The London Lounge

Call me bloody minded and contrary but is a pocket on a dress shirt so reprehensible?

I need them, I use them, I want them.

Just as the charm of a button down shirt, worn with suit, is its soft collar and juxtaposition of formal and casual, why not the shirt pocket on dress shirts?

Can't we get some dispensation on this point from the arbiters of classic style?

By "dress shirt", I assume you're considering a shirt to wear with a suit, not necessarily for morning or evening dress. I assume so because you juxtapose with a button-down collar.

If I've interpolated correctly, then I don't see the issue - unless you're trying to keep up with narcissistic investment banker colleagues, for whom the pocket is perhaps a sign of one who occasionally is called upon to perform manual tasks without his suit jacket. Oh the ignominy!

For dressier occasions, with a jacket, you shouldn't need that pocket. If your shirt is doing double duty and needs the pocket sometimes, don't worry, you can't see it under the jacket.

Which all makes me think I haven't properly understood the question.

A pocket is very useful if

1. You work without your coat; and

2. You need to carry something which is traditionally carried in a breast pocket, such an ID card, pens, and glasses. (Forget about pocket protectors! Also, it's a sin to carry something bulky in the pocket, such as a cell phone. )

However, a sans pocket is more elegant.

Additionally, there is an ergonomic conflict between a pocket and braces and the irrelevance of a pocket when wearing a waistcoat.

Anonymous wrote:Additionally, there is an ergonomic conflict between a pocket and braces and the irrelevance of a pocket when wearing a waistcoat.

The first point is correct and is a very important consideration.
As for the second, most of my waistcoats are now with flap lower pockets and no upper pockets, so a shirt pocket could still be handy if I didn't wear braces and want someplace to stow some reading glasses (you can always clip a pen to the inside of the waistcoat front or shirt placket). Anticipating the future need for reading glasses (a decade away, I hope) I am considering having an eyeglass pocket put on the inside of my new waistcoats. That too would eliminate any conceivable need for a shirt pocket for me but I don't know about you.

As a rule, I don't get pockets on my shirts and don't miss them. But if I thought they were useful for me, I would not hesitate to get them.

dopey

Anonymous wrote:
As a rule, I don't get pockets on my shirts and don't miss them. But if I thought they were useful for me, I would not hesitate to get them.

dopey

I wrote the above bit on braces and waistcoats, don't know why I didn't sign. I think that Dopey really has this one right, build the garment to meet your needs and uses. If you use a pocket, then have a pocket. I don't use shirt pockets or back trouser pockets and so don't have them put on if something is made for me. But I'd never go so far as to look crosswise at someone who did and I'd avoid the mandarins who do.

DDM

On this issue, I am all for utility.

Yes, go ahead and have a pocket put on your shirt.

Although you can't buy a RTW London shirt with a pocket, if going bespoke then do have a pocket added.

Bespoke is bespoke; have what you want made as you want it.

The Italians won't give you a hard time on this point. They also don't wear braces.

The English on the other hand have different ideas and won't want to add a pocket.

So who are you? Italian casual elegance and individualistic . Or English propiety.

Anonymous wrote:Also, it's a sin to carry something bulky in the pocket, such as a cell phone. )

Forgive me, father, for I have sinned. I always carry my cell phone in my shirt pocket and I miss it terribly on the few shirts that don't have one. I have a relatively large and heavy cell phone (can't & wont' change it, it's useful that way) that simply throws certain jackets out of balance if I store it in an inside pocket, so I must put in the shirt pocket. I only have a problem in summer when I wear short sleeve shirts, because it does look bad then - but what can I do?...

Costi