A pocket square is a simple and classic way to instantly add a touch of individuality to your suit or jacket. A different pocket square and tie combo will give your standard work suit a new lease of life each day.
Don’t be put off from trying out a pocket square because you don’t know how to fold one and think it might be fiddly. Once you get the hang of the different folds it takes no time at all.
Now on to the important bit, how to fold a pocket square. There are five main ways to fold a pocket square – flat fold, one point fold, two point fold, three point fold or make it look like you didn’t fold at all with a puff fold.
Flat pocket square fold
Turnbull & Asser Printed Silk Pocket Square, £65, Mr Porter
This is the easiest fold by far and also the most formal. This fold is also known as the presidential fold.
- Lay the pocket square on a flat surface
- Fold the left side over the right side so that you have a rectangle
- Now fold the bottom up just short of the top
- Place the pocket square in your breast pocket so that the horizontal line of the pocket square lines up with the horizontal line of the pocket
One point pocket square fold
Rubinacci Printed Pocket Square, £95, Mr Porter
- Place the pocket square on a flat surface
- Fold square in half diagonally (corner to corner) to create a triangle
- Fold left side of the triangle in
- Do the same on the opposite side to create an envelope shape with one point at the top
- Place the pocket square point-up in your jacket pocket
Two point pocket square fold
Lanvin Colour-Block Silk Pocket Square, £50, Mr Porter
- Place the pocket square on a flat surface
- Fold one side over diagonally so that you get two triangles which overlap, angle the fold slightly off centre (creating two points), you can chose whether to have one tip higher than the other
- Fold left side in
- Fold right side in
- Place the folded pocket square in your jacket pocket with the two points poking up
Three point pocket square fold
Drake's Paisley Print Silk Pocket Square, £55, Mr Porter
- Place the pocket square on a flat surface
- Fold square in half diagonally so that you get two triangles which overlap, angle the fold slightly off centre (creating two points)
- Fold the bottom left corner diagonally up at an angle so that it joins the two points already at the top of the fold, position so that you have three points next to each other
- Fold the bottom right corner inwards so that it’s flat across the bottom and the same width as your jacket pocket
Puff pocket square
Etro Printed Silk-Twill Pocket Square, £75, Mr Porter
A puff pocket square is the most casual of the bunch – perfect for a jacket and chinos moment.
- Place the pocket square on a flat surface
- Pick up the pocket square by pinching it at the centre
- Make a ring around the pocket square with your thumb and index finger using your other hand and slide it down almost to the bottom
- Fold the bottom over
- Tug the pocket square in your breast pocket. Don't worry too much about the final result – it’s supposed to look a bit uneven
Now we're finished with the folding bit, here are three pocket squares worth practicing your folding technique for. A plain one-colour pocket square also works well, if you’re going to a black tie event wearing a white pocket square is the correct etiquette.
Silk Colourblock Pocket Square, £25, Jaeger
Modern colours and colour blocking make this pocket square anything but old fashioned.
Navy Linen Check Pocket Square, £6, Topman
This simple linen pocket square will look great with a neutral blazer and keep your summer style on trend.
5 Pocket Square Pack In Polka Dot, £24, ASOS
Simple polka dots and smart colours make this neat pocket square set from ASOS a bonus for any man who means business. There’s one for every working day of the week.
