Good day, folks!
Let’s just skip the foreplay and get right into the bare bones of the topic with a little anecdote from my childhood.
When I was a kid, I remember my grandpa Gilbert dressing up in a sober, yet elegant attire for the Sunday mass. We are in the early 80s, in Saint-Esprit (which coincidentally translates in English as Holy Spirit!), a small town in Martinique — that tiny island nestled in the Caribbean Sea, part of the French West Indies archipelago.
Every given Sunday, the very last finishing touch to his methodical and unchangeable “getting ready” process is to tuck a perfectly ironed, neatly folded, scented square piece of fabric in the side pocket of his pleated pants.
“I want one too, grandpa!”
He looks at me with an infinite care in his wise look, put a dash of Eau de Cologne on a similar piece of fabric that he hands me and I too tuck it in my Bermudas pocket.
Later at the mass, it feels so hot. I glance at my grandpa wiping off the sweat from his forehead. I imitate him. The citrus scent of the cologne on this sturdy yet soft piece of cotton is definitely refreshing. I feel like a grown up.
This is my first encounter with a handkerchief.
As you will have understood, a handkerchief is an accessory which is only designed to be functional. Soak up your sweat, blow your nose, gallantly offer it to the fragile soul sitting next to you at the theater and moved to tears by the tragic play — you get the point.
I personally do not find it very appealing to carry around a square full of mucus so when it comes to the blow, I prefer to stick to disposable hand towels. Thank you, Kleenex!
Ok enough with the blowing now; let’s talk about the showing!
Let me make it clear to you: the one and only reason why you do have a breast pocket in your suit jacket/blazer is to accommodate a pocket square. It is that simple so please don’t leave that breast pocket empty!
A pocket square is also a square piece of fabric but this one has purely and solely (I insist!) a decorative function.
There are various fabrics, prints, styles, folding techniques (and even shapes) when it comes to pocket squares and I won’t go into some fastidious details here.
Instead, I will only tell you 3 things you might want to know:
1 – There are no specific occasions to wear a pocket square.
A formal Black Tie event may call more for a neatly folded white linen pocket square à la Mad Men, or when you have a fancy night out with a date would allow you to show off a flamboyant silky pocket square effortlessly tucked in using the “puff fold”. True!
But the bottom line is no matter what your personal style is, if you do have a breast pocket, fill it!
2 – Pocket squares are fun!
I always say that elegance lies in subtle details. Here’s your chance to express your personality through such a tiny, but oh so noticeable accessory! Pocket squares are so much back into Fashion that you can really dig out every kind of piece – for any budget – from classic and fancy to edgy and playful. I personally always wear a jacket/sport coat and I do feel naked sans pocket square. Try it, it’s addictive!
3 – Only rule: don’t be the matchy-matchy guy!
You have definitely seen the infamous and cheap “hanky set” always on sale in department stores and you may have thought they were a good idea for a graduation party? Well, that’s a big no-no! As a rule of thumb, just remember that your pocket square should never be totally matching your tie. Rather, it should complement an underlying or complimentary color of your neck-wear. But it can totally also enhance your shirt, your suit, or even some smaller accessories like your belt or socks.
If you didn’t know, now you know.
Are we now ready to show some panache?
Coolly yours, K.
HAPPY SHOPPING!
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