• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • No Man Walks Alone one of our oldest sponsors owned and operated by one of the most discerning buyers I know, is right now offering up to 50% off on their winter sale. Browse their extensive selection of mesnwear, shoes and accessories, and get something truly special, like this special collaboration Western style shirt by G. Inglese in a rich, thick, and luxe brown cotton moleskin, with subtly contasting yellow snaps

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

When to leave out a pocket square?

spectre

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
1,025
Reaction score
504
I'm sure there are several outfits which look better without a pocket square.

Off hand I am thinking maybe a heavy and strongly patterned tweed jacket or suit...perhaps when you are already wearing two patterns and even a simple white linen square is too much.

Any others you can think of?
 

Astaroth

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
346
Reaction score
41
At a job interview is pretty much the only time I will leave out a pocket square from a jacket.

For my patterned tweed I have a cream cashmere pocket square that I think works well and dont think I've got two patterns that go together where a pocket square wouldnt also go.
 

EliodA

Distinguished Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Messages
3,774
Reaction score
6,833
I'm sure there are several outfits which look better without a pocket square.

Off hand I am thinking maybe a heavy and strongly patterned tweed jacket or suit...perhaps when you are already wearing two patterns and even a simple white linen square is too much.

Any others you can think of?

I find myself leaving out a pocket square more often lately. But not so much because of too many patterns, but rather when I'm in the mood for a minimalistic look. When I feel a pocket square, rather than adding something to the whole, merely distracts. Below is an example where I decided to leave out the square because I couldn't think of one that would make the outfit look better. A white linen might have been an obvious choice, but I wanted to avoid that because of the white shirt. Also, a practical consideration: some jackets - like the one in this example - have rather tiny patch breast pockets. Those don't look elegant when stuffed full of pocket square, IMO.

IMG_8413.jpg


Oh and in addition to job interviews (which at my age I no longer go to), I leave them out when attending funerals too (which unfortunately tend to become more common).
 

spectre

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
1,025
Reaction score
504
That's a perfect example E - that jacket certainly stands on its own and even a simple white square would overdo it IMO. That's the sort of thing I was thinking of...mainly when you want a totally minimalist look, which can be nice.

Job interviews and funerals are good examples and I agree that a plain silk with tweed jacket looks effective, as long as the pattern is not too extravagant.
 

Astaroth

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
346
Reaction score
41
Small pockets can finally make use of some of the undersized squares that so many companies seem to insist on making.

Personally I would be wearing a pocket square with that jacket but each to their own.

The funeral one is possibly more complex, I have unfortunately been to two recently and the majority of men had pocket squares where as at the two weddings and christenings I've been to its probably less than 20% that did. Most were fairly plain white linen or silk in a simple fold but a few had more flamboyant prints in puffs etc
 

MikeDT

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
4,272
Reaction score
282

I'm sure there are several outfits which look better without a pocket square.

Off hand I am thinking maybe a heavy and strongly patterned tweed jacket or suit...perhaps when you are already wearing two patterns and even a simple white linen square is too much.

Any others you can think of?


When you're not doing a professional photoshoot for Style Forum WAYWRN.
 
Last edited:

BigBadBernard

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2015
Messages
224
Reaction score
94
Practically always leave them out. A handkerchief (let's call it by its name please) is almost always a needless distraction and affectation and best avoided by the understated dresser.

The only time I ever use them is with a tweed jacket when worn casually at the weekend. The only way they are ever acceptable with a business suit is if they are plain white and square folded, and even then they always bring a whiff of vulgarity to proceedings.

No excuses. Awful iGent posturing. Just don't do it unless you wish to look like Terry Thomas.
 

spectre

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
1,025
Reaction score
504
Interesting. Bit dogmatic maybe, but interesting.

Does a pocket square make an outfit less understated or minimalist or not?
 
Last edited:

YRR92

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2012
Messages
2,345
Reaction score
1,840
Does a pocket square make an outfit less understated or minimalist or not?
Of course.

But I think the time to leave out a square is whenever you don't feel like wearing one, and the time to wear one is whenever you feel like wearing one. I do find that people who habitually wear squares tend to wear patterns differently than people who don't: there are shirt/tie/jacket combinations that work without a square, but wouldn't work with one.
 

BigBadBernard

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2015
Messages
224
Reaction score
94

Interesting. Bit dogmatic maybe, but interesting.

Does a pocket square make an outfit less understated or minimalist or not?


By its nature a pocket handkerchief is a stylistic flourish designed to draw attention to the wearer, which is why I believe it should be avoided in the normal course of events. It looks like one is trying just that bit too hard, which is not an impression I think it is sensible to give off.
 

Astaroth

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
346
Reaction score
41
By its nature a pocket handkerchief is a stylistic flourish designed to draw attention to the wearer, which is why I believe it should be avoided in the normal course of events. It looks like one is trying just that bit too hard, which is not an impression I think it is sensible to give off.

Isnt every item of clothing a stylistic flourish? A patterned tie is louder/ more stylistic than a plain white/ off white pocket square.

Personally I think they break up the monotony of the sea of fabric that the front of a suit is without one. If its a flourish depends on the material, pattern, fold etc.
 

EliodA

Distinguished Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2013
Messages
3,774
Reaction score
6,833

By its nature a pocket handkerchief is a stylistic flourish designed to draw attention to the wearer, which is why I believe it should be avoided in the normal course of events. It looks like one is trying just that bit too hard, which is not an impression I think it is sensible to give off.


6YG1yja2SKuUD8Z2qEZoXXGP7J7bN5S9_vyW-TMSJlKUvCiim25LpH88uyIEyC6Ih5BJDROB0gsrRoRCZF6y42O7RbAnuUjCOJZdwwVepH8WpbSP3aYZYPzCJuZ6mC_Fix4SB4thsm6-=w260-h320-nc
 

Featured Sponsor

How do you prefer trousers to be finished?

  • Plain hem

  • Cuffed (1.5 inches or less)

  • Cuffed (more than 1.5 inches)

  • No preference, as long as the proportions work


Results are only viewable after voting.

Forum statistics

Threads
523,138
Messages
10,747,607
Members
229,753
Latest member
Atomic Z06
Top