Skip to main content

Friday Pocket Square Style. . .

 

 
The upper half of today's later Zoom meeting with colleagues and some additional work-from-home activities, featuring a festive pocket square I purchased about 15 or 16 years ago in Chicago at Marshall Fields before Macy's took over.  The display of men's pocket squares was something to behold.  Rack upon rack and several large tables displayed them in their hundreds.  It was a dandy's paradise, but I spared The Grand Duchess, looked around quickly, and purchased just this one since we were on our way somewhere else. 

 
And the lower half, featuring corduroy jeans and my faithful old suede camp moccasins, which are my 'go to' at home shoe during the cooler half of the year.  And no socks. Yes, I know.  I know.


Still quite chilly here at Totleigh-in-the-Wold, so the oxford cloth, tweed, and cords are still very comfortable.  I find that this particular tweed jacket from J. Press, another 'go to' piece, is the most comfortable indoors because it is less heavy than, for example, those by Harris or various Irish makers.

As far as pocket squares go, this one was dug out from the bottom of my pocket square jar this morning to brighten up today's ensemble and celebrate the approaching end of the term.  We have a single week of classes left after today.  Hallelujah and amen brother!

Now, I understand that some out there do not care for pocket squares, finding them effeminate, affected, of simply louche.  I don't know about that.  I prefer to take a page from the book of journalist Gay Talese and see them as colorful, festive accessories that help us celebrate life and the simple act of being alive through our attire.  Unless one is attending a funeral or memorial service, why not liven up things a wee bit?

In any case, there are guys out there, who might like to venture into pocket square territory, but they worry about how to fold and wear them.  In the interest of ease, I suggest that stuffing the square into your coat pocket and simply forgetting about it is the way to go.  Unstudied and unfussy, yet just the final touch your sports jacket or blazer pocket needs.

 Try it yourself and see.

-- Heinz-Ulrich




Comments

  1. CharlottesvilleApril 16, 2021 at 12:16 PM

    A particularly nice specimen, Heinz-Ulrich. And for a funeral, I would suggest half an inch of a simple white linen or cotton handkerchief peeking out of the breast pocket of one's navy suit, worn in the "TV fold." As I commented recently on Ivy Style, a naked pocket just looks unfinished to me.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

All opinions are welcome here. Even those that differ from mine. But let's keep it clean and civil, please.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

Popular Posts

J. Press Goodness. . .

    F resh out of the UPS box, three examples of J. Press goodness on a Friday morning.  These shirts are replacements for three recently worn-through, more than 20-year old OCBDs from Land's End (two) and L.L. Bean (one).  They were purchased shortly after I took my first teaching position at a now defunct local college outside of Minneapolis, immediately following graduate school, as the fall semester kicked off in September 2003. While some professional gear hung in my closet already, a few additional items were needed at that point to round out the weekly rotation. Said shirts all finally fell prey to small rips showing up in the now very thin, but incredibly comfortable, fabric within six weeks of each other this winter and early spring.  So, time for a few replacements.  The old friends will find new life as summertime lawncare shirts.  Of the three new items above, my favorite shirt is on the right, but one cannot go wrong with a light blue OCBD either, so we're in good
2 comments
Read more

Time for the Ol' Switcheroo?

  W ell, here we are approaching mid-April.  And it might just be about time to swap the cool and cold weather attire for warmer weather gear this coming weekend.  Mid-70s Fahrenheit yesterday, and low 70s today.  Cooler after that later in the week, but I can probably stow the heavier wool items and cords in the cedar closet and safely bring out the warm weather suits, odd jackets, and pants until the fall. Still time of one last hurrah today however.  Cooler enough this morning for a tan pair of cords paired with that recently arrived J. Press jacket.  The latter is light enough, although it is wool, that I might just keep it handy since we can certainly have chilly days in May and June. While classes end on the April 19th this year, I'll still be on campus occasionally into June, so it's not exactly time for khaki shorts, Madras, seersucker and short-sleeved polo shirts just yet.  There's also  conference coming up in New Orleans at the start of June, so still some oppor
Post a Comment
Read more

Job Talk #3. . .

  C andidate #3 is, for my money, the person for the job.  Considerable experience, broad perspective, well-connected throughout the college and university due to an array of collaborative pursuits of one kind or another, coherent and detailed vision laid out for the next three years and beyond.  Yes.  I am not on the committee that makes the recommendation to the dean, who will make the final decision and send the letter, but, were it up to yours truly, this is the guy.  And he wore an actual suit (mid-gray), dress shoes, white shirt, and necktie as an added plus.  20 years or so my junior, but someone gets it. -- Heinz-Ulrich
1 comment
Read more