁 I still use the heck out of one I've hung on to.

[@costumeandconservation]

They totally are!

[@JeannetteSeward]

In some circles fanny packs have come back. I just find them awkward and a touch uncomfortable. I think I'll wear cargo pants till the day I die. Utilikilts may be a nice alternative. I must get on with learning to sew.

[@skyspring7704]

Do you like belt bags? Smoother than fanny packs and they can be refashioned out of handbags and clutches.

[@jeannegreeneyes1319]

@@skyspring7704 Oh, yeah, I use all kinds of creative add-ons for making pocketsees.

[@svenjaj.3520]

It's also what we consider normal. We just accept that jeans don't have pockets, but when my husband accidentally bought a jeans with fake back pockets, he brought it back to the shop. They tried the whole "but it's more esthetical" 😂 didn't go over well

[@carriescostumescrochet]

Just found your channel. Very fun. I often say in my videos, where I'm making clothes, that everything should have pockets. Even one of my crocheted skirts has pockets. This was a fun vid. I subscribed.

[@bcase5328]

Might the 1860-1870 tiny purse in the photos be a calling card case?

[@costumeandconservation]

Possible? They are just so funny.

[@Becky_Theroux_Gockel]

Oh my goodness, you sure did a lot of research for this!!! I have seen the designs on the garment for the parasol pocket not knowing what it was for. When I go through Godey's Ladie's Magazines I will know what it is for. Very interesting!!!

[@rockcat5000]

I inherited a reticle (beaded, silk lined) from my grandmother. Yes, you could put a smart phone in it.

[@wesleybarrett9502]

As a man whom has some interest and knowledge in history and historical fashion of men's and women's fashion I will say that mens pockets have gotten slightly smaller as the rise of low rise skinny or slim fit pants in men. Though except on skinny fit, men's lines in pants do allow a minimalist wallet and a slim phone. So not to the same extreme men have seen issues with pockets too. But maybe that is also in line with the rise of men's shoulder bags and backpacks in EDCs

[@davidmoore2308]

Can you tell the ad on google that keeps telling us this same old propaganda still in 2022

[@jayneterry8701]

Nurses wore a watch upside down pinned to their clothing. Could this be the start of the chatelaine?

[@starsun6363]

Wait. Nurses from what era? Offhand I'd say no.Chatelaines have been around for a bit. (Like, 18th century.) There's a video by NotyourMama'shistory about them. She said they started by the rich ladies of the house, who would carry keys and such things around on them. Eventually they got cheap enough everyone started wearing them. Until they didn't for some... stange reason.

[@wandatorres3048]

You Tuber Obsolete Oddity made a video for Patreon about a historical gang of female robbers that operated in London for close to a century. He cover the fact that they had specialized pockets in their dresses that allowed them to carry lots of stolen merchandise I would love to know more about how pockets helped robbers.

[@costumeandconservation]

Pockets were actually a source of a lot of thefts! This is why most women carried theirs very close to their person. There are a lot of trials recorded in the old Bailey that describe thefts like these, which is often referenced in the Burman & Fennetaux book. As for specialized pockets to help with the robbing, I do not know much about that subject, a research rabbit hole for another day perhaps.

[@theguest3389]

Morgan Donner did a video with a foldable stool under her skirt!!! She found a "thing" i think a patent diagram to make it. You would probably like it. 😷😎😷

[@costumeandconservation]

I have seen that video! Such a fun and interesting project!

[@xirochamber5863]

Never understood why women couldn’t just cut the fabric on their pants and sow on a bigger pocket or buy brands that have bigger pockets that weren’t designer clothes. Never understood why they couldn’t start their own business and sell clothes with bigger pockets. Honestly makes me feel like women don’t really care about it. Usually when women want change they get change but with this issue they mildly complain and do nothing about it.

[@JeannetteSeward]

Everyone has their own solution. Sewing is not so easy or cheap for many. I for one have no trouble fitting in men's clothing. There are many small businesses selling more functional clothing to women but they can not afford to make them as cheaply. The clothing industry is huge, wasteful, and disrespectful of it's employees. Things just need to look good on a hanger to sell to busy people.

[@JeannetteSeward]

Also, women all over the world are getting killed for insisting on our rights.

[@xirochamber5863]

@@JeannetteSeward that’s probably the biggest reason. People are too busy to care what they buy

[@skyspring7704]

Not everyone has a sewing machine, and sewing pockets into already-made clothes is advanced sewing. I myself have sewn pockets into clothes. However, it's annoying to have to do part of the garment production myself after paying for the clothes.

[@xirochamber5863]

@@skyspring7704 and yet men can build cars from nothing. Isn’t it funny?