UNIFORM | Pocket Squares
Photo via Alterations Needed.
I've been noticing (but only barely) that women's blazers are being increasingly designed with functional breast pockets. This is good news because one of the biggest head-scratchers when it comes to women's suiting is that they never have a breast pocket (or interior pockets, but that's another post for another day). No breast pocket means no pocket squares, and that just feels like giant missed opportunity. Why exclude the option for an added color pop—especially since we don't wear ties? Plus, the flamboyance and frill of a pocket square, to me, seems much more suited to a women's ensemble. On the higher end, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith and Paul Stuart have all been known to add working breast pockets on jackets for ladies, but I'd love to know if you guys know of any other designers, it'd be great to compile a list. Would you wear a pocket square?
In the mean time, here are some springy men's pocket squares I'm really liking: Clockwise from top left: Ikat pocket square ($19); Polka Dot Penny Bun square ($32); Floral pocket qquare ($50); Two-tone Linen pocket square ($35); Sid Mashburn pocket square ($55); Buzzy square ($12).
Comments
I'm so envious of the internal pocket that I have considered taking a high-quality but thrifted men's jacket to a tailer to get totally re-done to fit my frame...but perhaps it's better to just have that same tailor add an internal pocket to my lady blazer. =)
http://bit.ly/SeDVIf
that has a breast pocket. I've never opened it up (it has the little stitching to keep it flat right now but I'm positive it's functional) because I never even thought of doing pocket squares. Until now that is... What a great idea!
I know The Kooples isn't exactly cheap, but they do have quiet impressive sales, and even without that, let me tell you, it's worth it!
www.nomadicd.com
But, if you're stuck without pocket, I kind of like the idea of these lapel flowers as a way to add color. They might be a little more on the feminine side, but I think you could make them work.
http://www.hookandalbert.com/lapel-flowers-at-hook-CID268.aspx
As an aside to my studying for law school, I would make pocket squares- I decided a couple of weeks back to make a female oriented pocket square. Would you mind sending me your email so that I can forward a photo, and receive your input for future production notes?
Thanks,
Walter Hnot
wavevector@hotmail.com