Life Before pockets

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Mens clothing had sewn in pockets as far back as the early part of the 17th century. Women sometimes used pouches that were tied around the waist that could be accessed through slits in the outer garments
It wasn't until WW1 during the early part of the 20th century, that sewn in pockets became common in womens clothing.

The Victorian Era
Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years, from 1837 until her death in 1901. She was a trend setter who dressed stylishly and wore a Chatelaine, meant to be worn on a belt, that became popular among women. They started as a practical tool for carrying keys and became a fashionable jewelry piece with multiple chains holding everything from sewing tools to personal accessories.
Chatelaines often had small bottles of scent attached. .

The Victorians believed that scents would cleanse "bad air," and protect against disease. The wealthy carried elegant, bejeweled vinaigrettes and chatelaine bottles, that often contained a sponge soaked in scent.

Fragrance also became a way to convey social status. The wealthy used expensive floral scents like jasmine and gardenia, while the working class used simpler scents like lavender and violet.

The working class carried their scent in plain, simple vials.

By the end of the Victorian era, the fragrance industry had been born, and perfume became an affordable luxury for all.
Affordable perfumes at the Drug Store

20th Century
The need for practicality during World War I led to functional pockets in women's clothing, and they have remained a staple feature in many garments since then

The photos in this post are from my family
albums and were taken at Perfume Passage, a privately owned museum in Barrington Illinois.

Please do not share my posts outside of Hive.

hive-124452 chatelines pockets perfume jewlery scents archon pob pimp
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37 comments
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lovely collection , small vials for perfume , and i see some spectacles too

Congratulations you have been curated and upvoted by @ecency
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Thanks! I think some of them probably held sewing needles.

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There are so many antique collections. These everything so lovely and valuable.

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These are very rare and beautiful things and they are kept in this way and people like them a lot.

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What an interesting story! 😍 I never thought the history of pouches and perfume would be so closely linked to fashion and social status at that time. Thanks for sharing!

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I thought it was interesting!

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Glad you feel that way! 😄 It's true that simple things like that can sometimes make us think, huh?

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History always has interesting details. Thanks for sharing.


Buttoning of clothing, GIF.

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Maybe, it is why they said that all finger’s are not equal. Do you hear something like that before?

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I've read about the issue of different fingers on a hand in various places. Some use it as a metaphor that all people, no matter how different, are necessary for a community. In other cases, I've read it as an indication of the necessary family unity, because no matter how different they are from each other, when fighting or working, they only function when everyone flexes and works together.

Anyway, there are many other examples, but I don't remember them all.

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I think the examples you got here are all related, and meaningful. Cheers.

But what about it to the dresses of the man and woman, isn’t it somehow an answer to it?

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I had never given much thought to pockets! Or buttons!

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There are many things that are so commonplace and normal these days (we take them for granted), but they have a fascinating history behind them.

I remember there were once a series of documentaries about these things, among which I remember some produced by National Geographic (if I recall correctly). And I think they aired a couple of years ago.

Currently, I haven't seen if these types of documentary series are still airing, but I guess I haven't looked them up properly. They're interesting and provide entertaining historical insight. Sometimes they even have quite a few curious or funny details, although that depends on the style and handling of the production company.


c
Image's source.

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Women have always been at a disadvantage when it comes to fashion – pockets are such a necessary feature. I love lavender and violet, probably because I'm working class. 🤭 I really enjoyed your post. Thanks for enlightening us. 😘🌹

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Wow, this was such a fascinating journey through history 💯 I had no idea that women originally carried pouches tied around their waists or that perfume bottles, chatelaines were once not just fashion but practical tools and status symbols. It’s incredible how WW1 shifted women’s clothing toward functionality by adding sewn in pockets.

Your family photos from the perfume museum add such beautiful context, they bring the history to life. Thank you for blending history, culture and personal memory in this post. I learned something new and meaningful today.
!BBH
!ALIVE

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Wow, they are beautiful. I thought some didn't exist. They are truly exquisite relics. What great material you brought. Each photograph is beautiful. There is a beautiful collection of perfume bottles, and the entire exhibition is truly eye-catching. Hug

!LADY
!ALIVE
!BBH

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It looks expensive.I guess the jewelry is for royal family hahaha.

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Thank you for the education! I didn't know and would have had no idea what I was seeing if I saw one in the wild.

Very interesting.

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I had seen mention of chatelines in Victorian era books, but had no idea what they actually looked like until I saw these.

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I was thinking that I wanted to vaguely remember seeing the word chateline, but I had no idea in what context and of course, obviously had not know what it was referring too.

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Very interesting post, I didn't realize that about pockets or chatelaines. I learned something new today so the day was not wasted!
!DUO

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