But the biggest problem might be the lack of pockets in the first place: women's slacks, dresses, and blazers often have no pockets, or worse, 'fake' pockets that serve no utilitarian purpose besides sartorially leading the wearer on to believe they have a handy wardrobe aide, until it's too late.

So how can an industry that focuses on women – whether it be models or products created primarily for a female demographic – consistently dodge the very people it markets to? Camilla Olson, creative director of an eponymous high tech fashion firm, points to inherent sexism within the industry. Mid-range fashion is a male dominated business, driven not by form and function, but by design and how fabric best drapes the body.

'I honestly believe the fashion industry is not helping women advance,' Olson said. And the lack of functional designs for women is one example. 'We [women] know clearly we need pockets to carry technology and I think it's expected we are going to carry a purse. When we're working we don’t carry purses around. A pocket is a reasonable thing.'

The Gender Politics of Pockets, in The Atlantic

You can pretend it's 2005 and subscribe to my RSS feed