House of Fraser Blog

They’re back, they’re quintessentially English and if you’ve never had a bash at wearing one, then now’s the time.

Yes gents, the humble pocket square has returned to the forefront of formalwear and if you play your cards right, it’ll elevate you in the style stakes – from rough diamond to sartorial superman.

To get the look right, check out our foolproof tips, collated by our very own dapper gents about the office, Luke and Aaron…

Top tips:

Colour:

Luke: ‘One of the first things to figure out is colour. You should coordinate the hue of the pocket square with the hue of the tie, or for added sophistication try matching it with the hue of the tie pattern (rather than the background colour).’

Aaron: ‘I agree with Luke, but I think an exact match of pocket square to tie can sometimes look a bit cheap. I like the colours to complement each other but not match exactly.’

Folds:

The classic one point

Luke: ‘One of my favourite folds – and the easiest way to wear a pocket square. Made for formal occasions, you should wear a white square with a tuxedo and solid black bow tie for a striking, elegant look. Think Martini, think casino, think Brosnan – superb.’

And here’s how you do it:

1. Open up the square and fold it in half lengthways
2. Fold it again in the other direction (so you have a square)
3. Position your square in a diamond shape with the non-folded edges at the top
4. Fold the left hand corner into the centre of the square
5. Fold the right hand corner into the centre of the square to meet the other point
6. You should now have something resembling a bacon and cheese folded pastry (I’m serious!)
7. Slide this into your pocket (the square, not the pastry…)

The square

Luke: ‘Another dead easy style, the square is good for tuxedo nights, but I prefer the one point…

How to get squared:

Just follow the same steps as for the classic one point, but instead of inserting it with the point upwards, insert it so that one whole edge of your square is poking out horizontally.

The puff

Aaron: …’this is a slightly less formal fold but great for when it’s too hot to wear a tie but you still want to cut a dash around the office.’

How to perfect a puff:

1. Lay your pocket square flat
2. Pinch the centre of the square with your fingers and lift it up leaving the corners to drop down
3. Wrap your thumb and forefinger around the hanging square at its midway point.
4. Fold the hanging points up and stuff the square in – keeping the ends pocking out the top of the pocket

And, finally – don’t get your squares mixed: a pocket handkerchief is made from linen woven cloth or white cotton cloth – perfect for giving a clean, finished effect. Meanwhile, pocket squares are made from fabrics like silk, cashmere or wool for a softer feel.

To smarten up your wardrobe, check out our selection of pocket squares…