The London Lounge

What exactly is the difference between a handkerchief and a pocket square? What should their dimensions be?

Should the handkerchief suitable for a gentleman's use be plain only? If it is an Irish linen handkerchief, can it have lace patterns or be embroidered with flowers?

Please refer to the following:-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0025058991

as an example.

14 x 14 is a nice size for pocket squares, although hard to find in RTW offerings. I've heard some say 7 x 7 which doesn't seem right.

18x18 is the best for me. A lot of RTW breast pockets are skimpy and cant take them, but a nicely shaped breast pocket can.

www.givans.co.uk has some very nice ones in the fine quality line.

You can also give Bonfatti's a try. I can only recommend them:
http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/forum/vie ... t=bonfanti

Happy Stroller,


There is no correct answer to your pocket square question.

1) As Iammatt says you need to take into consideration the size of your pocket

2) You should also consider the thickness of your fabric.

3) And of course do you like your pocket square to just peek out of the pocket, be a normal size or overflow?

Mr Hober

As a resident silk, tie and pocket sqarue expert you might be able to give our readers a short primer on maintaining their silks: cleaning, ironing, storing etc

Thanks

M Alden

Gruto wrote:You can also give Bonfatti's a try. I can only recommend them:
http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/forum/vie ... t=bonfanti

I forgot about those. They look nicer than the ones that I suggested.

But what about the pattern for white handkerchieves? Is it preferrable for these to be plain, from the point of sartorial correctness, or is it OK for them to have some embroidery, colour or pattern, including white (thread)-on-white (background) ones? I am thinking of a cultural environment which is conservative and WASPish/English High Society type.

HappyStroller, I think you can find lovely vintage linen handkerchiefs on ebay; there are many deadstock/never used examples available. I prefer at least a 12" square. My personal policy has been to avoid scalloped edges as well as embroidery and applique. I do have some nice woven designs, and of course printed ones.

For white handkerchiefs, plain white with a hand rolled edge is the most conservative. I also enjoy a hemstitch for some visual interest, however:



The above is a vintage linen handkerchief I purchased new with tags.

This is a detail of my favorite vintage linen pocket square, made in Switzerland. The linen is very fine. Note the woven design on the border as well as the contrast edging:

Thanks, Alan, for posting those two wonderful images.

I was particularly intrigued by the first handkerchief, the plain white one.

Wonder why it had a row of holes(?) next to the rolled margin? Would this particular handkerchief happen to be one of those special handkerchiefs which have hidden stitches?