Why Fashion Is Currently Obsessed with Pockets

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Contents

Waisted Utility Jacket Denim Tool Belt Mini Skirt Small Superbusy Sling Bag Cotton-blend Midi Cargo Skirt Utility Bow Shoulder Bag Cotton Twill Cargo Pants Camera Leather Shoulder Bag Cotton Skirt Tan Rino Belt Nylon Twill Pleated Cargo Skirt Linda Faux Leather Tote Cargo Pocket Mini Shorts Field Jacket Leather Cargo Pocket Bag Cecile Quilted Jacket

For the last few seasons, there have been plenty of storage options on the runways. From Coach’s highly coveted, carry-all Frame pouch to bags having their own bags a la Fendi, functional fashion and convenience are at an all-time high. And really, couldn’t we use a little practicality in such a chaotic world? In light of this ever-evolving trend, it was only a matter of time before designers skipped over the excessive baggage entirely and began adding roomy compartments to garments instead. The Fall 2025 collections had loads of looks featuring pockets, some classically constructed and others used as clever embellishments.

In New York, Tory Burch decorated a candy-colored leather jacket and its assortment of tall totes with collages of pockets in varying styles and sizes, while XL patch pockets and detachable compartments hanging from the belt loops of bold-shoulder coats, were on full display at Jane Wade. Kim Shui offered up her own take on removable pockets—a croc-effect bum bag, comparable to Louis Vuitton and Vivienne Westwood’s Centennial design circa 1996.

Across the pond, Simone Rocha presented an organza skirt suit with large front flap pockets and chain-link pouches during London Fashion Week. Tod’s took a similar approach by cinching lightweight knits and leather tops with skinny belts that had keychain pockets dangling from the loops. Elsewhere in Milan, DSquared2 showed suspended pant overlays riddled with pockets, and Maximilian Davis doubled down with dual leather saddlebags for Ferragamo.

dsquared2 fall/winter 2025 — DSquared2 Fall/Winter 2025 launchmetrics.com/spotlight

By design, pockets provide additional space, allowing us to keep our belongings close without completely sacrificing style. But the transparent number of patches, pouches, and ultra-discreet slits added to garments where they’re not necessarily needed made me wonder: Are these choices simply stylistic, or a sign of the times?

According to fashion psychologist and author of Big Dress Energy Shakaila Forbes-Bell, it’s a little bit of both. “There’s a good amount of research that shows people gravitate more towards practical clothing in times of uncertainty,” she explains, adding that consumers are also a little less carefree with what they wear. “It’s almost as if you’re gearing yourself up for whatever happens by having your things within arms reach.”

Trend forecaster Kendall Becker tells Bazaar that early indicators of pockets becoming a full-fledged trend started years ago when cargo pants crept back onto the market. Then for Pre-Fall 2025, Coperni put buckled cargo pockets on quite literally everything, from the lapels and hemlines of tailored jackets to the waists of midi pencil skirts. Courrèges took a less traditional route by offering shoulder bags with suspended harness details that, according to the brand, can hold everything from your jacket to a motorcycle helmet. “As the sporty aesthetic has entered the zeitgeist,” Becker continues, “it allowed pockets to take new forms.” And by fashion month, they were essentially everywhere.

Pockets were all over the Parisian catwalks. Off-White put pen slots and snap-detailed phone holders on combat boots and stilettos, even going as far as adding ample zipped compartments to its parkas and sweatpants. Becker particularly loved the contrast at Dior. “[Pockets] were used on twill jackets as well as in a softer manner on lace and chiffon. The overall juxtaposition painted a strong picture of how versatile and emotional [they can be] as a fashion detail.” Coperni’s collection, however, was a continuation of what the brand started in the off-season, which included creative director Sébastien Meyer adding the same fully-functioning cargo compartments to denier stockings for everyday wear.

No matter how mundane something like a pocket may seem, this trend is signaling something greater—brands coming to the realization that their pieces must work overtime for wearers. Luxe impracticality is no longer a selling point (especially given a new report that the percentage of consumers cutting back non-essential purchases has increased in 2025 more than it has in the last four years). Pragmatics are in, and very few things are as practical as pockets. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice standout style–there is indeed such a thing as utilitarian glamour, and this season, there’s plenty of it to put in your back pocket.