Pocket reviews: eShakti pants pockets

eShakti pants pockets are great.  I've entered some measurements in the Spreadsheet of Pockets (lines 9-11).  eShakti does custom sizes in addition to their standard sizes.  I always go for a custom size.  It took a few returns to get jeans that fit, but once I got the measurements right it was great.  They have great customer service in terms of accepting returns.  (The dresses always turn out perfect at this point, but I know pants are harder to fit.)  The looser pants seem easier, on par with the dresses, in terms of getting a good fit almost immediately in a custom size.

The big wide-legged pants have magnificent, capacious pockets that fit my phone and dog treats (easily accessible without struggling) in one pocket and wallet and keys in the other.  I love these pockets.  (Also, the pants are cool and light in the summer.)

On their jeans (when they make them - eShakti rotates through many styles frequently), they often even have an option to customize the pocket size: standard, larger, or smaller.  I chose the deeper pockets when the option was available.  I have some classic straight-leg jeans that have the typical five-pocket style of jeans and another wide-legged pair that has front patch pockets and lacks the little coin pocket in the front (which I don't use anyways).  They've been selling some jeans lately but it comes and goes.

Pocket reviews: new pants entries in the Spreadsheet of Pockets from my own closet with some commentary

I'm adding all of my newer pocketed purchases from the last year to the Spreadsheet of Pockets.  I'm going to write up a bit of commentary on the latest entries (rows 2-7).

My favorite in these rows is the striped slim fit jeans I got from Duluth Trading Company.  These were hearty pockets that I don't even want to modify.  I bought a size that just barely fit (they were on clearance and the last size left that was close), but next time I need pants I will be looking at theirs.

Many Eddie Bauer pants happily have curvy fit versions that actually fit me without tailoring or gaping around the waist.  This is a minor miracle.  Yet, they still have merely decent pockets that leave me plotting to cut the bottoms off to add a deeper pocket bag.  (But I'm lazy, so it hasn't happened yet.)  Yeah, they're sort of slacks, but one pair was TRAVEL pants.  It's baffling to me that an ostensibly outdoorsy company can't make their travel pants have fully satisfying pockets.  They just need a few more inches in the pocket bag to be as good as the Duluth Trading Co. jeans.  Oh well!

Old Navy Pixie Pants I probably wouldn't have tried but I needed yellow slim pants for a Halloween costume.  They also happened to have a linen version on sale so I bought that too as I have found every linen thing I've bought to be so nice and cool for biking and gardening and existing outside.  The pockets are awful and all need modification.  (The linen was great, though, and will be a favorite once I fix the pockets.)  The end.

Pockets around the web: "Women's Pockets are Inferior": an essay with DATA

Last year several of my friends and family sent me this amazing data-filled article giving very telling visuals of the inadequacies of women's pockets.  They sampled 20 popular US blue jean brands with a sample size of 80.  It is just as relevant today as it was last year.

Pocket review: Dickie's Women's Overalls

Long time, no blog.  I've got a number of new reviews (of both dresses and pants) saved up in my voluminous pockets.  But, today's pockets are not so glorious as I was hoping.

I ordered a size large in Dickie's Women's Denim Bib Overalls (color: medium stonewash).  I was immediately disappointed by the pockets.  They were barely deeper than your average disappointing blue jeans!  I should have tried the Carhartt's.

The two front slash pockets seem promising at 7 1/2" maximum depth and until you realize that the 6" diagonal edge reached to a minimum depth of 2".  My phone sticks out (and it did manage to stay in during various bending and activities) and I can get keys in the other pocket.  However, it'd be risky to try to do both keys and wallet in one pocket.  I will be sewing pocket extenders on to make them more functional.

I did find the front bib pocket held my wallet securely.  It's about 5" deep and 3 3/4" wide, with an adjacent pencil/pen pocket about 1 3/8" wide.  The corners are rounded.

The two back pockets are perfectly acceptable at 5 1/2" deep and wide.

Finally, there are bonus pockets on each leg towards the back/side.

On the wearer's left is a single 4 1/2" deep x 3 1/2" wide under the hammer loop.

On the wearer's right is a slightly larger one at 4 1/2" deep and 4" wide.  Behind it is a larger pocket with a slanted opening.  It makes 8" deep and slant opening of 3 1/2".  The lower part overlaps the top pocket so its lower dimensions are the same.

Pockets around the web: B6178 Culottes sewing pattern

Did You Make That? recently featured a sewing pattern for culottes (which I assume could be lengthened into regular wide-legged pants if you prefer full-length pants).  She notes that the deep pockets can be stuffed full of tennis balls for one's dog (or one's self, I suppose, if you are inclined to tennis), so these sound quite promising in the pocketry department!

Pockets around the web: a review of Carhartt overalls

While we're on the train of things that are not quite pants, here's a glowing review of Carhartt Brewster Double Front Bib Overalls.  She says "pockets for days", which rather says it all, and continues to list all the things she has in her pockets, with room for more.  They come in both short and regular lengths.

Pocket review: Bandolino Mandie 5-pocket Jeans

I've got a size 8 in Mandie 5-pocket Jeans from Bandolino.  The same gray color is still available on Amazon and other regular jean colors are available too.  There also appear to be petites, capris, and shorts available in this style.  I haven't looked at those in person so I can guarantee they will have the same pockets, but it seems likely.

Front pockets are 5" rivet to rivet at the opening.  The right side coin pocket is 1.75" wide and about 3" deep.

Inside the front pockets are very wide (almost 8") but shallow (about 2.5" at both rivets).  You'll see I added on pocket extenders to these, but they weren't too bad before because of the width allowing more pocket space than a typical shallow pocket.

The back pockets are typical for jeans.  They are about 5.5" deep in the middle and 4.75" at the sides. The opening is 4.5" and the width is just a little smaller (maybe 4 3/8") at the base.

Overall, before modification these had decent pockets.  The shallow front pockets were improved by their extremely wide width (going from side seem over to the zipper).

Pockets around the web: Svaha pocketed dresses review and interview

I've mentioned Svaha dresses on here before, and they just look so intriguing.  Here's a review of three dresses in two silhouettes, plus an interview with one of the owners and a 20% off discount code!

Pocket review: Gloria Vanderbilt Avery Slim Leg Pull On pants

I measured a size 8 specimen of Gloria Vanderbilt Avery Slim Leg Pull On Stretch jeans.  These pants are delightfully comfy in terms of their soft, stretchy material and I wear them often when it's cool out.  However, the front pockets were rather lacking (rating: terrible).  I could hold my keys in one pocket.  I had to put both my wallet and my phone in the back two pockets.  So, I could get away without carrying a bag, but I was always sitting on my phone and almost having it fall out if I bent or moved the wrong way.  I ended up adding "pocket extenders" to fix things up to acceptable levels of pocket storage.  They seem to be going out of season but I found one version on amazon that matched the fabric content (cotton, polyester, and spandex) so would have the same comfy stretch.

Before I modified the pockets, front pockets were about 2 1/2" deep at the side seam and 4 1/2" deep at most. The width at the bottom is 5 3/4".  The outer opening is 4 1/2" from rivet to rivet but curved. The right front also has a 2 1/4" wide coin pocket that is 2 3/4" deep.

The paler striped fabric are my pocket extenders.

The tape measure crosses the small right coin pocket.  There is no coin pocket on the left side.

The back pockets (two) each measure:  5 1/4" deep at middle, 4 1/2" deep at sides, 4 3/4 to 5" wide at the opening (it varied), and about 4 1/2" wide at the base.

Pockets around the web: Jalie's Hélène cardigan (sewing pattern review)

I used to have a Cabela's oversized cardigan (with glorious pockets) that reminded me of a knit lab coat.  So I was tickled to see this review of a sewing pattern for a cardigan that ended up as a real lab coat, with excellent looking pockets.  I bet it would look less like a lab coat in another color, if you are not actually a medical professional or lab-working type graduate student (or just want a colorful lab coat!).

Pockets around the web: Scottevest Sandy Skirt review

Sorry I missed a week!  Things have been busy in pocket-land.  However, I just ran across this very promising review of the SCOTTeVEST Sandy travel skirt (there is also a longer version called the Sandra).  The pockets look fantastic.  This company looks to have a lot of good pocketed items... the Maddie Cardigan in particular caught my eye.

Pocket review: Taylor Dresses fit and flare orange striped dress

I bought this dress in 2014, so the exact type may not be available anymore.  Amazon shows that the brand has a number of similar fit-and-flare dresses.  Some of the images show the models with their hands in pockets, so it seems possible that they may have similar pockets.  (A nice non-pocket bonus on this dress, which I have no idea if their other ones have, are little bra strap catchers on each shoulder).

The specimen in question is a size 6.  There are two welt pockets in the flared skirt along the side seams.  The opening is 5", placed almost vertically.  The pocket tends to hang downwards so there's about 4 1/2" from the bottom edge of the opening to the deepest part of the pocket.  It's about 9" from the top edge of the opening to the deepest part of the pocket.  The pocket is rounded and at most 5 1/2" from the opening wide.  Because the dress material is fairly stiff, it doesn't show too much when I put my usual contents (keys, wallet, phone) into the pockets, and they did all fit nicely.  Because the pockets are on the dress and it's not fitted closely (it sits at the natural waist and flares out in the skirt), pocket contents will flop about and hit your legs if you do anything energetic, like dancing.   One side of the pocket is lined so that it does not stick to the dress, and the dress is lined so the pockets won't stick to you (or tights) either.  These pockets rate decent for a dress!

The welt pocket openings are well-camouflaged with the zig-zags and matching stripe placement.

This is the inside of the dress with the built-in liner lifted up (you can also see that the bodice is partially lined except for the shoulders and very top).  The pocket on the left is laid where the additional liner fabric is against the dress.  The pocket on the right shows the liner sewn against the pocket (the pocket on the left has it too, but this shows that it is only on one side).  The pocket tends to hang down more when wearing, not stick out to the side like it does here.

2017/03/03: edited to add this has been shared on the #SaturdayShareLinkUp!

Pocket review: Lee Women's Relaxed Fit Straight Leg Jean

More pants from loyal blog reader Mary!  The Lee Women's Relaxed Fit Straight Leg Jeans (Model 305183C, in size 6 petite) are stretchy jeans with amazing jeans pockets.  I believe these are the same pants, and here on Lee's website.  That model lacks the 3C but it seems to be it.

They have two front pockets, both about 6" wide.  The right one is 6" deep and 3 1/2" at the side seam.  The left one is just a bit deeper at 6 1/4" but shallower at 3" at the side seam. On a second pair both were about 6 1/2", so there is some variation.

The inexplicably asymmetrical front pockets.

The more symmetrical front pockets on a different pair.

The front pockets have the usual jeans curved opening.

The right front coin pocket is 2 1/4" deep and 3 1/4" wide.

The back pockets at 5 1/4" deep in the middle and 4 1/2" deep at the edges.  The pockets are 4 1/2" wide at the top and 4 1/4" near the base.

Standard back pockets for jeans.

Pocket review: New York & Company dress pants

Another thrift store pair of pants here.  The label says New York & Company Stretch, with NYC-1600 on the back of the label.  They're size 6.  A quick look through the company's website did not turn up any obvious matches to my black pinstriped specimen, but they do show several models with hands in pocket.  So, can't tell you the exact name of these pants, but this company's pants seem worth a check for decent dressy pockets!   These had decent pockets even before my modifications (which of course took them to amazing).

Pocket dimensions are estimated here as I ended up making pocket extenders for these pants (the big pale parts of the pockets), but the pockets rated decent even before.  I wore them to work and never had the usual cargo (keys, wallet, phone) fall out.  The front pockets were 4 1/2", maybe 5" (since I cut off the bottoms to put on the pocket extenders) deep.  They have a top entry slash that is 5 1/2" across.  The pockets are 6" wide and extend to the side seam.  They do not extend to the zipper.  Both sides also have a tiny pocket in the front above the main front pocket.  These are 2" deep and 2 3/4" wide.

Guesstimating the pockets were about 4 1/2 or 5" before I made them AMAZING.

The two back pockets are 3 1/2" deep, 5 1/2" wide, and each have a button and buttonhole to secure anything you might place therein.

I never have used the back pockets but they seem decent.

Pocket review: Ann Taylor Loft Veranda Trousers (linen pants)

Purchased in-store (and on sale, yay!) at Ann Taylor Loft in 2016, these linen pants are light and comfy.  I wore them walking around in hot, humid weather, and found them quite nice.  My specimen is a size 8.  This model appears to be sold out but maybe they will come back in the summer (right now Loft's website seems to have more wintry corduroy and tweed).  There were one or two listed on ebay as well.

Front pockets are side-seam pockets with only a slight diagonal tilt, which tend to gape open on curving hips (I learned that here).   Nonetheless, I didn't lose keys, wallet, or phone.

The ruler shows where one of the two front vertical-opening pockets is.

The front pockets, one on each side, measure about 8 1/2" deep at the front (the pocket does not meet the zipper). On the side seam, it is 3 1/2" from the bottom of the pocket to the opening.  The opening is nearly vertical and is 6 1/2".  The pocket is a little over 6 1/2" wide from the side seam at the bottom, and about 5" wide from the opening at the top.  The wearer's right (left on the photo) has a small welt pocket that comes originally sewn shut.  The welt pocket is surprisingly large for this type of small front "coin pocket", at 3" deep and 3" wide, with the opening 2 3/8" wide.

The pants turned inside out so you can see the shape of the pockets.  The pocket left of the ruler is one of the back pockets, the ruler is near the side seam, and the pocket on the right is one of the front pockets.

The back pockets, one on each side, have a flap and button to hold them closed.  The back pockets are 7" deep and 5 3/4" wide.  The opening is a little narrower at 5" wide.

The two back pockets, showing the button-down flap.

These pockets are quite decent!  I want to find more pants like these.

Edited 2017/02/10 to note this has been added to the #SaturdayShareLinkUp!

Pocket review: Wrangler Blues Relaxed Fit Jeans

Today's specimen is the Wrangler Blues Relaxed Fit jeans, in size 6 x 32, courtesy of loyal blog reader Mary!  The label says WB501DS, which I think is actually the color (as their website has a similarly formatted number behind the color) and there only appears to be one style for this name, available in both misses and plus sizes.

The front pockets are great.  They are 6" at the widest point.  The left pocket is 7" deep at the front edge and 2 1/2" deep at the side seam.  Oddly, the right pocket is a bit shallower at 6".  I found a similar difference on another brand of jeans so it may be deliberate.  Either way, these are generous pockets for jeans nowadays.  The right side also has a small coin pocket measuring 3 1/2" deep and 3" wide.

No clue why one side is longer than the other.

The front are curved top entry pockets.  The entry is 5" from rivet to rivet (the curve is longer).  You can see the coin pocket on the wearer's right (left in this photo).

The two back pockets are 5 1/2" deep in the middle and not quite 5" on each side.  The pockets are 4 1/2" wide at the opening and 4 1/4" near the base.

Typical back pockets for jeans.

Edited 2017/02/07 to note this has been added to the #SaturdayShareLinkUp!

Pocket review: Land's End Down Commuter Long Coat

I bought this coat in 2014.  The closest coat I can find on the Land's End website has a similar name (Commuter Down Long Coat).  They advertise that it has the same helpful pass-through where you can get to a deep pocket inside the coat (and your own pants pockets!).  The current edition also still has nice fleece pockets beside the pass-through pockets.  (Also they have it in a lovely shade of blue now.  They did not when I was buying.  WOE.)  This current model, however, seems to lack the front outer pockets which I found handy for dog-poop bags and quick mitten stashing.  However, even when de-pocketed on the outside, with all the other pockets and pocket access, this coat still rates as amazing in pockets!  Detailed measurements are in the photo captions since there are SO MANY pockets.  I count seven on mine, and there should be five on the new model (since it lacks the outer front flapped pockets but retains the others according to its description).

The wearer's left (right in this photo) has an inner zippered pocket measuring 6 x 6".  I believe this is the one in the description noted as "small vertical pocket with secure zip closure".

The outer pockets, with a flap (and two snaps), are no longer available on the current model.  On my coat there are two (one per side) and they measure 6" wide, 7" deep in the middle, and the entry is slightly diagonal with a length of 6 1/2".  Each side also has a fleece-lined pocket (in the photo, shown by my thumb).  The fleece-lined pocket is about 7" deep from the pass-through opening, and a good size for warming hands.  Finally, my fingers are in the pass-through opening that lets you get to the inner pockets (last photo) or your own clothing.  The opening is 6" and has both a zipper and a snap (next photo) to close it, although even with temperatures in the negative double digits (both Celsius and Fahrenheit... brrr) I've never actually needed to shut these.

This is the inside of the coat from the pass-through opening (visible on the right side of the pocket).  You can also see the snap and zipper that can be used to close the pass-through.  There is one bit of velcro, maybe an inch long, to secure this pocket if you desire.  This pocket is 8 x 8" and I haven't ever had anything fall out of these (cell phone, keys, wallet, dog bags).  As for the outer and fleece pockets, this inner pocket is duplicated on both the left and right sides.

Edited 2017/01/27 to link with #SaturdayShareLinkUp!

Pocket review: Cabela's Women's 7-pocket Hiker Pants

I have gone through so many pairs of these over the years and loved them.  They came in classic and modern fits (high waisted and low waisted). Sadly, Cabela's appear to have stopped making them as their website no longer shows how to buy them.  If you find them at a thrift store or used, though, I highly recommend their pockets.  Rest in peace, hiker pants.

Pocket review: Worthington Modern Fit dress pants

I got these slacks at a thrift store, but Worthington Modern Fit pants appear to be available at JC Penney's.  My specimen here is a size 8 in a navy blue color.  These are an angled/slash front pocket; the opening is about 5 3/4".  They are 6.5" deep at the deepest point (from the top pocket edge to the bottom), about 6.5" wide, and with a rounded lower edge (so not quite 6.5 x 6.5" square because of the roundness).  The pockets connect to the front zipper and side seam for stability, but the usable space does not extend to the zipper (unlike the Gloria Worthington Amanda jeans).  The two back "pockets" are fake.  I have taken keys and wallet in one pocket, phone in the other pocket, and had no escapees.  Particularly for slacks, these are quite decent pockets!

Pocket shapes on the inside of Worthington Modern Fit pants. My photo shows a repair I did at the front pocket seam (the brown seam on the right side of the left-appearing pocket).  I am not worried about quality, though, as these were at a thrift store and thus already used before I got them.  

The front pocket openings look about 5" here but are actually 5 3/4".

Pocket review: Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda Stretch Fit Jeans

This specimen is a size 8 misses, average, purchased at Beall's in 2016 in a dark denim color (I can't figure out the name of it anymore).

The front pockets are 2.5" at the side seam and about 6" deep at the front edge of the pocket, which is also the deepest point of the pocket.  The pocket is connected to the waistband such that there is an odd little section of the pocket that continues over to the zipper (visible in photo).  This should keep the waistband from distorting if you put anything heavy in, though since these are sturdy jeans it may not matter anyway.  My hands fit in mostly, keys and wallet are secure together in one pocket (though tight), and my phone makes it most of the way into a front pocket by itself (it doesn't seem in danger of escaping).

Jeans inside out to show the shape and extent of front pockets.

The right front side has an additional pocket about 2.25" wide and about 3" deep.  I've never used it.  The two back pockets are each about 5.25" from edge to deepest point, typical jeans pockets.

Front pockets, showing the right-hand side small pocket (appears left in this photo, will be the wearer's right pocket).

On a scale from terrible to amazing, these are decent pockets.