How does a handkerchief

Again, fold in the two long opposite points of the triangle. Instead of leaving the straight edge showing from your jacket pocket, simply turn it around so only the top of the triangle is showing. How to fold a two-point pocket square. Fold your pocket square in half twice so that it forms a four and one-half inch square. Lay it on a flat surface with one corner pointing up and one corner pointing down, like a diamond shape.

Fold the bottom corner up so it sits on the left of the top corner, to form what looks like two mountain peaks sitting side by side. To finish, fold the left side and the right side in towards the middle.

Tuck this straight end into your pocket. How to fold the puff pocket square. Fold your handkerchief in half twice and lay it on a flat surface. Next, pinch the middle of the square and lift up. Tuck the excess fabric into your jacket pocket and leave the pointed edge showing. The value was often created by the quality and design of the lace being used. The Tudor Monarchs continued this exclusive trend with both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth receiving handkerchiefs as presents at New Years and it then started to become prevalent to gift royalty handkerchiefs.

This can in part account for the shape and size that we tend to see today. This style continued to become more popular into the early 20th century as different folding techniques became prevalent, and the pocket square had now established itself as a key fashion accessory for the gentleman that would take pride in his appearance with squares made of silk, cotton or linen, either patterned or plain becoming very popular with the well dressed gents across Europe and the United States.

As the 20th century went on, linen handkerchiefs started to become less and less popular as functional items and this was furthered by the introduction of the cheaper and easy disposable handkerchief by the Kleenex company. In the run up to the middle of the century, there was a further shift as stars such as James Cagney and Fred Astaire once again helped to popularise the pocket square as a fashion accessory, and everyone from the best dressed gent to the average office worker could be seen wearing one.

As the 20th century wore on, pocket squares once again lot their lustre, partly due to the casualisation of work wear and by the end of the century they were once again almost exclusively limited to dandies. Since the turn of the Millennium, pocket squares have started to enjoy a renaissance in popularity and becoming an essential part of the outfit of high profile celebrities and fashionistas alike.

As the working environment has become more casual, ties have been lost and ill fitting suits have become the norm. For the man that wants to stand out from the crowd the pocket square provides a touch of elegance and style.

What is the purpose of a pocket square? For minimal effort an outfit is subtly upgraded. While it is not recommended to match your pocket square precisely to your tie, taking an accent colour can have a strong effect. While white is the classic and can happily live in your jacket, today witnesses a huge variety of colours, patterns and materials. The pocket square is where even the most conservative outfit can have the most elaborate and striking design included.

Lay your handkerchief out on a flat surface and then hit play below to check out my step-by-step tutorial. Or for a quick-fire method, here is a gif from someone online who had the same idea. All it takes is five folds to achieve the perfect shape. The absorbable and thick cotton layers prevent the ick from spreading, and the covers mean you can just close the HankyBook and pop it in a pocket without any worries about germ getting everywhere.

When you get home, toss it in the wash and later it will be fresh as a daisy and ready for another day of sneezes, sniffles and spills. You must be logged in to post a comment. No — this article is focused on actual handkerchief folding.