Jackets For Women Not Having Pen Pockets!

[olden days Jo]

As a female sixth form student i wear suit to school everyday and have just realized that no suits for women seem to have any interior pockets. While i sort of see that most of the jackets are tailored and that a pocket would upset this, but i refuse to believe that not one jacket could facilitate tiny weeny little pocket for me to put a pen. Whilst i obviously have a handbag close to hand where i can store a couple of pens this isn't the point, surely i am not the only person this irritates? Does anyone know exactly why female jackets don't have a pocket, or is it just tradition?

 

If i am the only person, mods, save me

[professionaldilettante]

For guys too... I end up wearing my whitecoat to class for medical school, as I find that scrubs (our uniform) doesn't have any pockets. On my white coat, there are 6 large pockets, good for anything i decide to carry.

[Camander_Bun_Bun]

If I'm not mistaken it's mostly tradition today. Women had no need for such pockets due to the fact that they rarely carried things such as pocket watches, money clips, etc. which is the main reason for the inside pocket. It's also the same reason as to why most suit jackets for women don't have pockets on the outside. Traditional is also seen in which side a women's buttons are on the jacket/shirt/pants which was because they were designed to be easier for a servant to button up while men would button their own shirts.

 

I'm sure if you wanted to a tailor could add an inside one pretty easy.

[Albertine]

There is a really simple, obvious answer to this question: it would make our boobs look funny.

[waterman1924]

There is a really simple, obvious answer to this question: it would make our boobs look funny.

 

:ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd:

[FrankB]

The lack of pockets in female jackets is exactly why some women choose to wear men's jackets. I have known some women who have male jackets tailored for them, and others who just wear the jackets oversized. I will comment that most of the men's jackets I have seen women wear are tweed. Sorry, I cannot tell you exactly why.

 

Remember also that the jackets made for wear with kilts are shortened and pass fairly well as women's wear, with both skirts and pants. Again, I have known women who have tailored Scottish jackets and seem to have been very happy with them - and the pockets.

 

You apparently wear a school uniform, so in that case you would no doubt have to opt for a tailored jacket, which can be on the expensive side.

[bobs51]

Jo...

If the boys at your school (if there are any) wear a similar jacket, but with pockets, you could probably get away with wearing one of those.

 

If the boys jackets are a different color, or if you will have a problem wearing a boys jacket, then it should not be too hard to add a small pen pocket to your jacket, especially if it already has a lining.

 

As for the "boobs" problem, what you want is not a pocket at that level, but a smaller, slim pocket lower down on one or both sides.

 

Good luck... pockets are always a problem for women who don't want to carry things in a pocketbook.

 

Bob

[alvarez57]

For guys too... I end up wearing my whitecoat to class for medical school, as I find that scrubs (our uniform) doesn't have any pockets. On my white coat, there are 6 large pockets, good for anything i decide to carry.

 

????:hmm1:

 

I think that depends on the brand of scrubs, for mine did have a pocket...not deep, but a pocket it was.

[Pepin]

You can sew an elastic band in the interior. I do it for my white coats too. Or you can get a barn or hunting jacket, which always has a load of storage compartments.

Edited April 5, 2011 by Pepin

[Sandy1]

Hello,

 

I had my seamstress add two inside pockets: one for my pen, the other chamois lined for sunglasses.

 

So the pocket/s do not interrupt one's figure or disturb the hang of the garment, the pockets should be more to the side than the front, and lower than gents' inside suit pockets.

 

Also, they may be inset at an angle, ➚, rather than up-down, ↑.

 

Bye,

Sandy1

[BelArgent]

As another poster noted, it's partially tradition that women's jackets didn't have interior pockets. Nowadays, it is mostly due to the razor-thin profit margins in women's ready-to-wear - it just costs too much more than people want to pay. I have seen 1 ready-to-wear maker who put interior pockets in the women's suit jackets (Richard Tyler), but they cost $$$ (they were the most lovely suits I have ever seen though). You could also do the Project Runway thing and learn to sew to do these alterations yourself (or even design and sew them yourself). Lots of information out there on the interwebz, if you are curious about this sort of thing.

[yossiantokolitz]

I am not a woman but I have similar problem as I usually wear pocket less shirts.My solution - took a soft and small glasses pouch ,asked a friend good with the needle to attach a string and wear it around my neck. Holds two pens and works like a charm.

yossi

[ehemem]

For guys too... I end up wearing my whitecoat to class for medical school, as I find that scrubs (our uniform) doesn't have any pockets. On my white coat, there are 6 large pockets, good for anything i decide to carry.

 

????:hmm1:

 

I think that depends on the brand of scrubs, for mine did have a pocket...not deep, but a pocket it was.

Yes, indeed. I'm in scrubs right now and count 6 pockets total: 5 in the pants, and 1 topside, all of them more than deep enough for the TWSBIs I'm toting around with me tonight. And I know that there are brands of reversable scrubs that have tops with pockets inside and outside.

[eric47]

There is a really simple, obvious answer to this question: it would make our boobs look funny.

 

:roflmho:

 

For this pen carrying problem, there's also a ring-top on a chain around one's neck. But I suppose that when worn, it would become an additional eye-magnet.

Edited April 5, 2011 by eric47

[inkyindi]

women's clothing in general seems to be designed with the assumption women always carry purses. So, few/no pockets. A real pain for those of us who don't carry purses. Jo, you're not the only one annoyed by this.

[Aeltar]

I know it sounds like an odd solution, but you may want to get a Prince Charlie jacket for more formal situations - or a similar cut, without so much embellishment, for everyday wear. They're shorter and complement women's clothing much better than the usual suit jacket (IMO) while being useful.

[Cynomys]

There is another possible solution, though it is not an interior pocket. A lot of men's coats have an exterior pocket on the outside of the upper arm (opposite to the handedness of the person, so left arm for righthanders). It is not so common anymore, but you used to see them a lot. The pocket, in this position, was designed for carrying a pack of cigarettes and some matches. It would seem that such a pocket could be added which could easily hold a pen and a small notepad. On a women's coat or jacket, this would not upset the tailoring or form.

[joshk]

I can't imagine having clothes without pockets and having to lug a something the size of a duffle around in lieu.

[PaperDarts]

Hello,

 

I had my seamstress add two inside pockets: one for my pen, the other chamois lined for sunglasses.

 

So the pocket/s do not interrupt one's figure or disturb the hang of the garment, the pockets should be more to the side than the front, and lower than gents' inside suit pockets.

 

Also, they may be inset at an angle, ➚, rather than up-down, ↑.

 

Bye,

Sandy1

 

I had the same difficulty with my school uniform jacket, and then with blazers when I started working (when I dressed up to that extent!). My mom sewed little pockets for me low on the left inside of my school uniform, and later I added them myself. Now I am very devoted to travel vests, which can look very clunky and "off to the Amazon" but I've found a couple of styles that are sleek and unobtrusive, and have all sorts of clever pockets. Google Scotte Vests for a look at one example.

[Ernst Bitterman]

Another solution might be to apply a couple of small pen-pockets to the backside of the lapels, close to the foldover.

 

I've a friend who maintains the lack of pockets in womens (semi-)formal wear is a conspiracy to force women to depend upon men-- because if you've got nowhere to carry your money, you'd better have a chap on hand. It's a little more pursuasive than some of her theories.