The older I get: a love affair with pockets
What do these women have in common? Esme Young; Miriam Margolyes; Ray-Bernice Eames; Marian Keyes; my friends at Trash Chic … there’s a long list – too long for this blog. Answer: they’re all a big fan of pockets. And these days, so am I.
Back when I could run for hours without stopping and had an endless fascination with worms, I thought pockets were for half-sucked sweets and a catapult. Oh, wait, I’m getting confused with Just William! As the decades pass, though, I’ve grown to love them not for what I can fill them with, but for the inexplicable comfort they bring and the casual stance I can adopt with my hands stuffed in them, without fear of a senior human yelling at me to remove them instantly.
I remember watching a documentary about Ray Eames (responsible, along with her husband, for a range of furniture classics), which included several minutes on her love affair with pockets. Indeed, I believe she insisted on them for every item of clothing she wore, and the older she got the bigger the pockets grew.
In terms of shape, I prefer a side pocket that’s invisible to the naked eye and positioned just right for my arm length. But, in the interest of balance, other types are available. And fear not if the frock, smock or skirt of your choice doesn’t have any, for they are remarkably simple to add yourself (even by hand if you don’t have a machine). Check this link for example: (my personal add-your-own-pocket go-to). In fact, advice on how to insert pockets into your clothing is abundant, which would definitely suggest that many of us favour these glorious hidden compartments.
If the idea of adding a pocket to a frock appeals to you, then I would suggest starting with a low-risk item you already own. If you like the effect and found the process straightforward (it is; trust me!), your next step might be to seek out a pocketless preloved item that you would otherwise pass by. (Trash Chic is a good starting place. Plus, there’s tremendous satisfaction in using up scraps of fabric that scream out: ‘Please repurpose me’!)
Are you being persuaded yet to join us on the pocket side? If so, you’ll be in the company of generations of women from all over the world. Remember, we haven’t always had handbags/rucksacks/bumbags or your current carrier of choice. Oh, and The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women's Lives, 1660–1900 (by Barbara Burman and Ariane Fennetaux) delves deep into every corner and curve, culturally and historically. A fascinating insight. Hopefully, and like me, you will grow to love the fact that pockets are both deliciously secret and very practical – with or without half-eaten boiled sweets and catapults.
Sandra Stafford is a writer, editor and long-time Trash Chic customer.
To view just some of TC’s range of preloved clothing, return to the Shop or visit the Spring Pop Up at Grantchester Village Hall (near Cambridge), CB3 9NG on Saturday 25 March and say hello to the TC team.
For more on the book The Pocket, check out a brief but truly fascinating talk by Ariane Fennetaux.
