Work dresses with pockets are vastly preferred by many readers here — and yet it can be tricky to find good options for work. We haven't gone on a hunt in a while, so I thought we'd round some up… Whether you've got a corporate look or prefer business casual attire, there's something here for everyone!

(We've talked about work dresses a lot here, including rounding up our favorite work dresses in general, as well as the best plus size work dresses. Other specific roundups we've done include day to night work dresses, fit and flare work dresses, work dresses with matching blazers, colorful sheath dresses for work, work dresses with built-in shapewear, and (over at CorporetteMoms), the best maternity dresses for work.)

Our Favorite Work Dresses with Pockets and Sleeves

As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.

Great Sleeved Dresses with Pockets in 2024

Quince

This short-sleeved dress from Quince looks like a great summer basic at a fantastic price. As Elizabeth noted, “I know cap sleeves aren’t for everyone, but I find them to be one of the better options for wearing under a jacket or sweater.”

In addition to beige, the dress also comes in your classic black, charcoal, and navy if you’re looking for something a little more traditional. 

The dress is $49.90 at Quince and comes in sizes XS–XL.

Elie Tahari

A great fit and flare work dress can be hard to find, even more so if you want pockets — that's why I love this classic option from Elie Tahari! The dress is based off the neckline from their best-selling Judith blouses.

It's available in sizes 0-16 for $448.

(Another fit and flare work dress with pockets: this plus-size bestseller from City Chic.)

M.M.LaFleur

M.M.LaFleur has a number of dresses with pockets, and many are machine washable, as well. This Etsuko dress is one of their long-running bestsellers. It's available in five colors, sizes 0P-16, for $195. You can filter all of their dresses for those with pockets — try this link.

J.Crew

J.Crew's dresses have pockets much more often than they used to — in fact, one of the all-time favorites, the Resume dress, has on-seam pockets. It's available in regular, tall, petite, and plus sizes.

Of Mercer

Of Mercer is another great brand to check for work dresses with pockets — this Riverside dress has been one of their bestsellers for years now. It's available in three colors, sizes XXS-2X.

Lands' End

Lands' End's inventory of work-appropriate dresses waxes and wanes (their ponte work dresses used to be amazing!), but the one thing they always keep in stock are washable wool sheaths, available in regular, plus sizes, and petites. Not only are they washable, but they often have on-seam pockets as well, such as on the pictured dress. The pictured dress is available in black and navy in sizes 4-18, 2P-16P, and 18W-26W.

Boden

Boden's Ottoman dresses have been reader favorites for years — they're machine washable, stomach friendly, and come in a bunch of bright, happy colors (and some striped options!), as well as more sedate black and navy.

The pictured dress comes in eight colors, sizes 0-22 and 4L-22L… it may also come in petites, but I can't find a color with petites in stock at the moment.

Also in the Ottoman rib knit — and also with pockets — they have a pretty fit and flare dress.

Talbots

Talbots does not make it terribly easy to find dresses with pockets on their site — in fact, I was originally going to leave them out of the review entirely. I happened to be updating another post (on where to find suits with dresses instead of skirts) and noticed that this one DOES have pockets.

Their luxe Italian knit is a reader favorite, and it's hard to imagine a more classic sheath dress than this one. It's great to see that it's available in misses, petite, plus AND plus-size petite sizes (huzzah!). There are several matching blazers, as well as pants and a skirt — so this is fabulous if you're looking for a full collection of suit separates.

Wool&

Wool&‘s dresses tend to be on the more casual side, but there's a lot to love about them — they're 100% merino, available in sizes XS-2X in a bunch of colors, and they offer longer lengths as well.

This particular dress, the Rowena, was the subject of a sustainability challenge: Wear the same dress for 100 days straight.

(There's an amazing Ask a Manager post about this; like Alison, we don't really recommend doing this in a business environment.)

Amazon Seller Merokeety

Amazon has a number of dresses with pockets, and they're pretty easy to find with the search.

This business casual dress with pockets was a recent reader favorite — it comes in 20+ colors and is often under $40. Nice! Amazon seller PRETTYGARDEN has a very similar dress, also with pockets, and slightly different color options.

(Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets, as well, and more of a vintage vibe.)

Etsy Seller SistersBrand

Etsy makes it easy to find work dresses with pockets in search — and you can always ask a seller who specializes in made-to-measure clothes if you can add pockets. That said, it looks like Etsy seller SistersBrand has a BUNCH of nice work dresses with pockets.

The pictured dress is under $100, comes in eight different colors, and has a bunch of great reviews. The size range doesn't look that wide, but the seller(s?) seem open to being contacted with questions about sizing. (They also accept returns and exchanges.)

Readers, which are your favorite work dresses with pockets? Have you bought any lately that are big favorites?

The post The Best Work Dresses with Pockets appeared first on Corporette.com.

A lawyer wrote in, wondering where she could find stylish wear to work pants with pockets. It's a great question, and we haven't discussed the pants pocket problem in far too long (2012!), although we did discuss dress pants with pockets a teensy bit in our post on looking professional but prepared for workplace emergencies, where at an active shooter training a reader had been advised to carry her keys and cell phone at all times and wondered how the heck to do that with women's workwear. But back to today's problem: what are the best work pants for women with pockets? Here's Reader K's email:

I need work pants (am an attorney so some suits would be nice but not necessary) that have actual pockets that hold more than 50 cents. Who makes pants for women with actual functional pockets?? It is so aggravating. I need to carry my cell phone and I don't carry my purse around the office or wear a suit coat so I need pockets in my pants. Help. 

Let's start the hunt with our recent roundup of the best pants for work — and the problem is immediately apparent, almost none of the pants have pockets. (Obviously, if you work in a business casual office, five-pocket pants that are cut like jeans are an easy solution… but those can be too casual for most conservative workplaces.) So let's start the hunt for the best dress pants with pockets…

Pictured above: black / green / navy / red / black

Great Work Clothes with Pockets

Stay tuned for a roundup of our all-time favorite business clothes with pockets! Note that a ton of Theory pants have pockets, though, as well as these popular “dress yoga pants” from Betabrand.

Readers in the past have also noted that they've used runner's belts for this purpose…

The Best Work Dresses with Pockets

As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.

Where to Find Women's Pants with Pockets: The Usual Suspects

First, let's round up some great brands that make women's clothing with pockets — these are unicorns in and of themselves! Check out Theory, Boden, Betabrand, MM.LaFleur, and Leith — I'll keep thinking about this and adding more. These brands generally make a ton of dress pants, office dresses, and blazers or sweaters with pockets. (There's actually a pretty big overlap with our recently-updated list of the best brands with washable workwear — just saying!) If you're looking for suiting options with pockets, I would check out Theory, MMLF, or Boden first. 

The Unicorn: Flattering, Washable Wear to Work Pants With BIG Pockets

Betabrand's dress yoga pants now come in a ton of cuts and styles; these new bootcut options look like their pockets are big enough for a cell phone — I think this might be our unicorn here. I wouldn't walk around with my hands in the pockets, but the picture does a nice job of illustrating how big the pockets are; I also like that they're at an angle but not on a side seam so your stuff won't fall out.

Stylish Wear to Work Pants with Pockets, Side-Seam Edition

These are the most common ones that you'll see all over — personally I find these not only unflattering, but generally not that functional unless you're just carrying something super small.

But they are easier to find — and they often have functional back pockets as well (you may need to gently rip your seams!), although the back pockets may also be intended for something smaller than a cell phone.

This is a great example from Halogen. (Pro tip if you like the look of the pants but not the pockets: it's a pretty easy request for your tailor to stitch the pockets closed; they may also come that way!)

Pleated pants may offer larger pockets, like these popular pleated ankle pants (and they're only $55! — also available in plus sizes):

Trousers and wide-leg pants may also offer larger pockets, like this pair from NYDJ (I don't have this pair but I love my NYDJ pants for comfort!):

3. Other Options: Where to Stash Your Stuff If Your Pants Don't Have Pockets

Of course, there are a ton of other options here for carrying your office cell phone:

• keep a lightweight jacket or jardigan with pockets in the office, and throw that on if you leave the office — this is my preferred way of doing things, and in fact is one of the big things I'm looking for when I buy a blazer to keep at the office. (“Patch pockets” are almost always big enough for a cell phone; other pockets depend on the phone of course). This reader-favorite jardigan has pockets, for example; if you overheat easily you may also want to consider a year-round option from a breathable material like this long linen cardigan with pockets.

Many of our favorite sweater jackets feature pockets:

• wear dresses with pockets — the selection here has really come far! (They're often paired with washable, easy-care fabrics, too.) MM.LaFleur, Lands' End, and Boden all have a ton of options with pockets. 

As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.

• ask a tailor to ADD pockets — one commenter on our last post on women's work pants with pockets (where someone asked for pockets big enough to fit an insulin pump) noted that she takes ALL her new dresses and skirts to a tailor to add a pocket on the seam. Might be worth looking into! Here's her comment:

I know the OP specified trousers, but I will say that one of the first things I do when I buy a new dress or skirt is take it to the tailor to have pockets put in. I take new clothes to my tailor anyway to ensure the fit is as good as it could be, and when it’s something with a skirt it’s not much trouble to have the seams opened and pockets put in. And then I always have a place to keep my credit card, Oystercard and keys even when I’m not carrying a wallet or purse – which is ideal for me.

• get a runner's phone belt — if none of these things work, here's another suggestion from the readers on our 2012 post: get one of those phone belts that runners use and keep it with you at work. Amazon has a ton; readers also suggested SPI Belts. If I saw someone in the office using one I might wonder for a second about it, but it would ultimately seem smart — but I could also see that if you get one in your preferred base color (such as black, but as we discussed in our post on capsule wardrobes for work, almost any neutral works!) then they'd blend right in and wouldn't be noticeable. 

Readers, do you carry your cell phone with you at work — and if so, where do you put it? Do you hunt for dress pants with pockets, or do you prefer to use a sweater or blazer with pockets instead? Have you bought any great pants for work with pockets lately?

Some social media images via Deposit Photos / GeorgeRudy.

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I'm going to caveat this reader question and my response — ultimately about workplace emergencies — by noting up front that yes, we're going to talk about some of the tiny, minuscule details regarding working in such trying times, namely how to look professional while also being prepared to, you know, run and hide at any moment.

You can't talk about this stuff without acknowledging the bigger issues — the terror and high alert we all live in, the strength of the men and women who work through the fear, and what many see as lackluster laws and/or enforcement. But then again: this is a fashion blog, not The Atlantic — so let's talk about workplace fashion as it relates to workplace emergencies.

Here's Reader A's question:

In light of recent events, my workplace held an active shooter training that was both terrifying and thought-provoking. The leader suggested, among other things, that employees make sure to carry their home/car keys and cell phone on their person at all times (as opposed to in your purse/bag). This isn't hard if you consistently have pockets — but I wear a lot of dresses and skirts that don't have pockets. I was wondering how others might manage this situation.

We live in such crazy, difficult times right now — I'm simultaneously glad for Reader A that she had some training and sorry she was terrified. I remember summering at my law firm in 2002 (in the Financial District, walking distance from Ground Zero); we were advised to keep sneakers in our office and were given a lunch bag with things like an emergency blanket and a protein bar.

These days, it creeps me out that my son's pre-K says they have an emergency shooter plan (but hooray for prep?). As far as being prepared for emergencies at the office — we've talked about attractive ID holders before, as well as emergency preparation — and even about professional pants with pockets — but not in a while, so let's discuss.

(Update: check out our roundup of sleeved dresses with pockets, too!)

As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.

I'm curious to hear what the readers think, but here's my advice:

Keep something with pockets to wear at the office that you can throw on over everything. This is more difficult for women (at least, those of us not doctors) because finding garments with functional pockets is no small feat. (And even if you can find them, the pockets are often too small for much more than a single key, tube of lipstick, or, hey, a tampon — things like a clunky iPhone or a jangly keychain* don't always easily fit inside.)

That said, several of the longer cardigans that are in right now have big pockets — such as this J.Crew Factory one or this J.Crew one.

Another idea: seek out blazers with patch pockets, which usually are meant to be functional.

Some of the best blazers for women in 2024 — great for wearing as separates! — include options from Cinq à Sept, J.Crew (collarless and collared), Everlane, and Madewell. Hunting for a deal? Check out J.Crew Factory and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop).

Of course, you can also search Nordstrom for dresses (or pants, or jackets) with pockets; this reader favorite Lands' End dress also comes with pockets. (Here are my previous thoughts on what to look for in that “blazer you keep at the office.”)

Carry a zippered office padfolio as your notepad. This was my solution, at least for days where I knew I'd be working in a conference room or something and wanted to bring the same personal supplies with me every time, like my phone, lip gloss, tape flags, Post-it notes, etc. It was kind of like a grown-up version of a Trapper Keeper, but I thought looked pretty professional, and it was easy enough to carry with me.

Some of our favorite office padfolios for 2024 are below! If you want something monogrammed, check out Etsy, Leatherology, Levenger, Case-it, or (for a splurge), Smythson — you can still find them at Amazon, Target, or Walmart. (Also check out our roundup of executive clutches and leather document holders, as well as women's briefcases!)

Find a smart phone wristlet. I've often touted wristlets as being great for running to a local spot for lunch, but they would also work in this situation; an envelope clutch could also work. A more trendy version of the wristlet, of course, is the crossbody (or if we REALLY want to talk trendy, the fanny pack) — but know your office before going for either of those options.

A note on shoes. I never think anyone should wear shoes they can't walk in — if you happen to work in a high-risk area (such as near a potential big target like a tourist spot or well-known building, or in a public space, such as a law school library or a hospital), you definitely should consider your footwear. And everyone should keep at least one pair of old sneakers in the office, as well as socks or whatever else you need to make them comfortable.

These won't compare to a pair of sneakers at ALL, but if you travel often for work you may want to consider keeping a pair of foldable flats on you, like these:

Ladies, what are your thoughts on looking professional while also being prepared for potential workplace emergencies? Have you changed anything about your outfits (shoes, pockets, etc.) to definitely make yourself more prepared?

Are there particular days of the year that you feel most vulnerable and dress differently (e.g., September 11 or April 20)? In general, how is your anxiety level — what are you (and your office) doing to make your office a safer place?

*A lot of car dealerships sell extra keys (even fancy car keys with chips in them) for a fee; it may be worth it to just have a single key on you at all times. Here's a Reddit thread on ways to do it more frugally, though.

Pictured at top. 

The post Workplace Emergencies: Looking Polished But Being Prepared appeared first on Corporette.com.

I was just writing something about the best default thing to wear to a networking event (like a conference) where you don't know what to wear — and my answer was, if all else failed, wear “a sleeved dress with pockets.”

 Sleeves because it looks like a complete look — no need for a cardigan or blazer to forget somewhere — and pockets so you have a place to stash business cards, key cards, and more. Then, I thought to myself: good luck finding that workwear unicorn!

Despite lots of readers (year after year!) saying how much they love sleeved dresses — and dresses with pockets! — very few companies are granting that mystical request.

(Psst: here's an old WSJ article about why so many dresses are sleeveless.)

Our Favorite Work Dresses with Pockets and Sleeves

As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.

Great Sleeved Dresses with Pockets in 2024

M.M.LaFleur

MM LaFleur has a number of dresses with pockets — and many are machine washable, as well. This Etsuko dress is one of their long-running best sellers. It's available in five colors, sizes 0P-16, for $195. You can filter all of their dresses for those with pockets — try this link.

J.Crew

J.Crew's dresses have pockets much more often than they used to — in fact, one of the all-time favorites, the Resume dress, has on-seam pockets. It's available in regular, tall, petite, and plus sizes.

Of Mercer

Of Mercer is another great brand to check for work dresses with pockets — this Riverside dress has been one of their best-sellers for years now. It's available in 3 colors, sizes XXS-2X.

Lands' End

Lands' End's inventory of work-appropriate dresses waxes and wanes (their ponte work dresses used to be amazing!) but the one thing they always keep in stock are washable wool sheaths, available in regular, plus sizes, and petites. Not only are they washable — but they often have on-seam pockets as well, such as the pictured dress.

Boden

Boden's Ottoman dresses have been reader favorites for years — it's machine washable, tummy friendly, and comes in a bunch of bright, happy colors (and some striped options!), as well as more sedate black and navy.

Other Great Conference Attire

Dresses for Speaking at a Conference

If you're speaking at a conference and want an amazing outfit, there are a number of great dresses. Note that you should consider whether you'll be miked or not — readers have warned against wearing dresses because the wires will have to go up the back of your dress. Another consideration, of course: whether or not you're going to be speaking on a raised platform, and whether you'll be seated behind a covered table or just seated on a chair.

That said, these are some special dresses that look polished and appropriate for a business event:

The Best Women's Suits to Wear at a Conference

You don't HAVE to wear a suit to many conferences, but if you want to, there are some great travel-friendly suits…

Hunting for travel-friendly suits for women or lightweight suits? As of 2024, some of our favorites include these brands/lines: 1) M.M.LaFleur, 2) Ministry of Supply, 3) Paul Smith, and 4) Talbots. (Not pictured: Eddie Bauer and Suitably! Brooks Brothers also occasionally has suiting in their BrooksCool line, and Uniqlo occasionally has Airism suiting. ) You may also want to check out our roundup of washable suits for women!

Ladies, have you found a favorite dress with sleeves and pockets? Where and when? 

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