There are but a select few shirts in my wardrobe that sport them, but the ones that do are quickly becoming favorites. For I am here today, in the year 2004, to salute the single most groundbreaking development in garment history -- the breast pocket.
My first shirt with a BP (people "in the know" will call it this) came at a young age, I'm sure. Perhaps the necessity of dressing up for a wedding called for a special shirt with a tiny, extra piece of the fabric sewn on three sides (sewing present on four sides is referred to as a "patch").
Over the years the BP was always there, overlooked, its potential never fully realized. It was just forgotten decoration. Heck, most of the time there was a BP on the sport jacket itself. In which I'd also place nothing. It would never dawn on me to use this narrow, shallow receptacle for anything. Until recently.
The convenience of the BP is staggering. Take this scenario for instance: I needed to carry a beer, a bowl of popcorn and the TV remote to the couch. A quick examination of the items proved that the TV remote was the best candidate. I slid it in the BP, and made the journey in one trip. Brilliant. And just last week, after filling my car's gas tank, I took the receipt from the pump and got back in car. Rather than the awkward motion of grabbing my wallet from my back pocket (a pain in the arse), I instead just slipped it into the BP and off I went. Now imagine plane tickets, toll-booth receipts, credit cards, business cards, Pop Tarts (?), hotel card keys and more.
After having realized the brillance of having a shirt with a BP, I now realize that I need more of them. During the warmer months, short-sleeved, collared shirts will work--albeit, they project a sometimes unwanted "dressy" appearance. I now need to invest in some "pocket tees". A simple t-shirt, with a BP added.
For reasons I won't go into, the BP has less of a popularity on women's clothing.
So perhaps you too, may have overlooked the value of the breast pocket. If so, the next time you need to carry something small, flat, light and approximately 2 1/2 inches wide by no more than say, 6 inches tall--look no further than your own shirt. I have started to, and it's paying off. Bigtime.
Next week's fashion commentary: Does Anyone Really Use That Tiny Pocket Watch Pocket on a Pair of Five-Pocket Jeans?