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It’s On eBay

Vintage Givenchy Pocket Square

Buy It Now for $49.99

This, from “Old Dog,” is a wonderful example of a well-matched combination of patterns and colors.  The solid-color knit tie allows Old Dog to wear a bolder blue striped shirt.  Note that the color, type of pattern and scale are all different on the shirt and coat.  The bolder blue of the shirt and purple/yellow of the square make an outfit built around tan and brown feel Spring-y.

I strongly recommend you avoid visiting the website of Drake’s of London.  If your resolve is weak, you may be drawn into a world of sartorial fantasy which your lifestyle and income cannot support.  Not that this has ever happened to me, of course.

A couple of pocket squares by Holland & Holland, purchased on eBay from a nice woman in Kent who wrapped them in tissue paper and sealed the tissue with a metallic race car sticker.  Perfect.

There are those who say “why have a complex pattern on a pocket square, when no one will see it?”  Those who get it know that that’s the whole effing point.

I love the way that Mark from Dallas has transformed the most basic ensemble a man can wear - blue blazer and tan pants.  Not just the gingham shirt, but a pocket square in a completely unexpected color.  Rather than picking up colors from his shirt and tie, he’s picking up the color of his pants and his skin tone.  Well done!

It’s On eBay

Drake’s of London Pocket Square

Starts at $14.98, ends Tuesday

David, from Canada (and Hong Kong) looks lovely in this photo, doesn’t he?

Another great example of patch pockets, soft fabrics and natural shoulders making tailored clothes a little less formal, without making them any less elegant.  Also a lovely example of the Churchill dotted tie in white-on-navy, which is about as versatile a tie as exists in the world.  I also love the pocket square, which (unlike most pocket squares) actually takes the formality down a notch.  It’s poking out of there saying, “hey, don’t sweat it, we’re all friends here.” 

Q and Answer: Pocket Squares

Trey writes: I’m a gentleman on a budget and for the price of some pocket squares, I can get a decent shirt. Why are they so expensive?  If I went and bought fabric, could a tailor whip some up for me by just finishing the edges? What’s the deal?

I’ve never asked my tailor to finish a pocket square for me, and I wonder if he would.  The edges of pocket squares are rolled and sewn by hand to achieve a distinctive roundness which cannot be reproduced by machine - it’s a specialized task, and not one I’d imagine most tailors are often asked to perform.  That said, from what I’ve heard, it isn’t especially tough, either.  I suppose my major concern would be explaining to my tailor what I wanted, because his English is a D+ on his best day, and my Korean is a solid F-.  Squares are also often made from fine fabrics which would be tough to find down at the sewing store.

There are ways to get squares cheaper, though.  When I’m in a thrift store, I always check the bin of ladies’ scarves, and I’d say there’s at least one or two men’s pocket silks in there about a third of the time.  They’re also often found on eBay, though you’ll have to pay a bit more.  The buy & sell forum at styleforum.net is a great source, too.  If you happen to live in New York, Century 21 often has an amazing selection at great prices (Robert Talbotts for less than ten bucks each), and I’d guess that’s the source for many of the pieces on StyleForum.

If you haven’t got any, I’d pay for a few basic linen pieces, either from a local men’s store or from an online purveyor like Kent Wang or Howard Yount.  Give yourself a few basic options, then expand from there as the opportunity strikes.