by James Field

Pocket Science

Fieldy’s top five:

• Have two on you. One for show and one to blow.

• They are not old fashioned.

• They show an awareness for attention to detail.

• Let them complement the colours you are wearing, not absolutely match and mirror.

• Wear them!

So you’ve mastered folding your underpants? Learnt how to pack your t-shirts? Even your shirts and trousers? Congratulations!

It’s time to face your final challenge….

Origami.

(Of sorts…)

THE HANDKERCHIEF

Historically, white handkerchiefs had been used in place of a white flag to indicate surrender or a flag of truce; in addition to waving away sailors from port. King Richard II who reigned from 1377 to 1399, is widely believed to have invented the cloth handkerchief, as surviving documents written by his courtiers describe his use of square pieces of cloth to wipe his nose. Certainly they were in existence by Shakespeare’s time, and a handkerchief is an important plot device in his play Othello. In the 1930’s Fred Astaire was a true ambassador.

BANDANAS

Handkerchiefs also evolved and became a practical solution to holding hair back, as a fashionable head accessory. Remember these guys?

and umm…

Anyway…

Here’s a little fact for you: When the company Kleenex came on the scene, they thought their success would lie in a disposable paper handkerchief to remove makeup. But we all had other ideas, and started blowing our noses into them. This changed their whole marketing strategy and DNA of the company.

THE POCKET SQUARE

Indeed, these days the ‘Hanky’ is often the one to be found in your trouser pocket – used to catch your coughs and sneezes, while the ‘Pocket Square’ holds more of a stylistic purpose and is far more interesting to talk about!

For many of us (you and me excluded, of course) they might be considered as something old fashioned. Something that was once a ‘staple accessory’ but now looks pretentious. Trust me when I say – it REALLY isn’t. They work so well with or without a tie, and what they DO do is show an awareness for the art of attention to detail.

THE ONE RULE

If it’s not a white pocket square, then all you need to remember is:

The pocket square needs to complement what you are wearing. It does not need to match.

I always think it is a person trying too hard that has a matching tie and pocket square. If you’re not sure then grab a bit of advice before stepping out the front door.

THE ORIGAMI BIT

So which way should you fold your pocket square? My favourites are “The Four Mountain”, “The Flat”, and “The Puff”.

There are a host of ways to do it, but to avoid boredom for you dear reader, and RSI for me, I’m going to show you the 6 I think just about cover it:

THE ONE POINT

THE TWO POINT

THE THREE POINT

THE FOUR MOUNTAIN

THE FLAT

THE PUFF

In conclusion: wear one.