Pocket Square Guide

Bring a touch of glamour to your suit with an old-school pocket square. Adorn your breast pocket with a pocket square to bring more color and life to your outfit. If it?s a formal enough occasion to wear a suit, then it?s formal enough to wear it with a pocket square.

No clashing

Clashing prints and colors is often a way to give your outfit a unique look. Not so for pocket squares. Your pocket square should complement your shirt, tie and blazer. This doesn?t mean that you get them all in the same color- quite the opposite. Pick colors and patterns which go with, but are not exactly the same as, other aspects of your outfit. For example, if you are wearing a navy tie, a navy and white polka dotted pocket square would be an ideal match. Or, if you have a patterned tie, pick a block-colored pocket square in one of the colors featured on your tie. Your pocket square should always be a different color to your jacket, or it will blend in too much.

Fold it

A pocket square is not simply shoved in your pocket. There is a multitude of ways to fold your pocket square, which is literally square shaped but must be coaxed into an envelope shape for the most basic fold. The simplest one-point fold will end up looking like a triangle sticking out of your pocket. Unlike is the case with ties, the simplest fold is also the most elegant. However, if you want something a little more advanced, try experimenting with a two-point or crown fold. There are plenty of great tutorials that you can find online, so it?s simple to create a complicated looking fold even if it?s your first attempt at a pocket square.

Different folds have different levels of formality. The basic one-point is fine for all occasions, but two-point is better for a more formal outfit.

Choose silk

Silk is the best material for a pocket square. Cheaper imitations of silk are also passable, but of course don?t have quite the same effect.

Be careful with choosing cotton pocket squares. Block colors are fine, but be wary of some patterns as it can look like you?re trying to masquerade your snotty handkerchief as a pocket square. On that note, the pocket square has absolutely no practical purpose. It is not a handkerchief; do not blow your nose on it!

The white pocket square

If you have enough colors and patterns in your outfit already, you may not want to add a similarly loud pocket square. A plain white pocket square, in silk or linen, is the perfect solution. It provides some relief from all your crazy colors, while still drawing the eye. A white pocket square can also be worn with a plain black suit. It may not always be the most exciting option, but it goes with everything. If you?re yet to invest in a pocket square, start with a white one.