Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close

Men's clothes have many pockets because of gender politics, security, sexuality, power, and privilege, while women's clothes often have too small pockets to fit phones. Hannah Carlson's book "Pockets" explores the history of pockets and their significance, revealing what they tell us about ourselves.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
Publisher: Workman Publishing

The history of pockets is a fascinating and complex subject that has evolved over centuries. While pockets have been a common feature in women's clothing for many years, men's clothing has traditionally lacked pockets. This has led to a debate about why men's clothes have so many pockets and women's clothes have so few. In her book, "Hannah Carlson: Dress History and the Politics of Gender," Carlson explores the issues of gender politics, security, sexuality, power, and privilege that are intertwined with the history of pockets.

Throughout the medieval era in Europe, the purse was an almost universal dress feature. However, when tailors stitched the first pockets into men's trousers five hundred years ago, it ignited controversy and introduced a range of social issues that we continue to wrestle with today. These issues include concealed pistols, gender inequality, and the perception of laziness, arrogance, confidence, or perversion associated with putting one's hands in one's pockets.

Carlson's book is filled with incredible images that showcase the history of pockets. These images include photographs of Walt Whitman's author photograph, hand in pocket, for "Leaves of Grass," which seemed like an affront to middle-class respectability. They also include portraits of W.E.B. Du Bois, whose pocketed hands signaled defiant coolness.

The history of pockets is not just about the physical presence of pockets but also about what they tell us about ourselves. Putting one's hands in one's pockets can be seen as a sign of laziness, arrogance, confidence, or perversion. For example, Walt Whitman's author photograph, hand in pocket, for "Leaves of Grass" seemed like an affront to middle-class respectability. On the other hand, W.E.B. Du Bois's pocketed hands signaled defiant coolness.

The future of pockets is an intriguing question. As our clothes become more technologically advanced, we may see the emergence of smart textiles that incorporate our IDs and credit cards. This could lead to the disappearance of pockets, as we no longer need them to carry these items. However, Carlson suggests that pockets may still be desirable in the future, as they provide a sense of security and convenience.

In conclusion, the history of pockets is a subject that stirs up plenty of passion. While pockets have been a common feature in women's clothing for many years, men's clothing has traditionally lacked pockets. This has led to a debate about why men's clothes have so many pockets and women's clothes have so few. In her book, "Hannah Carlson: Dress History and the Politics of Gender," Carlson explores the issues of gender politics, security, sexuality, power, and privilege that are intertwined with the history of pockets. The future of pockets is an intriguing question, as our clothes become more technologically advanced, we may see the emergence of smart textiles that incorporate our IDs and credit cards. However, pockets may still be desirable in the future, as they provide a sense of security and convenience.

Weight: 780g
Dimension: 179 x 237 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781643751542