Popular Categories


Pocket envy: Men have them, women want them


Doreene Saunders Barrett, sister of columnist Allene Mandry, sewed this 1950s-fashion doll dress that features pockets that were popular during that era.

A recent television commercial touted the amenities found in a particular upscale hotel, one amenity being a luxurious white robe for the hotel guest’s use. The man in the commercial tried on the robe and then exclaimed, “Wow, it even has pockets!”

Men probably don’t dwell on the subject of pockets, but there are times when we women wish we had them. Men rely on pants pockets to hold their wallets, pocket change, and keys. Some carry a handkerchief or money clip. There was a time when every man and boy also carried a pocket knife. Today, schools won’t permit them nor will airlines.

Pocket knives are a necessity in the country. If it weren’t for my husband’s quick action with his trusty pocket knife, my right hand would be maimed, as many years ago, while operating a hay dolly from the back of our pickup, I dropped the rope to the dolly and the back wheel of the truck ran over the rope, tightening it around my hand. I screamed, and my husband was there in an instant to cut the rope loose.

Women from my mother’s and grandmother’s generations, those prior to 1960, generally had pockets in their dresses or they wore an apron which had pockets. My grandmother, who lived in Sabinal, always wore an apron with a handkerchief tucked in one pocket and a small pocket knife, a tin of snuff, and a thimble in the other. My sister Doreene once asked Grandma why she carried a pocket knife, and Grandma replied, “It’s to cut out the tongue of any kid who sasses me!”

For those of us girls who grew up with homemade dresses made from Simplicity, Butterick, or McCall patterns, almost all our dresses had pockets, often trimmed with colorful rick rack. My sister Doreene uses vintage dress patterns to make 1950s style doll clothes. She says, “Even if the pattern doesn’t show pockets, I add pockets to every dress I make. It’s very easy to add pockets to a dress if it has a side seam, or just a patch pocket can be added. When I add pockets, I like them to either be hidden in the seam or attached in an interesting way.” Today’s designers could take some direction from the past.

As children, we didn’t carry purses, so pockets were used for lunch money or milk money, notes from home, perhaps a small comb, and little treasures that we would pick up during the day. Boys had the advantage of having pockets on both pants and shirts.

Pockets could also get us in trouble. My youngest sister Kathy won’t forget the switching she received after her first solo visit to Coulter’s Grocery on Camp Street when she was five years old. She returned from the store with pockets filled with candy and the money my mother had given her.

Even today, those of us who do the washing are careful to check pockets before putting items in the washer. My husband is good about emptying his pockets at the end of the day as he picks up all sorts of things here in the country: rusty nails, spent shells, pieces of glass, or an occasional piece of flint. I’m guilty of the same thing as pockets are a must when you live in the country.

Most casual clothing items have pockets, although the size of pockets seems to have shrunk over the years, and some are more for looks than practicality. It’s not unusual to see someone with a cell phone stuck in a back pocket. But, women, particularly, don’t have a choice unless it’s carried in a purse.

The problem is that today’s clothes designers have forgotten pockets in their designs of women’s clothing. I like pockets, even in nice casual wear or evening wear. Who wants to carry a purse around? We want to be free to talk to people and have a good time without worrying about a purse. Why can’t we have a discreet pocket in our dress or slacks, so we can have our phone, lipstick, or comb handy? Our only alternative is asking our date or spouse to put our things in his pocket.

When I go shopping, I always wear something that has pockets so I can put my car keys in my pocket and not have to dig through my purse to find them when I’m finished. My grocery list is also in my pocket so I can refer to it. If the pocket is big and loose enough, I have my reading glasses handy.

Pockets are useful for carrying all those quarters needed at the car wash; hotel room cards when we’re on vacation; house keys when we’re taking a walk, as well as poop bags for our dogs; coupons at the grocery store; tissues; and our masks, of course.

I have some favorite jeans. They’re made to make one look trim. Yes, there are pockets, but they’re not real pockets; they’re stitched to look like pockets. That’s true of many fashion items today. The designers realize that pockets make an outfit look better, but the bulkiness of real pockets might destroy the lines of the garment.

Have you noticed that little pocket on your jeans? It’s called a watch pocket because Levi Strauss put it there back in 1879, so men could safely store their pocket watches. Even though pocket watches went out of style around WWI, some men still carry them.

However, the watch pocket in most of today’s jeans and casual pants isn’t big enough to hold a pocket watch or much of anything.

Lastly, pockets free up your hands. On cold days, pockets, depending on their size, can keep your hands warm. Being a country girl at heart, I guess I’m all for practicality and not the latest fashion statement! What’s in your pocket?