Why Women's Clothes Don't Have Pockets

In the 17th and 18th centuries, a woman's pocket was a separate pouch on strings. It was tied around the waist under the outer skirt, with a slit in the skirt so you could reach it. It held a lot: keys, money, sewing supplies, food.

By then, men's pockets were sewn directly into their clothes: into coats, waistcoats and trousers. The difference was not about consideration but construction: men's suits were sturdy and structured, while women's clothing was layered, so a hanging pouch fit into it better.

The shift was not just technical. Carrying a handbag changes your posture: one hand stays occupied. A pocket leaves your hands free, and you notice the difference between these two ways of carrying things every day.

A few years ago, journalists measured the front pockets in dozens of pairs of jeans from the same brands. The difference was systematic, not random, and it is explained by the cut: a slim fit leaves no room for a deep pocket.

This leads to a small everyday annoyance that bothers many people: a phone fits entirely into a man's pocket but sticks out of a woman's. Some pockets are also sewn shut or merely outlined with stitching - they are there only to preserve the silhouette.

The reason is not a conspiracy but a series of choices about the cut. A slim fit is valued more than capacity, while capacity requires extra fabric that would ruin the fit. Each time, the designer chooses between the two - and chooses against the pocket.