The trouser pocket or trouser sack is a garment pocket in the form of a fabric bag sewn into the trousers or a patch for carrying small objects. In the case of trouser pockets, a distinction is made according to various pocket shapes and design features, the purpose as well as the position, arrangement and orientation of the bag . In addition to functional properties, they also fulfill decorative purposes.
Names for trouser pockets in different dialects
The term bag in connection with clothing is a term naturalized from North German, while in Austria and Switzerland the term trouser bag is more common. In the Swabian-Alemannic language regions, one speaks of sack or sack (a small sack). Around 1800, the term “Hosenficke” was also used in the lower speech types.
In the project The Rosetta Stone of Dialects , the poem Mym Bueb sy Hosesagg from the book Swiss Dialects by Robert Christ was translated into various dialects and languages. There are now more than 100 versions of the poem, which was originally written in Basel German.
Pocket shapes
Pockets of the hind trousers (back pocket)
The back pocket is mainly used by men to store purses or ID pockets, which determines the necessary size of the bag.
Patch pocket
The simple, patch pocket is the typical type of pocket for back pockets in jeans . It can be found on many leisure and work trousers. The patch pocket, which is usually rounded at the bottom or is pentagonal, is unfixed and unlined on the back of the trousers on jeans. The quilted seams on the back pockets can partly be seen as the manufacturer's trademark. In some cases, attachment pockets are equipped with a cover flap ( flap ), which is then usually buttoned.
The shape, size and arrangement of the pockets on the back trousers are also used, especially in women's fashion, to accentuate or conceal the body shape. Applications ( rhinestones ), rivets or elaborate decorative seams can visually highlight the bag. Back pockets with buttoned flaps are more bulky and emphasize this part of the bottom. Smaller pockets, which are also arranged even closer together, make a big bottom appear a bit smaller. The loss of functionality is often accepted in women's fashion in order to achieve aesthetic aspects. This sometimes even leads to a complete loss of usability.
Inserted trouser pocket
In the variant used, the actual pocket bag is hidden inside the pants. The pocket bag usually consists of an extra fabric and not the outer fabric. The pocket opening cut into the outer fabric is covered with a trim in order to neaten the cut edges. Depending on the design, a distinction is made between piped pockets, welt pockets and flap pockets.
In the case of a welt pocket or simple piped pocket, the access is reinforced on one side by an additional sewn-on, double-layered strip of fabric (strip), which at the same time conceals the approach of the inner pocket. The welt pocket can be provided with a button or a button with a loop.
With the double piped pocket , both edges of the opening are reinforced. The piping can be made from the outer fabric or a contrasting material (e.g. a lining ). If necessary, a button or a hidden zipper can prevent direct access to the bag and thus better protect its contents.
The flap pocket (formerly also flap pocket ) describes a pocket that is covered by a flap (flap) so that the pocket is only accessible after the flap has been folded up. The flap can also be secured with a button that is buttoned directly through the flap or concealed. The hem edge under the flap is covered.
Pants with welt pockets (on the right also button and flap)
Pants with double piped pockets (additional button on the right)
Pants with flap pockets (additional button on the right)
Front trouser pockets and side pockets
The term side pocket is a collective term for outside pockets that can be found on the side of the pants, i.e. H. are placed at the seam between the front and rear trousers or on the right or left in the front trousers. Many side pockets are designed as side pockets , whereby the handy placement allows easy insertion of the hands. Pocket pockets , on the other hand, are more likely to be found near the waistband than so-called watch or change pockets.
For jeans and many sporty slacks, front pockets with a curved opening ( swing pocket ) have become popular. The rounded seam runs from the waistband (belt loop) to the side seam of the pants. With jeans, the ends of the seam are usually reinforced with rivets to prevent the fabric from tearing in those places. This idea goes back to a patent by Davis and Levis in 1873. In the right front pocket of the five-pocket jeans there is the obligatory pocket that was originally used for the pocket watch .
In the case of more elegant trousers, the intervention often runs straight from the waistband to the side seam. The bag ends clearly next to the belt loop. The orientation ranges from almost vertical to an angle of around 45 ° ( diagonal pocket or French pocket ). Piping or strips are used to reinforce the procedure. The banana pocket is a slightly curved pocket shape with a relatively steep side opening. The wing pocket is a pocket with a curved or angled opening.
Piped pockets are typical suit pockets, simple and elegant. Wing bags or French bags look a bit sportier, but can also be worn as suit pants. Tuxedo pants often have an elegant pocket that runs along the side seam. Due to its location, this bag is inconspicuous.
Two front pockets with curved entry (swing pocket) and the obligatory pocket in the right front pocket
Curved banana pocket and watch pocket (right), French pocket (left)
Double piped pockets (horizontal and vertical)
Wing pocket (right) and welt pocket (left)
Other pocket shapes
Leg pockets are usually designed as patch pockets and are used to generate additional storage space. In many work trousers there are z. B. special ruler pockets or lockable cell phone pockets as leg pockets. Fold bags have one or more folds in the footpad. The unfolding of the folds when in use increases the filling volume of the bag.
The bellows pocket (also known as the harmonica pocket) is a large, patch pocket that is used for army clothing and cargo pants . With this type, the attachment part of the pocket is not sewn onto the trousers, but a specially cut strip of fabric with a fold. The strip of fabric allows it to pop open when in use, while the bag without its contents is put back in its original position.
An inside pocket in the lining is not directly accessible from the outside and is therefore invisible. It is usually located in the front area of the waistband and serves as a hiding place for money and valuables when traveling.
In overalls is located in the chest area usually one or more horizontally arranged breast pockets on the bib.
Fake bags
The blind pocket or fake pocket is a fake one, i. H. only indicated pocket for decorative purposes. It has no usability because it has no interventions. The blind pocket is to be distinguished from real trouser pockets, which are temporarily sewn shut with a removable quilted seam in order to avoid transport damage, soiling and bulging when trying on.
In the penetration pocket of inner trousers bag missing. So it is just a built-in opening to reach the pocket of the trousers worn underneath. The pass-through pocket is part of some rain or work trousers that are put on over normal trousers.
The pocket in connection with the expression of body language
The acceptance of hands in trouser pockets is controversial and also depends on the position of the person in society, their relationship to the other person, the surrounding situation and the rest of the body posture. The hands in the pockets are part of the body language and send important signals to the conversation partner or observer.
In some situations, e.g. B. greeting or farewell, the hand in the pocket is perceived as a lack of attention, uncertainty or even disregard. In the military, hands in pockets are generally not tolerated. The hand in the pants is also felt to be completely unsuitable for job interviews, as it means that there is a lack of willingness to act. As part of a casual chat among friends and equals, one or the other hand in your pocket is now accepted.
Some politicians seem to want to demonstrate closeness to the people with their casual posture with their hands in their pockets. In numerous fashion photos today, one or both hands are purposefully put in the trouser pocket to express a certain looseness and coolness .
The trouser pocket in proverbs and sayings
Often the addition of pocket and especially trouser pocket is used for small, compact and transportable things (e.g. pocket watch, paperback, pocket money or travel guide for the trouser pocket).
In the saying , to know the area like your own trouser pocket / vest pocket, the terms trouser pocket or vest pocket is used as a synonym for being well versed .
The Russian proverb You can't milk a cow with your hands in your pockets. means something like: only those who tackle their goals can achieve something. The American proverb has a similar meaning: You cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets. In both cases, the term “ hands in your pocket” stands for being idle and not helping.
Kurdish proverb: The pockets of the poor are empty, but their hearts are full. Empty pockets and especially empty trouser pockets are synonymous with poverty and lack of property.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ The trouser pocket. In: Adelung: Grammatical-Critical Dictionary of High German Dialect. Volume 2, Leipzig 1796, p. 1297.
- ↑ The rosetta stone of dialects: Mym Bueb sy Hosesagg - poem in versions. , Birkhäuser Verlag, 1965, accessed October 10, 2015.
- ↑ Wilfried Schierbaum: Garment lexicon: fashion, design, pattern construction, grading, equipment, cutting, processing technology, ironing, management and marketing. Fachverlag Schiele & Schoen, 1993, ISBN 3-7949-0563-6 , p. 31. (preview on Google books )
- ↑ gofeminin Fashion & Beauty, Ann-Kathrin Schöll (July 27, 2015): Smaller, bigger or crisp: How to conjure up a dream bottom with the right jeans! accessed on October 10, 2015.
- ↑ Women's fashion advisor : Women's jeans - information and advice. ( Memento of March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), accessed October 10, 2015.
- ^ Tanya Basu: The Gender Politics of Pockets. In: The Atlantic. Retrieved March 5, 2016 (American English).
- ↑ a b Fashionart: welt pocket and flap pocket , accessed on October 19, 2015.
- ↑ Patent US139121A : Improvement in fastening pocket openings. Applied August 9, 1872 , published May 20, 1873 , Applicant: Jacob W. Davis; Levis Strauss & Co, inventor: Jacob W. Davis.
- ↑ The business suit: pants models. Müller Maßmanufaktur, accessed on November 15, 2015 .
- ↑ Wilfried Schierbaum: Garment lexicon: fashion, design, pattern construction, grading, equipment, cutting, processing technology, ironing, management and marketing. Fachverlag Schiele & Schoen, 1993, ISBN 3-7949-0563-6 , p. 115. (Preview on Google books )
- ↑ Wilfried Schierbaum: Garment lexicon: fashion, design, pattern construction, grading, equipment, cutting, processing technology, ironing, management and marketing. Fachverlag Schiele & Schoen, 1993, ISBN 3-7949-0563-6 , p. 58. (Preview on Google books )
- ^ A b Elisabeth Bonneau: 300 questions about good behavior. Gräfe and Unzer, 2012, ISBN 978-3-8338-3090-7 , p. 42, (preview at google-books )
- ↑ a b Nadine Kmoth: Body rhetoric: instructions for reading minds… and showing them. MVG Verlag, 2005, ISBN 3-478-73070-8 , p. 195, (preview at google books )
- ↑ Annette Kessler: Small Talk from A to Z: 150 questions and answers. GABAL Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-89749-673-6 , p. 75, (preview at google books )
- ↑ Sayings index , accessed on October 11, 2015>
- ↑ Proverbs Woxikon: You can't milk a cow with your hands in your trouser pockets. accessed on October 11, 2015.
- ↑ You cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets. accessed on October 11, 2015.
- ↑ The pockets of the poor are empty, but their hearts are full. accessed on October 11, 2015.