Pochette

French term used in women’s clothing to refer to a small and elegant bag without straps or handle, and in men’s clothing a small handkerchief (preferably colorful and not overly pressed) to put in one’s jacket pocket; also used in the 1970s to refer to a kind of leather clutch bag. The term originates from the 1700s, when pockets (in French poches) were not sewn into clothes but were replaced by little pouches that were hung around the waist and hidden under a jacket. The 1920s and 1930s were golden years for the pochette bag, but it stayed on the scene in different sizes and fabrics for the rest of the 20^th century.