Despite having some shortcomings, I personally prefer patch pockets on my sport coats for their relaxed appearance and what I consider a cleaner look than flap pockets.

Pressing the pocket with an iron can help with this, but the best approach is prevention: use these pockets only for light items. They also invite you to toss things into them however, if patch pockets are laden with heavy items, even keys or a large mobile phone, they can sag, creating a sloppy appearance and permanently warping their appearance, even when they are empty. If it appears on a suit, the suit is immediately rendered casual rather than appropriate for business wear on the other hand, you could also likely split the suit and wear the top as an odd jacket.īecause they are spacious and wide opening at the top, patch pockets invite you to stick your hands in them for casual loafing. The patch pocket is seen as casual because its construction is highly visible, so it appears primarily on sport coats. It is the least hidden of the pocket types, as it, as well as the contents it contains, rests above the garment surface in this way, it has something in common with early external pouches. The patch pocket is in a sense the most “primitive” as its construction is also the most basic: a patch made of the same material as the jacket itself is simply stitched onto the surface. Patch pockets are common on sportcoats like this one from Pini Parma. In fact, the celebrated Bronze Age “iceman,” Ötzi, was discovered with just such a belt pouch. Instead, some sort of external purse or tie-on pouch, usually in the form of a belt, was the norm to carry money and other small items. Ever heard of coin pockets, welted pockets or ticket pockets? Or even better, the frogmouth pocket? Once you are done with this complete guide you know all of them! A Brief History of the Pocketįrom prehistory all the way up until the 17th century, what we consider to be a pocket–pouches sewn into clothing–did not exist. In this article, we will explore the range of pockets that appear in classic menswear no matter if they are more common ones such as jetted pockets, flap or patch pockets, but also more obscure ones.

Pockets, whether on a jacket or other article of clothing, are a key but often overlooked practical feature in clothing.

Frog pocket