I wonder if any of you ladies might have tips for me.
I think we can all agree that the lack of pockets in women’s clothing is frustrating.
I’m looking for a piece I can wear over a variety of outfits, that will give me pockets without ruining my silhouette.
My preference would be something like a vest/waistcoat with some structure so putting, say, my phone in a pocket, doesn’t cause a saggy pouch to form.
Ideally it would also be adjustable at the waist, so I can wear it over a tee or a sweater, or adjust to fit snugly whether I’m a little bloated or my regular everyday size.
And I think a basic v-neck with no collar would be best, so it doesn’t interfere or clash with other necklines or collars.
It seems like it should be such a basic, common garment, but I’ve spent hours looking and can’t find what I’m looking for.
Fishing vests: awesome, but too pouchy.
Hunting vests and equestrian vests seem to come the closest, but all I’ve found are either too bulky or have too-high necklines.
Catering or suit-vests look close, but all I’ve found have no or tiny, impractical pockets.
Is there a search term I’m missing?
Do I need to learn to sew?
Help!
PS, I wouldn’t mind a longish, flowy version for some outfits, but I’d really like a baseline basic version, not too flashy, either, so it can be worn over a variety of outfits.
Maybe Eskakti has something? Here are their cardigans?
Maybe this?
Or… a bit more country?
So I have thoughts on this. I found it hard to find something that had the structure that you need for a non saggy pocket, closed the top of the pocket to reduce loss, or had sufficient internal pockets.
There will always be some bulk, but angled pockets and things like that can kind of be just right.
The fabric needs to have stretch and structure, and a lot of outdoor stuff sacrifices stretch for durability or waterproofing. But a lot of indoor and fashion knits will be really weak here and require some advanced stitching or need some other fabric to bolster it some. Ideally pockets would have a closing snap or magnet (they often don’t but that can always be added).
The best compromises I came up with were modifying a tight fitness-themed jacket or better yet pullover hoodie with pockets by taking off the sleeves. I have an adidas track jacket my MIL gave me that has decent pockets but it has the turtleneck and a zipper.
I have also never found anything that is both sleeveless, and v-necked. Like basically it’s just a camping vest which doens’t have the I wanna look fashionable at the deli feeling I’m going for. I want to look yoga-y and not rei-y or tactical.
If I could design one myself I’d make it designed like chinese catering tops with the kind of asymmetrical easy-to-reattach button that can be adjusted for the bust and a shallow exterior pocket. Then have a corresponding but non overlapping pocket inside for small things that you might not need most of the day but may also want to have handy for private moments when it’s not such a big deal to rich into your shirt.
When I used to travel (been a while) I would use those little satin or organza baggies and just pin them artfully to the insides of my clothes. The drawstring is nice and they can be tucked and bolstered or stitched in by hand easily on the fly.
How dressy do you want to go? Denim, leather, linen, etc.?
I found this one at Talbot’s, with a v-neck, okay sized front pocket with a long, belted silhouette, in what looks like a heavy linen (I can’t post a link for the description for some reason, but here’s a pic);
Ooh I’m actually a fan of a couple of those. Hmmm… The “concealed carry” set has put work in here!
Thanks for the response, and @OWYAC and @mindysan33!
For fabric, I want to be able to wear it under an outer layer or two, and don’t want it to add extra warmth or bulk, so probably linen or viscose or some kind of cotton blend? Not fleece, and like you picked up, I don’t want it to look outdoorsy or tactical.
Thanks for the tips on angled pockets. And pinning pouches in. I may just try to alter something.
But it’s kind of frustrating because it seems like what I’m talking about is something many of us would want, and it’s hard to believe it doesn’t already exist, you know.
I’m very fond of the pouch-y “pocket” in what the Mongolians call the deel or del, which can be an ideal winter garment, depending on fabric.
The belt is the bottom of the pocket, and I want his boots
Similar Tibetan garments have removable sleeves!
If you’re not shy about doing a fashion, rather than trying to hide it in existing fashion, then I feel the medieval style belt pouch or frame purse is due a renaissance.
As an SCAer, I may be biased.