Handkerchiefs and Pocket Squares

[schwammy]

Uh, right. Ha ha.

 

[Wild Root]

LOL LOL LOL Sory Dave, I didn't mean to come off like a smart ace. You left your self wide open on that one

Root.

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Hey all,

I'm back, and I have a question.

How do you fold a Handkerchief? Is there any special trick to it?

Thanks!

 

[Matt Deckard]

For the way I do mine, I'll have a tutorial up later today or tomorrow.

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Sweet! Thanks!

Dude, in every picture you always have the best stuff! I looked for almost 2 months here and there is nothing...well unless you want to look straight out of the 70's

 

[Matt Deckard]

Which best stuff are you looking for?

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Which best stuff are you looking for?

You know, suits, hats, shoes, hankies, the works. I have been to every store in this entire city and I only found one suit that remotely looked old.

 

[Brad Bowers]

A couple of other ideas: The Bankers Square, where it's neatly folded and tucked into the pocket so that it shows roughly a half-inch, even across the top.

And my favorite method: I usually wear mine just stuffed in. I drape it over my fist, stuff the center of the linen into my fist, pull it through about half way, leaving the corners sticking up, and just stuff it into the pocket. Sometimes the corners will stick up all day, depending on how much starch my wife has sprayed on them while ironing, and other times, corner will droop, and that's okay too. Gives it character. Everything else is I'm wearing is pressed, neat, and tidy, so the stuffed linen adds an nice unkempt flair.

Anybody know where to get really large linen hankies? I've got some from Brooks Brothers that are pretty good size, bigger than you can get at Penney's and such, but back in the day they had some really large ones.

Brad

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

This site has some good information on how to fold different types.

http://www.neckties.com/foldinginfo.php

 

[Matt Deckard]

I guess I do the reverse puff.

I grab by the center and pull it straight then fold center end up a bit and tuck it in the pocket so the points show. Again, I'll get some pics up soon.

Alot of those folds look over complicated to me and I think when you put too much perfection into a pocket square it makes you look affected. I like it when it is linen or cotton and looks like you just jammed it into your pocket without a care.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

True. The key, as you say, is to make it look just a little imperfect. It is nice to use different folds for different reasons though. A neat, crisp fold is good for more formal events. A more casual fold is better for everyday wear.

 

[Matt Deckard]

1 The flat handkerchief

2 Pick it up by its center

3 Pull it through your looped thumb and forefinger

4 Fold the center up halfway

5 Tuck into pocket

6 Adjust as needed

That's how I do it, and if done right it looks like the flames of a campfire.

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Nice!! I like that style.

So where can we find these things? Is it possible to sew them out of raw material? What is the material?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Your local department store should cary cotton handkerchiefs.

The one I used was straight cotton, though I see no reason why you can't make your own.

I preffer cotton or Linen as you can hand it off to the lady when she needs it, or if you are in dyer need you can use it yourself.

 

[BellyTank]

Fold up a paper napkin- easier to fold and easier on the Gallant man's wallet.
You could have a whole stash of 'em-
You can make Swans and all manner of party favours- impress those chicks!
Some of those paper napkins look almost like hankies...
B
T

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Or....not. I suspect the paper pocket square is the sartorial equivilant of the clip-on tie or the polyester pants.

 

[Wild Root]

I fold mine the way Matt does his! I seem to see it done the same way even in the golden days of Hollywood! Most actors like Cooper, Grant, and Astaire all used this method.

As for the expense of the goods, if you pay a lot of money for linen or cotton handkerchiefs, you're a fool. One can find them at department stores but, what I do is just buy vintage ones from the thrift or vintage clothing shops. The vintage ones are way cooler seeing they have nice patterns and colors that I don't really see today. Yes, some may say: Eeew, a used handkerchief! But I say: The washing machine is a great invention!

I have never spent more then 2 bucks on one handkerchief! No need to blow a bank roll on something as small and simple as a hankie.

Root.

 

[wackyvorlon]

One thing about handkerchiefs, the one you keep in your breast pocket isn't really meant to be used. It's more a decorative touch. In the inside breast pocket, I keep a plain, white, starched cotton handkerchief. This is the one that sees use.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

The vintage ones are cool, Wildroot. I once bought a vintage Haliburton suitcase at an estate sale and when I got home I found two vintage handkerchiefs inside!

 

[zeus36]

Root,

The hankerchief matches your tie perfectly in your photo. Was that on purpose?