mhoye

The design of women's v. men's pockets: https://pudding.cool/2018/08/pockets/

My daughter inherited a pair of my cargo pants a while ago and spent a good hour yelling HOW DO YOU HAVE SO MANY POCKETS, THIS IS AMAZING, THE POCKETS EVEN HAVE POCKETS IN THEM AND MY HANDS FIT ALL THE WAY INTO _THOSE POCKETS_

Women's Pockets are Inferior.

If you wear women's clothes, you already know this. But now we've got the data to show it.

The Pudding
Oct 24, 2023 at 1:17pmWeb
Show threadmhoyeOct 24, 2023
It’s seriously remarkable how even in the “durable utility workwear” space the details of design end up far less than egalitarian. Like, the same line of clothing can be superficially similar between men’s and women’s cuts, but the loop for the claw hammer is loose and easy to use on the men’s pants and cut to sit flush and totally unfit for purpose on the women’s. it’s really pervasive.
Show threadMikaela Caron 🦄Oct 25, 2023
@mhoye I experienced this exact thing when I needed a safety uniform, all the pockets were smaller and harder to carry the exact same gear as men
Show threadGiliellOct 24, 2023
@mhoye My daughter only wears men's cargo pants and she always takes a book with her because being able to take a book with her is the baseline
Show threadCarol LeeOct 24, 2023
@mhoye this holds true for outdoor recreation (eg climbing) pants as well and is so baffling. I have pants that don’t have a single pocket that can fit my phone (all too small) which is SO BAFFLING. It’s like they’re like “well you probably have a man nearby who can hold all your gear/tools/whatever. You just stand here and look nice because god forbid we mess up the lines on your pants.” *insert rage scream*
Show threadmhoyeOct 24, 2023
@CSLee it’s ridiculous. I realized just as you said this that video games abandoned the “encumbrance” mechanic - the idea that you can only carry some realistic amount of whatever - ages ago because micromanaging that shit absolutely sucks all the joy out of something that should be fun, but women’s clothing effectively brings that same joyless cognitive burden onto just walking around living your life in your body every day. Which should also be fun! Honestly, purses are bullshit.
Show threadClive ThompsonOct 25, 2023

@mhoye @CSLee

This is a weirdly good point and comparison!

Show threadJason Petersen (he)Oct 25, 2023

@mhoye @CSLee they didn’t ditch it; BG3 has it and it’s _barely_ tolerable. But Starfield kept it and it is _despised_.

Like the pockets, no one knows why they persist in this

Show threadSarah E BourneOct 24, 2023
@CSLee @mhoye But you have a purse! (I never have a purse.)
Show threadCarol LeeOct 24, 2023
@sbourne @mhoye same. I just never got into the habit of carrying one so I never think to use one/ find them to be really annoying
Show threadChallis2070Oct 24, 2023
@mhoye annnnd this is why I order my dresses from the place that offers pockets as well as cutting them to my (lack of) height.
Show threadSherBearethOct 24, 2023
@mhoye I was JUST talking about the dearth of pockets in lady clothes!! Please add more, we say…
Show threadmchermOct 24, 2023

@mhoye The fact that women's clothing has insufficient pocket space is not a new idea... I've been hearing about it occasionally for decades. There have been a few attempts to capitalize on this by producing a line of clothing for women with generous pocket sizes. So why haven't any of those attempts been huge economic successes?

It's not intended as a skeptical question... I genuinely want to know the answer!

Show threadRamenCatholic 🐢🌈Oct 24, 2023

@mcherm my uneducated guess is "poor marketing" 'cause I've no memory of seeing ads or whatnot for women's clothes with real pockets.

When I win a billion dollars, I want to fund a clothing line for women called "Pockets."

@mhoye

Show threaddeewaniOct 24, 2023
@mhoye Being purse averse I am loving that flowy dresses are coming with hidden pockets these days (for the few times I wear one). Pockets are the best. Nite-Ize slidelock carabiners are my go to for locking keys and wallet to jeans’ belt loops to prevent loss, use a public restroom, need to run in an emergency, etc. Cargo pants are awesome.
Show threadgwsOct 24, 2023
@mhoye That's what they went after Joan of Arc for but the cat's out of the bag now.
Show threadWilhelm PayneOct 24, 2023
@mhoye This is the reason my mother never wore women's wear and generally wore men's clothes. She wanted better pockets, she told me she never understood why women's wear had such small pockets.
Show threadQuezovercoatl quietlyOct 24, 2023
@mhoye This article is so good! Thank you for sharing it. It's one thing to know that pockets in women's clothing are a joke, and quite something else to see the numbers.
Show threadmhoyeOct 24, 2023
@twotone I think the situation is actually more egregious than the article allows for. Women’s pants that are wide pocketed but snug fit still can’t work for items that don’t bend.
Show threadHelen ClaytonOct 24, 2023
@mhoye a great read, thank you. Imagine having pockets large enough for a bottle of gin!
Show threadAnne OminousOct 24, 2023

@mhoye i started making my own clothes around 2010 bc of a lack of women's clothing w pockets, and i dont carry a purse.

now in 2023, i've gotten so good that i recently made a chanel-style jacket and matching skirt. and yes, the skirt has pockets.

it's a great skill to have. i dont shop for clothes, ever! anyone w the means, i highly recommend picking up a sewing machine, some thread & fabric, and a few starter patterns.

Show threadmhoyeOct 24, 2023
@rustoleumlove I've sometimes wonder if I could do the same; that Cricut tool looks pretty compelling as a barrier-to-participation reducer in this area...
Show threadAnne OminousOct 25, 2023

@mhoye i'm not sure what tool you're talking about specifically, but making clothes is not really difficult until you get into highly detailed construction or couture.

i taught myself how to thread and use a serger, for example.

and with the internet, there are so many resources. this is one place to start if you ever want to give it a go

https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/free-beginner-sewing-patterns-to-help-you-learn-to-sew/

Free Beginner Sewing Patterns to Help You Learn to Sew

Hooray!! Welcome to the beginner sewing patterns update! In the original post, I mentioned sewing simple garments with few pieces, easy techniques, and fabric

Mood Sewciety
Show threadKevin Karhan Oct 25, 2023
@mhoye Consider buying #EngelbertStrauss #CargoPants...
Show threadCyclesBecauseSummerIsComing😀Oct 25, 2023
@mhoye the moment any brand of pants will show woman's pants with decent sized pockets, there will be a run on those shops. Price will come into the equation much much later.
Show threadMrs BeanbagOct 25, 2023
@mhoye my current pair of jeans don't even have front pockets! it's just pocket-effect stitching! (except for the top part of the tiny little pocket that's usually inside the right front pocket, i can fit a single coin in there) and no they are not jeggings. they are flares.
Show threaddieterjosefOct 25, 2023
@mhoye My wife bought a pair of trousers recently that have no pockets at all, to her surprise.
Show threadmhoyeOct 25, 2023
@dieterjosef The pants where they put fabric outlines of what should be pockets but have no openings are a source of a very particular flavor or ire, here.
Show threadClive ThompsonOct 25, 2023

@mhoye

fractal pockets!

Show threadMartin Vermeer FCDOct 25, 2023
@mhoye Also, the callback practice of health services in Finland is implicitly misogynistic given this clothes situation. While waiting for a callback (typically 1-2 pending, ave. answer time 2 days), I am all the time carrying my wife's mobile phone on my person/after her for this reason.
Show threadPax Ahimsa GethenOct 25, 2023

@mhoye

Switching from women's to men's pants and gaining useful pockets was possibly the single best part of my gender transition.

(ETA: I'm nonbinary; clothing has no gender as far as I'm concerned.)

Show threadmhoyeOct 25, 2023
@funcrunch I've known a very small number of people who've transitioned to female, and "I am much happier in my life in every respect but one, this pocket situation is some bullshit, wtf" seems to be a universally shared part of the experience.
Show threadHuegel ⓋOct 27, 2023
@mhoye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RG7gGxMrUs
How I think Women's Clothing Sizes Began

YouTube
Show threadPetri SalmelaNov 4, 2023

@mhoye My choice of jeans: Varusteleka's Särmä tactical jeans.

https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/sarma-tactical-jeans/58865

Särmä Tactical Jeans

Stretchy and durable jeans for tactical use. Available in black and blue – one of the best jeans you can own. Fast international delivery!

Varusteleka.com
Show threadPetri SalmelaNov 4, 2023
@mhoye The selection of pockets is awesome.
Show threadmhoyeNov 4, 2023
@pesasa I don’t mean this as disrespect to you personally but I don’t buy anything from people whose marketing material involves a gun.
Show threadPetri SalmelaNov 4, 2023
@mhoye Sure. I understand. That's a shop that sells second hand military stuff and nowadays also clothes of their own design. Lots of good stuff for common camping, but they surely have their "theme". Works here, in Finland, where we have conscription army.