Must Have Accessories: The Pocket Square

(2 minute read)

Have you ever noticed a well-dressed man, wearing a tailored, charcoal grey three-piece linen suit, over a neatly starched white dress-shirt, a pair of cherry double monk-strap shoes and a matching belt to go along with it? How about a well-dressed man, wearing a tailored, charcoal grey three-piece linen suit, over a neatly starched white dress-shirt, a pair of cherry double monk-strap shoes, a matching belt to go along with it AND a silk, royal orchid, pocket square tucked in his breast pocket, contrasting yet accentuating the whole attire? I’d bet it’s the latter you’d have noticed more closely.

As much as I would like to think that men these days have a deep appreciation for this 8x8 piece of cloth, I just don’t see many showcasing that pocket square to enrich what otherwise is a perfectly put together attire. The pastels to the vibrant hues, the cotton to the silk fabrics, the bold to the paisley patterns, the presidential square to the three peak folds; the possibilities are endless.

There are many-a-blog posts that instruct on the grandeur of pocket squares; the motley of ways to wear them, the occasions that call for them, and the type – color, fabric, pattern - to augment different choice of clothing. I, in my humble opinion, and with years of experience wearing squares, would like to share what I have found to be helpful tips on Don’ts of  wearing this accessory:

1. Do not wear a dark pocket square with a dark suit – it won’t do much in serving the main purpose of accessorizing, that of standing you out

2. Do not contrast the pattern of the pocket square with that of the shirt or the suit – a paisley square, for example, will be too distracting on a window-pane sports jacket

3. Do not match the pattern of the pocket square with that of the tie – just don’t

4. Do not underestimate the color white – when in doubt wear a white pocket square, it’s universal and goes well with any and all attires and occasions

5. Do not over accessorize - feel free to lose the pocket square when other accessories may be doing a better job at enriching the attire

Gents, pocket squares seem underrated and with that pose a tremendous opportunity for you to stand out.  So be adventurous, experiment with this age-old accessory, but be intentional.