What do you think about these fashion oddities?
Have you ever thought about how different women’s clothes and men’s clothes are? Maybe at first glance they seem to be exactly the same, but if you look closer, you will notice that there are some distinct differences that disadvantage one of the genders.
Men’s clothes are more practical, and they have something that makes them better. We are talking about pockets. Now, besides dresses, women’s clothes also have pockets, but most of the time they are tiny and don’t serve a purpose at all.
Denim pockets, on average, are 6.5% smaller and 48% shorter on women compared to men. Even if many long-standing companies still haven’t caught up, many newer ones are trying to rectify this omission.
But there are many more fashion oddities out there, and we are here with an answer for all of them. So let’s start this and see why women’s clothes don’t have large pockets, and also discover the rest of the fashion secrets that will blow your mind.
Why don’t women’s clothes have pockets?
This is one of the fashion oddities that made many of us scratch our heads. Why is this happening? Don’t women also need some practical clothes that will help them carry more essential things with them without the need to have a purse?
Let’s start with the beginning. In the 1600s, women had zero pockets in their clothes, but they had belts with attached pockets. Most of the time these belts were worn under the clothes, and they were able to easly acces them through slits. So, the belts were practically invisible, and they served their purpose. Awesome!
But as dresses became smaller and smaller, purses began to become popular and also more practical. The ladies had to carry their stuff around, and this was the answer. Women’s clothes began to have pockets stitched into them in the latter part of the 18th century; at one point, these pockets were often larger than men’s.
But then most women’s clothes became smaller and more fitting. These were the trends, but the biggest problem was that there was no more room left for the pockets. And this brings us to the main issue: gender inequality.
For a long time, women have pleaded with the fashion industry to make function as important as form. Despite the 1891 founding of the Rationalist Dress Society, which advocated for looser clothing in place of restrictive corsets, the broad acceptance of such garments did not occur until the onset of World War II, and even then, it was mainly due to the increased number of women taking on traditionally male-dominated occupations.
Why is this one of the fashion oddities? Because not so many people know the reasons behind the small pockets, and also because even if things changed after the war, the size of the pockets remained the same.
The tiny pocket you have in your jeans
If you own a pair of jeans, which you probably do, then you know the small pocket we are talking about. It is that tiny extra pocket tucked inside the right front pocket of your jeans. Isn’t this one of the biggest fashion oddities? What’s the role of this tiny pocket?
It is too small for a phone, and it can barely hold a key. It looks like a totally useless addition to your jeans. But the story of this tiny fella dates all the way back to 1879, when Levi Strauss & Co. was producing what were then called “waist overalls.”
Back then, pocket watches were the main gadgets to measure time, and as a result, they needed a designated place. Miners, cowboys, and laborers were the biggest fans of the pocket watches, and considering their activity, they needed a snug place to stash their watches. This is how the tiny pocket was born.
Nowadays, people are confused by this one of the fashion oddities, and they call it a coin pocket, ticket pocket, or any other name. Considering that no one uses pocket watches anymore, this little pocket is totally useless.
What is that loop on the back of your button-down?
Have you ever noticed that small loop of fabric on the upper back of your button-down shirt? It is right below your collar and is one of the most discussed fashion oddities. What we want you to know is that this is not a random design choice.
This tiny detail that intrigued everybody is called a “locker loop,” and it has a surprisingly rich history linked to naval uniforms and Ivy League fashion. It all goes back to the mid-20th century and the way East Coast sailors dressed.
One of the biggest problems when you are on a ship that nobody talks about is the fact that you don’t have a proper place to store your clothes. Unlike closets, ship lockers offered little room for hanging clothes, so uniforms were designed with loops to make hanging shirts easier and more efficient.
So, this is not really one of the fashion oddities, and it was more of an incredible feature that helped prevent wrinkling and saved space in tight quarters.
Then, in the 1960s, Gant Shirtmakers, the brand that was manufacturing the uniforms for the Ivy League students, started to add the mysterious loop to their clothes. At schools like Yale, these loops became part of the preppy look, mixing functionality with fashion.
The Vs on sweatshirts
Maybe as you get dressed, you look at your favorite crewneck sweatshirt, and you don’t understand what that little V-shaped stitching under the collar is. Well, if this is happening to you, you’re not alone. This is again one of the fashion oddities that made the whole world wonder.
This subtle delta that you can find on most sweatshirts actually has a cool backstory that is not just about the looks. Originally, the V-stitch served two important purposes. First of all, this stitch was all about durability. The area around the collar is pretty vulnerable because you are pulling the sweatshirt on and off, and this creates stress. The V-insert was made of ribbed elastic material, which allowed for a bit of stretch while reinforcing the fabric to keep the collar from going all floppy over time.
Second, and this is probably the most surprising part, is that this V-insert is helping you a lot if you sweat. Yep, it is like a tiny sweat catcher at the base of your neck. So, this means no marks on your sweatshirt.
Today, most V-stitches are purely decorative, but they are a nice way to remember the history of this piece of clothing.
So, what do you think about these fashion oddities? Were you aware of their origins? If not, do you feel like you’ve learned something new today? Fashion is an interesting field, and there are more secrets that are waiting to be discovered.
If you want to learn more about fashion, this book is an amazing start: History of Fashion Step by Step: Fashion Through the Ages: Trends, Icons & Movements (Step By Step Subject Guides)
You should also read more about: 8 Things Your Friend Doesn’t Like About You
