Thursday, September 13, 2012

Pockets

Pockets.
Pant pocket, jacket pocket, pocket watches, pita pocket, pick pocket, hot pocket.
This morning, as my husband stood grasping the final bits of Squawk Box before heading out to work his hands naturally slipped into his pant pockets and I started to wonder if pockets got their start as a place to put things or a place to warm your hands.  Turns out, pockets were initially bags that hung off your belt as a place to keep your valuables (oh - so - fashionable).  Slowly pockets were integrated into your clothing (for safety reasons - see pick pocket) as bags that hung within your clothing and accessed by slits that you could slip your hands into.  It wasn't until the late 1700's that pockets were actually sewn into clothing.
The modern day pocket is so much more than just a place to put things; they are becoming fashion statements around the globe.  A place for embroidered, or dare I say bedazzled, detail on blue jeans, and a selling point for dresses (come on, who hasn't allowed a pocket to tip the scale on the purchase of a cute summer dress...or heck, a wedding dress!)
However, did you know that putting your hands in your pockets shows signs of dissatisfaction with oneself.  Hands in pockets says that we lack self-confidence and are attempting to avoid a situation.  While my husband must have been avoiding going to work (!), what does this say about those wedding dresses with pockets?!
Body language aside, can you imagine life without pockets?  Definitely a feature that until recently, was under-appreciated (remember those fake pockets that were sewn shut and tiny?! - either you are a pocket or you aren't)
What's in your pocket?