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Why do people put handkerchiefs in suit pockets?
Less simply put: you use a handkerchief to blow your nose, mop up spills, or even just to dab the sweat off your brow. A pocket square’s function is style – it can be used to express your creativity, to create a dapper 1920s feel, or simply to add a pop of color to an otherwise drab suit.
What is the cloth that you put in your suit pocket?
pocket square
In addition to carrying for practical purposes, handkerchiefs have long been displayed in the chest pocket of men’s jackets. Used in this way, they are referred to as a pocket handkerchief or pocket square.
Can handkerchief be used as pocket square?
What is the difference between the handkerchief and pocket square? Simply put, a handkerchief is useful, a pocket square is decorative. Both can look alike and can be made from the same fabric—both can be offered in the same dimensions, but both cannot be interchanged.
Why is it called a handkerchief?
The word handkerchief was originally ‘hand kerchief’ and came into popular use in the 16th Century. Kerchiefs were small pieces of cloth that, since around the Middle Ages, were used to cover the head and hair.
What is handkerchief in suit pocket called?
The term pocket square (or the less common pocket handkerchiefs) is used to refer to an accessory that has an ornamental role: made with precious and refined materials, it must be carried in the pocket of the jacket or blazer and serves to characterize the look and the style of a male outfit.
When did handkerchiefs go out of fashion?
The pocket handkerchief went out of fashion in the 60’s, a decade when many so-called ”new wave” suits dispensed with chest pockets entirely.
What do you call the handkerchief in a suit pocket?
A handkerchief (/ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/; also called a hankie or, historically, a handkercher) is a form of a kerchief or bandanna, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric or paper which can be carried in the pocket or handbag, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one’s hands or face, or blowing one’s nose.
How to fold a pocket handkerchief?
1) Place the handkerchief on a hard flat, surface. Position it so that one corner is facing up and one is facing down. 2) Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner. You should have a triangle now that’s half the size of the handkerchief. 3) Partially fold down the top half. Grab the tip of the bottom half you just folded up. 4) Fold that triangle up again. Grabbing the tip bring it back towards the top of the pocket square. 5) Repeat this fold downward. Each time we do this the triangle gets smaller, and we create another step (like stairs) on top of the last fold. 6) Fold the tip upwards. This is the last time you do this kind of fold for the Three Stairs Fold. 7) Turn the pocket upside down. The folds should be intact and facing the table. 8) Fold the right side over to the left. You should now have a triangle about one fourth the size of the whole handkerchief. 9) Rotate the handkerchief 90˚ counterclockwise. The new halfway fold from the previous step should be facing up and to the left. 10) Fold the bottom left corner halfway to the center. This is similar to all of our earlier folds and serves the same purpose or creating a stable base. 11) Fold the bottom right corner halfway to the center. You should now have a flat bottom line to fit into your suit. 12) Tuck the handkerchief in your coat pocket. Adjust the look to your liking and smooth out any creases or wrinkles.
How to tie a handkerchief?
1) Lay the handkerchief down on a hard, flat surface. 2) Fold it diagonally. Make two overlapping triangles with the tips next to each other, rather than overlapping evenly. 3) Take one of the side corners and fold it up at an angle. It should form a third tip together with the first two. 4) Fold the other side inward at a 90-degree angle. This will give you a flat bottom. 5) Place the folded handkerchief in your suit jacket pocket. You should see the three tips poking out of the top.
How do you fold a handkerchief?
Place the handkerchief down flat on a hard surface. Any table with an uncrowded space will be ideal.