Well, l went to Hermes' today and enquired about pocketsquares. They quoted me $220.00 ASD (about $170 U.S) for a silk square (l nearly fell over when l heard the price). This is too much to pay.

Are there any good trustworthy websites that sell Hermes' pocketsquares for more reasonable amounts?

Last edited by The_Shooman (2007-08-03 01:52:57)

I think the suggested prices are high. And I feel undressed without a pocket square. I don't know why. But it just seems like the finishing touch. The idea is to add color. The last time I bought linen pocket squares at Brooks they went for three for $45, maybe it's 3 for $60 now. wait for a sale. Press does some fancy pocket squares in silk. I actually don't know what they go for maybe under $45 US at the sale. I've tried to wear a pocket sqaure for 20 years now. I notice that some people who didn't used to wear them now do. that is all I can say. tom

I really dislike the squares with piped edges.  They strike me as one step up from the matched tie/square set where instead of a perfect match, you pick a piped square to pull out one of the colors in your outfit.  It is way to contrived for me, but personal taste is personal.

I don't have much problem with high priced linen or cotton squares.  Some of the Simmonot-Godard squares are really superb, and at $55 they are pretty well priced for the quality.  Silks can be worth it at an even higher price, but many of the costliest are also the ugliest.

I wear pocket squares and before that I didn't notice their conspicuous absence. Now I notice the pressing marks on other men's suits when I see their empty breast pockets. I wear mostly linen and find that white linen works best. Most men don't seem to wear them which tells me that getting too vivid makes you stand out too much. I marvel that it seems every store I go to sells pocket squares but no one wears them. Is our entire country buying them then placing them away in a bureau drawer?

One thing about pocket squaes that gets me into trouble with Americans. Although i dont always avoid it if it happens accidentally, I dont necessarily wear them in relationship to anything else I have on. Thus, If I have a blue suit on with a blue bengal striped shirt and a blue and pink mixed geometric tie, I might plop a yellow pocket square in there with say blue outlined geometric shapes. I suppose there's some relationship with the blue there but most dont see it that way and it bothers them. I actually have some fun especially with women who do never ending but subtle double takes across my chest.

The pocket square shows that you're interested in your clothes. So, if your clothes don't fit or are shiny or of low quality, you look ridiculous. Then there are problems with matching and folding. I wore navy Hermes and Charvet pocket square for 20 years and then switched to RLPL plain (but bordered) white linen square or the Charvet white cotton (also nicely bordered) when I was really trying, along with gray double-breasted birdseye suits, white Charvet french cuff shirts, etc. I don't have the patience to coordinate and, more importantly, my (newest and best) wife thinks they're gaudy. They all sit in the drawer. But I do think you are better dressed if you can pull them off. Astaire, the Duke of Windsor,  and Gary Cooper all wore them. But, on the other, they were a rarity among the college well-dressed "back then".

Regards,

Steven

It is true that a pocket square will last forever.

But a cheaper one will last as long as an expensive one.

Don't forget that you will only see a very small part of the pocket, so no need to have a very complicated pattern or a very high quality silk.

Even if it is not hand stitched, who cares if your make a puff?