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"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

No, Women DON'T Want Pants With Pockets.

9/25/2022

14 Comments

 
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Rocking my favorite white jeans on Chincoteague Island. Image: @TheHappyTalent

I really shouldn't do this, but I'm going to let you in on a super top secret girl secret: 

No, women do NOT want pants with pockets.

It's a popular quip, but unlike most jokes, this one has no basis in reality. 

Do you honestly expect me to believe that there is a huge pile of money, just sitting there, but no one will take it because the patriarchy is so determined to oppress women? 

That there's no a capitalist on this planet who loves money more than he wants to oppress women by means of small pockets? 

Yes, women have small or no pockets in most of our clothes. But the reason is not -- or, at least, not directly -- "the patriarchy."

It's because women want pants with small or no pockets. 

Big pockets means bulky silhouettes. On rare occasions, we wear pants with pockets big enough to put a wallet or cell phone in, and it is so convenient. 

But most of us would rather look good and carry a bag (or fanny pack) than have big, bulky, but convenient pockets.
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Portland skyline, and mountains! Image: The Happy Talent on Facebook

I have one, maybe two, pants with big pockets. The one, I bought specifically for protection from bugs in the jungles of Borneo (see also: ​Leggings are UNDISPUTEDLY the Best Pants — Unless Your Goal is Mosquito Bite Prevention).
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​Image: The Happy Talent

Although they're kind of cute, I really only wear them in the jungle. Or when I'm flying, since they have a hidden passport-sized pocket with a zipper and planes are always WAY too dry and cold.

But typically, if pants with pockets is what I want, I'm almost certainly going to pick men's pants over women's. Even when we do have big pockets, they're always shitty. They're only JUST big enough to squeeze a phone into, and the pants are still designed to be form-fitting enough that it's not actually comfortable to have a phone in your pocket. 

I only wear men's shorts when I bike, because putting a phone in women's shorts makes it uncomfortable to pedal.
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Image: Eva Via Music

In fact. I tried to mic up this professional female rider back in Big Sky, because I wanted to record the sound of a sick drift to include on my new Eva Via single, Three Girls (But Only Two Beers in the Car), which should be dropping any day now. (Be the first to find out by following Eva Via Music on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube -- and don't miss my last single, I Wrote My Number On His Hand.)
​

She was wearing all the coolest women's gear, since she's professional and sponsored and stuff...

But she could BARELY fit my phone in her pocket, and the mic came unplugged almost immediately because the clothing was too restrictive and the phone was moving around too much. 

Guess I'll have to record my own drift. 

But so anyway, the point is, there's not any actual demand for women's clothing with big pockets, except for a few, purpose-specific pieces. But even then, the smooth silhouette is so important to most women that these purpose-specific pieces sacrifice comfort and functionality for comfort. 

The few women who actually want pockets are left to shop on the men's side. 

This isn't the only "conspiracy theory" I've heard when it comes to the patriarchy and women's clothing. Another popular one is about plus-sized fashion.

Again, I'm supposed to believe that there's a huge pile of money, just sitting there, and no one wants to take it because they would rather oppress women. 

As I wrote in ​Dear Tim Gunn: The Designers Are Right. Plus Size Fashion is Difficult, and "No Two 16s Are Alike" and again in One Model Tried On 10 Different Pairs Of Size 16 Jeans. Here's Why They All Fit Differently:

​While there is a lower limit to how small a woman can be... there's really no upper limit. As a result, many retailers make their plus size to accommodate a larger range of bodies per size. In other words, a size 16 is usually more like a size XXL than an actual size 16.

In other words, human height is normally distributed, but human weight is not. There's a super long tail on the right, because while women don't get much smaller than, like, 90 pounds, we can be 200 pounds, 300 pounds, even 700 pounds.
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Looking at this, it should be obvious why saying that the "average" woman is a size sixteen, so that's who we should be designing for... is kind of weird and misleading. If you want to make money in retail, you can't think about the average. You have to thinkabout the mode. 

Look at this graph. What size/weight appears the most often? Answer: women who weigh 120-160 appear -- especially among the younger age groups. That's who's going to be shopping most. That's who you're going to make your money off of.

Because of the very practical matters of floor space (you can only stock so many items) and inventory management, 
designers and retailers who want to make money have to stock the smallest number of sizes that fit the most people.

Lots of people fit into each smaller size. Large people span a huge number of sizes, with fewer fitting into each size. 


But say you're a social justice retailer and you want to stock clothing in every size.

Where are all those sizes going to go???

You've got X square feet. Now, in addition to stocking sizes 0-10, which each fit a large number of women... you also need to find room to sizes 12-30?

This could work at a store like H&M, or maybe an outlet mall, where the shopping experience is less aesthetically pleasing and more "Look how much we crammed onto one rack!"

But for most higher-end retailers, that is not the experience or aesthetic customers want. 

Which isn't to mention that, to make money in retail, you need to have what customers need (a white button-down, for example)... but show them what they want​ (an adorable pair of shorts; a cute dress she might wear to a fancy party someday).
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This skirt was DEFINITELY a want... and I didn't even buy what I needed that day. Never wore it to a party... thank god for Eva Via performances. Image: EvaViaMusic

Obviously, it would be great if plus-sized women had more, better in-store options. But it's a hard problem, and not one I believe is caused by the patriarchy. 

Just like I don't think women's clothing doesn't have pockets because of a patriarchal conspiracy. 

For the most part, I don't give a shit what people think when they look at me. I've very confident in my looks, and I think my beauty is the least interesting thing about me.

But even so.

I'm going to pick the pants with the smoother silhouette almost every time over the pants with pockets. 
14 Comments
Edith
8/26/2023 05:39:11 pm

Yeah actually i do. speak for yourself

Reply
Eva Glasrud link
8/30/2023 08:57:21 am

I'm not speaking for myself. I'm just stating empirical truth.

Reply
Iris
11/12/2023 05:37:34 pm

i like a smooth silhouette too but I also like my phone to not be broken.

Reply
Dr A
1/27/2024 06:05:34 am

I could not disagree with you more. I need to put my phone in my left front pocket and my keys in my right front pocket. If pants don’t have pockets in the front long enough for my phone and my keys I DO NOT buy them. If someone gives me a pair of beautiful pants without long pockets in the front I give them away or throw them out. Pants without pockets are for impractical vain people. Purses are stupid items that are easily stolen and painful to carry around. ALL women’s pants should have strong, sturdy, long, useful pockets.

Reply
Beth
12/24/2024 12:00:44 pm

Amen sister. Not all women don’t want pockets. Many many many of us are very active and cannot carry a purse while we are doing activities where we are out and about and need a place for keys, drivers license, credit card and cell phone. We need to put these things in our pockets like men do. I think designers are really brilliant and if they are good, they ought to be able to figure out a way to have a relatively clean, silhouette while also providing function.

I do not need a clean, sleek, silhouette in my pants while I am out hiking or doing botanical photography or gardening or at the grocery store or doing any other athletic or work related thing.

At the very, very least there should be pants for non-fashion occasions for women. All of my female friends are very active and play hard and or work hard. And those times are not times when we want or need a sleek silhouette. Can’t there be pants for being slake and other pants for being utilitarian? What happened to choice?

And for those who say just wear men’s jeans, obviously they were not paying attention in biology and health class about the differences between female and male bodies. Females are shaped differently and many many many, in fact, most, adult women do not fit into men’s pants.

And those who are talking about fashion will understand that women do not look good in men’s pants.

Just saying.

Reply
Blank Hoodies link
2/15/2024 04:17:25 am

Nice post! Thanks for sharing this post.

Reply
vee
2/28/2024 01:18:25 am

Tiny pockets can get expensive. I've managed to destroy two phones because they fell out of an unnecessarily small pockets (damn you women's fashion!). I need to keep my hands free (I have young children, I need to do shopping, I cycle, I live in an area with functioning public transport which means I have to use a travel card/phone to pay for travel). I want pockets, I need pockets. If some women prioritise their silhouette over functionality then so be it. But I would say most women want functionality.

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Lillllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
5/24/2024 07:45:51 pm

Girl.... HAVE YOU GONE INSANE?! I HAVE TOO MANY PANTS WITH FAKE POCKETS AND I HATE IT

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Nicole
6/6/2024 05:47:08 pm

Yeah..... Nah! I NEED pockets in my pants and leggings. Period! If I'm concerned about having a 'smooth silhouette' I won't use the pockets in my pants, but at least with pockets you have the option to use them or not. Too many instances I've needed to go hands free and there's nothing more frustrating than sliding your hands down your hips to place your phone/credit card into your pockets..... Until you realise that pair of pants doesn't have any! 95% of the time I need functionality and pockets in my pants. I'm always in a rush to get out the door in the morning and I don't want to waste my time or bother with the hassle of grabbing a bag just so I have something to put my phone in. With pockets you can still have a smooth silhouette or use it's functionality. Like, putting pockets in pants is a bare necessity! I won't buy pants without.

Reply
Bobbi
6/27/2024 10:54:57 am

You say this like your opinion is facts.

This is ridiculous. I'm a woman who's constantly struggling to find clothes and I wear the same things over and over sometimes beause when I DO find a pair of nice pants with POCKETS, I cling to it and don't want to wear anything without pockets just for practicality, even if the items without pockets are 'cuter'
This is a HUGE problem, and the silhouette thing is RIDICULOUS and a stupid argument.

What about mens' clothes that are tight fitting/form fitting and still have pockets? It would not ruin the perfect silhouette to put a pocket on the clothes. Women could choose not to put anything in their pockets if they are so insecure that they worry a phone in their pocket is gonna look bulky.
All of the women who don't wanna carry a purse or just need their phone or wallet in their pocket will be jumping for joy.

Don't tell me you can't have a perfect silhouette with an EMPTY pocket. They do that shit on men's clothes plenty.

Reply
Mart
9/11/2024 06:11:44 am

I'm sorry you couldn't be more wrong.
1) Destroying the line of the clothes. Take a look at a men's trousers. Notice how they do NOT have a giant bulge where the pocket is located. This is because there are numerous techniques for seemlessly hiding pockets. Anyone who sews can attest to this. It is only ever an issue on very tight jeans, and tight jeans are falling out of fashion anyway. On skirts and dresses or normal jeans and trousers it's a total non-issue.
2) Women don't want pockets - Based on the simple outcry online, evidently they do. Women know what they want and it's the same as what men want. Practical clothing. There is nothing inheritently unique to women's clothing that makes pockets a bad idea while in mens clothing it's utterly ubiquitous. Otherwise mens clothing would also lack pockets, basic logic.

In addition, purses are the subject of thieves and they are awkward and directly harm the safety of women. This article is foolish.

Reply
sarah
10/2/2024 12:51:42 pm

Just today I butcherd my tiny-arse pockets and sown an extension onto them so I can fit my phone!!! I'm so much happier about the stupid pocket now!

I hate with a passion the thought of carrying a stupid purse. It is not something I care to do when I'm riding my motorcycle. Nor is it something I want to pay to lock away at a themepark so I can ride a Rollercoaster with ease.

Fork purses..and fork tiny useless pockets too!!

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