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POCKETFUL OF FREEDOM:

The Revolutionary Rise Of Dress Pockets

At FatFace, we know that you have dogs to walk, little ones to wrangle and adventures to embark on. That's why our focus is on creating clothes that strike the perfect balance between style and practicality. And a popular category that best showcases this is our dresses with pockets.

Everyone loves a pocket. For keeping hands warm and keys where you need them, dresses with pockets are practically perfect in every way. So, whether you’re partial to a floor sweeping maxi dress or prefer the easy breezy nature of a midi or mini dress, there’s plenty of practical and pretty styles to love. And all of them come with pockets.

With that said, let's look at the history of dresses with pockets and find out how things are changing for the better. And if you relate to the common conundrum of wanting to be handbag free while having your essentials close at hand, make sure to shop our range of dresses with pockets.

PRE-18^TH CENTURY

In the pre-18th century, finding clothes with pockets was like finding a seat on the train at peak hour. Stressful, and very unlikely. However, men and women alike carried around small pouches to hold their belongings and all clothing was made with this in mind. Your average dress featured small slits to make this pouch easily accessible, meaning everyone was able to carry around a few coins and other essentials. Ironically, this pocketless time might be the last time women and men had equal access to pockets.

As the 1600s rolled around, we started seeing advances in fashion. People began to sew their pouches directly into their clothes, rather than donning and removing the same pouch day-to-day. And so, the gift of pockets was bestowed upon the world!

...Except mostly for men, really. While men’s pockets were sewn into the lining of their coats or jackets for easy access, women’s fashion at the time consisted of dresses with lots of layers of petticoats. Their pockets sat under all these layers meaning women basically had to get undressed to retrieve something from their now less-convenient pockets. What a faff it must’ve been.

MAXI DRESS

When it comes to maxi dresses, a little style goes a long way. With a mix of prints, necklines and sleeve lengths, you’ll find a maxi dress with pockets that suits you down to the ground. Offering both form and function, a maxi dress is an elevated outfit choice perfect for all seasons. A longer length means you can feel comfortable all day long, whatever the occasion. Whether you’re after a long-sleeved style, short sleeve or sleeveless freedom, we’ve got you covered.

MIDI DRESS

Take your outfit from day to night with a midi dress with pockets. This mid-calf, over-the-knee cut is super flattering for all shapes and sizes. What’s more, the addition of pockets means there’s no need for carrying everything you need for the day in your hands or multiple bags. Simply head out the door. When it comes to style, our floaty designs are comfortable yet fitting in all the right places. Throw it on with a pair of trainers, sandals or boots to complete the look. Not forgetting, a statement accessory to tie everything together.

TUNIC DRESS

Much like dresses with pockets, tunic dresses have been around for centuries. This traditional piece has now become part of the modern wardrobe. But what’s better than a tunic dress, a tunic dress with pockets! Our range is comfortable, loose-fitting and practical. With pockets, it becomes a dress you can wear for all types of days.

SHIRT DRESS

A shirt dress with pockets combines a smarter edge with ease of wear. It is a timeless style with a collar which takes the classic day dress up a notch. The added element of handy pockets makes it a great dress choice for meetings, parties or events with a smart/casual dress code. We have a large selection of shirt dress options, from patterned to stand-out plain colours.

THE 20^TH CENTURY

The early 20th century saw the rise of the suffrage movement. As women fought for the rights they’d been denied for far too long, one thing became a surprising battleground - you guessed it - pockets.

In 1910 the ‘suffragette suit’ became all the rage; a dress suit with six pockets, it represented how the fight for equality entwined with the need for functional fashion to enable independence. Wartime then pushed women into the workforce in greater numbers than ever before and fashion focused more on practicality by necessity. Women finally had the pockets denied to them since the 17th century. But this was short-lived.

When WWI ended, men came back into the day-to-day workforce in waves and the economy recovered. Women were once again relegated to the home, and more ‘feminine’ clothing came back into style. This, combined with the growth in the handbag industry, meant pockets were once again phased out.

This pattern continued throughout the 1900s. Even as trousers and other traditionally masculine garments became commonly worn by women, the pockets were, annoyingly, shrunk to a much smaller size in feminine styles.

Just like the 18th century, bags were the order of the day for women as their pockets were either non-existent or essentially useless.

Dresses With Pockets Today

The small, unassuming pocket has been a big source of contention throughout history, as it’s inextricably linked to women’s freedom of movement and their feeling of ease in relation to navigating public spaces. Plus, there’s no denying how handy they are.

Bringing together practicality and wearable designs, we're proud to say that 70% of our dresses have pockets and we've got plenty of styles to choose from. Our dresses with pockets suit all occasions, whether it's running errands or a garden party. We have designed our dresses with you and everyday life in mind.

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POCKETFUL OF FREEDOM:

The Revolutionary Rise Of Dress Pockets