topic Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE? in Fashion

FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Desert Lily — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:34:08 GMT

I'm talking about pockets on women's tops & blouses only.

Shirt pockets came onto the scene on men's shirts in the late 1800's to early 1900's. They were used to carry small items then: pens, glasses, small notebooks, a timepiece, smoking materials, a hankie, etc.

In the mid 1950's, Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire & James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause created the popularity of pockets on men's t-shirts.

In 1910, suffragettes wore skirt suits with pockets in their blazers. During WW2, women wore pockets on their shirts to work in munitions plants & other factories because those pockets were functional.

But after the war in 1947, Christian Dior stated, "Men have pockets to keep things in, women for decoration."

In the early 20th century, troops in war needed multiple pockets on shirts, & that later impacted fashion. (BTW, in 1938, the British Armed Forces invented cargo pockets on pants.)

And now to the present ...

Many women's tops & blouses have pockets on them.

I don't like most of them. I don't put anything in pockets on my tops. And, I don't always like how they can "decorate" my chest. I think pockets on women's tops & blouses can sometimes look quite awkward. I like & use pockets in pants, skirts, jackets, robes, coats, blazers, & cardigans. But, I look & think twice before buying a top or blouse with a chest pocket.

What do you think about pockets on women's tops & blouses?

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

shoesnbags — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:39:24 GMT

Just not something that I think about at all when choosing a top or blouse. I have a small chest, so no concerns about pockets there. But I can see where it might be a problem if you want to minimize your chest. For me, I avoid gathers and drawstrings at the waist because I don't want to emphasize or enlarge my middle.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

songbird — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:42:19 GMT

Depends on your body. Small breasted is fine. Large breast, forget it. Anyway top pockets are awkward to drop things in. Lower pockets are better. And if you feel awkward....hands shoved in pockets look good.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

just bee — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:46:12 GMT

I do not need to draw attention to my bosom.

No on pockets.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Desert Lily — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:12:55 GMT

I'm rather small chested.

The size & placement of the pocket can make or break a top purchase for me.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Sweet Caroline 1 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:53:06 GMT

@Desert Lily, To each his own but, like you, I don't care for chest pockets on my clothing at all. And I'll add one more... I don't buy tops or sweaters with dropped shoulders. They look slouchy and unattractive on me. But to each his own.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

geezerette — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:10:03 GMT

I don't think they're particularly attractive, but I do use pockets on my tops when I have them. But I don't base my buying on whether a top has pockets or not.

Now, pants are a different story. Pockets are a must in those for me.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:12:46 GMT

Unless it totally blends in (ie plaid), chest pockets are a deal breaker for me.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

We rescue cats — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:51:41 GMT

Don't care for pockets on my blouse but pockets at the seams are okay with me. Agree about pants and skirts, in pants it is mandatory and for skirts they are preferred.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Venezia — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:58:06 GMT

I like (actually prefer) pockets on the side seams of a shirt/blouse. Pockets on the front, not so much, unless they add some interesting detail.

Whether I bought or not, would depend on the actual top and how it looked on.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

PhilaLady1 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:21:22 GMT

I am someone who likes clothing that lean to the masculine side. On me, that is, not passing judgements on anyone else's taste. I like crew neck tops and button front collared shirts. Ruffles, lace, puffed shoulders ,etc. are not for me. So...
I do like a chest pocket. Just one, not two. Two chest pockets, to me, show "here they are" hahaha.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Biftu — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:36:08 GMT

Useless.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

haddon9 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:42:37 GMT

Pockets on the sides where my hands are. No to chest pockets! I don't need to draw any extra attention to that area.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Bonkers1 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:10:46 GMT

Hate them reminds of men's tee shirts

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

ROMARY — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:18:27 GMT

Yes, re: pockets.

I'm small-ish chested, so I don't mind pockets or without pockets on shirts/blouses/tops.

One thing that I don't quite like is one small pocket on only one side of a tee.

Otherwise, pockets or no-pockets are fine with me.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

tiny 2 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:27:26 GMT

Useless. I don't like pockets at all on anything except outer wear garments.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

SilleeMee — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:42:03 GMT

I actually use chest pockets sometimes especially when I'm doing yard work. I put my safety glasses in a chest pocket and also put a tissue in there, too. For me chest pockets come in handy at times but usually when I'm doing chores otherwise I prefer pocketless tops.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Bird mama — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:40:31 GMT

Lol @Desert Lily you made me look.... at my current blouse inventory. I have a single chest pocket on a couple of short sleeve and long sleeve blouses. Each of these blouses has some kind of print on them so the pockets blend in. About the only time I think about the pockets at all is when I am ironing the blouse.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

Bird mama — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:42:49 GMT

I would like to add @Desert Lily that I went to Catholic school from kindergarten through the 12th grade. I was in a school uniform from first grade through 12th grade and I think almost every white blouse I wore had a pocket. I think I was conditioned from a young age to accept a pocket on a blouse as normal.

Re: FUNCTIONAL? USELESS? FASHIONABLE? UNATTRACTIVE?

I am still oxox — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 21:01:15 GMT

I like dresses with pockets its a good place to carry a tissue or some change