Pocket Square for Suit

Should you wear a pocket square with your bespoke suit?

Oh, the good old pocket square. One year in style and all over fashion magazines – the next it is forgotten, like it never was a choice to reckon with.
However, the pocket square has made a sharp comeback in recent years and this time it looks like it’s here to stay (we hope).
The pocket square dates back centuries, used as a perfumed square of cloth for the upperclass, so to avoid the drenching smell from the lowborn surrounding people (yeah, sounds snobby). Nowadays it of course has different purposes. Today, the pocket square is used to finish off the perfect look of your bespoke suit, and in some cases, it even replaces the tie (and goes really great with a bow tie).

So, now you may sit there puzzled, asking yourself whether you really need to wear one with your bespoke suit, or not. Is that right?
Let’s give you a few pointers, so you can make a qualified choice.

Why wear a pocket square

See a pocket square as a small accessory that you can add to your outfit. It allows you to express yourself and can help you with varying your look, without having to buy a lot of different suits. A pocket square helps add a bit of interest to your appearance without you looking like a man that is trying too hard.
There is no accessory that reflects the confidence in a man, as that of a pocket square, really. Pocket squares demonstrate your self-confidence, as well as your astuteness in all matters of personal style.
A pocket square also helps your everyday work clothes look more festive, as it adds a bit of color to the overall toned-down suit.

Also, a pocket square will help you make your blazers and suits ready for party in a blink of an eye.
Lastly, if you need one more reason, wearing a pocket square is sending the signal that you’re a man who cares about the details!

When to wear a pocket square

Largely it can be said that when you wear a suit, or blazer, and want it to be more festive, it is time for the pocket square to step in to the game.
Your suit instantly becomes ready for party, if you loose your tie and undo the top button of the shirt and add a patterned, or bolder-coloured pocket square.

On the contrary, a pocket square can actually also help your suit or blazer to look more formal, when you wear both a tie and a pocket square. The magical unison. The pocket square helps with adding some formality and practically goes with every tie in your wardrobe.

On hotter days, when you don’t want to wear a tie, it is also a good time for you to replace it with a pocket square, as it does the same job as the tie does – smartening up your suit or blazer. A pocket square conveys elegance in formal wear, confidence when worn with suits, and sophistication when worn with sport coats and blazers with or without a tie.

Here’s an even easier rule to follow.

Do you have a chest pocket? Wear a pocket square!

How to choose the right pocket square

A pocket square can be patterned or solid. If you follow the general guideline there is on suits (yes, there is one), then you should match the color of your pocket square to some color on the tie. If your tie has a bit of blue in it, get a solid, or patterned blue pocket square in there. You don’t need to match the colors exactly though, as it makes you look like you’re trying too hard. If you’re not sure, buy a white pocket square – it goes with everything. Literally.

To sum up, a pocket square can help you lift the look of your tailored suit, or even add new life to an older outfit you’d still like to wear once in a while.
The unique touch of a pocket square shows a bit of personality and flair, even with the most slight tones and understated patterns. It demonstrates an element of creativity, and will often balance out the hard lines of a sharp suit with a slightly softer finish to make the wearer more approachable.
If you have invested in a tailored suit, a pocket square will really show off the finer details of a quality outfit.
Picking out colours in the tweed, or matching fabric types will enhance the suit’s appearance.

We suggest you to be a bit daring and wear a pocket square whenever you have donned a suit jacket, or blazer with a breast pocket, on formal suits, day-to-day office suits and for the get-go-party look! Does your look include a blazer? Here’s the pocket square!

If you should have questions about pocket squares or would like to know more about certain other aspects of suits, accessories or any other tailoring-related topic, please do let us know by getting in touch via our contact form or via E-mail.