Pocket, circa 1810

Until the early 19th century, pockets weren't sewn into women's gowns. Pockets were separate, tied around a lady's waist where they would hang between her skirt and her petticoat. The wearer put her hand through a slit in her skirt's side seam to reach into her pocket. Pockets weren't meant to be seen -- yet they were often embellished with textiles or embroidery.