The Dress Shirt Pocket Poll

[Matt Deckard]

I've never been a fan of dress shirts that don't have at least one pocket to toss a pen or a phone into at the spur of the moment. If I'm out without a vest and just gotta find a spot for something like a comb, pants pockets just don't cut it in a pinch. I need that dress shirt pocket.

I know many men think the cleaner look of a shirt that has nothing on the front other than buttons is dressier, and it is if you are wearing the shirt with a tuxedo, but day in day out shirt wear to me, means you need that extra spot for that small notepad.

What do you think?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

No pocket for dress shirts.

Crazy asymmetrical pockets for chambray and other work shirts


I have six vintage european pull-over dress shirts and not one of them has pockets.

 

[gtdean48]

All my dress shirts have them & have had them. Only ones without are those worn with tuxedos....

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Utility - Dress shirts are prefered with a pocket. I now have to utilize reading glasses. (Not pleased with this part of aging.) The chest pocket on a dress shirt works well for holding the glasses at my desk while I move around papers. Move around papaers and then back on my head. Interruption and the glasses go back in the pocket with one bow out.

Style - Dress shirts with a pocket require some extra attention when crafting. I prefer the fabric to 100% matched to the body. Patterns on dress shirts abosolutely need 100% matched to pattern on body. Pockets come in different styles. The corners, from different bespoke makers are options as (less frequently) well as sizes of the pockets. Being small of stature, I appreciate that the shirts are proportionate and therby, IMO, look sharp. The pockets then do not offer crazy contrast with a thinner tie or other items.

Placement of the pocket I am picky about. How many of us have a dress shirt with the pocket too low? Man that is just unacceptable.

If I wear a sweater vest or a blazer/jacket, the pocket issue is mute. The pocket gets hidden.

Phone - I do not know about you folks, but my Iphone is big enough to make the shirt hang funny. I do find that heavier items belong on the chest pocket.

Best, Eric -

 

[m0nk]

I like pockets for daily wear. The only shirts I have without pockets are more of the standard "informal" and "formal" wear dress. I'll wear those only for evenings out or special events. Otherwise, pockets are a must since I always seem to have more to carry than I have pockets for (altoids, cigars, cutter, lighter, wallet, phone, pocket square, keys, etc).

 

[esteban68]

Dress shirt definately no pocket IMHO, a dress shirt to me is to be worn with a tuxedo etc, however I prefer to have at least one pocket on (usually the left) on my shirts, two on a work or western shirt...and I really wish all shirts came with snaps like on most 'western' shirts even 'dress' shirts should have them down the front as I've lost count how many studs I've lost whilst dancing!

 

[BR Gordon]

I don't like the look of shirts with pockets, but every time I wear one without pockets, I seem to need the pocket.

 

[Tomasso]

With double (French) cuffs, no; but with barrel cuffs, yes......

But then they're usually button down collar with double pockets and button flaps. Lord, I have a hundred if I have one, in a myriad of colors/fabrics.

Royal oxford cloth is a favorite.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

With double (French) cuffs, no; but with barrel cuffs, yes......

But then they're usually button down collar with double pockets and button flaps. Lord, I have a hundred if I have one, in a myriad of colors/fabrics.

Royal oxford cloth is a favorite.

Wow, that shirt is extremely nice, not only the material itself but the color really stands out.

I have different dress shirts with and without pockets, I do prefer at least on pocket on a dress shirt, (not so much with a "formal" shirt for tux) but I think the shirt with a pocket on it does add to the overall look in a positive way. Wearing a dress shirt with a jacket or suit, you do have pockets aside from what may be on a shirt. However, to have that pocket on the shirt seems to be the very first place I prefer to install someone's business card if given to me or a small list of what I may need to pick up while out and about for shopping issues.

I tend to do some extra creases on a shirt while ironing it, and the pocket or pockets on a dress shirt being creased right dead center going up the front of the shirt and then dead center going across them, make the shirt (in my opinion) have a sharper look to it. I tend to iron all my shirts in the same way even if they have no pockets there, even a button up casual shirt.

 

[RobStC]

No doubt the pocket can be useful, but for me the clean lines of 'no pocket' win every time. Having said that, I pretty much always wear a jacket when out and about, and I don't work in an office etc. environment, where carrying something in the pocket would be either necessary or useful..... So I simply don't need the pocket!

 

[fluteplayer07]

I always used to wear pocketed dress shirts, and used the pocket. But years of having them too low, baggy, awkwardly sized, finally got to me. The clean lines and smooth elegance of a pocketless shirt won me over... Bit of an adjustment not having a place for a pencil, small notebook, glasses, etc, but I got over it soon enough. With barrel cuffs it's okay (when executed properly) but definitely not french cuffs.

 

[Cobden]

Prefer not to have one, as I never use it, but it's not something I'm overly fussed about

 

[SteveAS]

I really like having a pocket on a shirt for business/daily wear; as Matt suggested, it's nice to be able to use it now and then.

Is a shirt pocket really inelegant? If an empty pocket on the front of a dress or sport shirt is the most inelegant part of your attire, you're a long way more elegantly dressed than anyone I encounter!

 

[Gin&Tonics]

I prefer the look of no pockets, but I have to admit the pocket frequently proves extremely practical. I tend to wear waistcoats more often than not, which more than compensates for this of course.

 

[Johnny J]

I have 1 dress shirt with no pocket and when I wear it I always find myself needing that 1 pocket, so yes on pockets.

 

[nihil]

Breast pocket on a dress shirt? It must be an American thing

 

[nice hat dude!]

Isn't it there for your smokes...I know I'm going to hear it from the nonsmoking faction put them in the garbage,my only reply is that somebody has to pay the taxes in this country(haha)

 

[nice hat dude!]

No pocket for dress shirts.

Crazy asymmetrical pockets for chambray and other work shirts


I have six vintage european pull-over dress shirts and not one of them has pockets.

Maybe it's me but I didn't realize dress shirts came in the pullover variety,maybe send a pic so I'll understand?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Oh another american/british thing. I am sure Matt Deckard meant normal shirts for every day use not the formal (evening) shirts.
Read it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dress_shirt

Formal shirts with breast pockets would be completely stupid.


Here is one of my vintage shirts.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I don't see why. No more stupid than formal wear in general, which is very, very stupid.

No pockets for me.

Formal shirts with breast pockets would be completely stupid.