What Is the Best Material for Pocket Squares?

Pocket squares can level up your style like nobody’s business. There’s just something about the originality and aesthetic about it that turns heads.

However, wanting to wear a pocket square is one thing; choosing one that fits your look and style is another. According to Stylish Alpha, one of the areas you have to look at real closely when selecting pocket squares is the fabric.

Today, we’ll start your pocket-square education by shedding light on the different fabrics they come in. So, will it be cotton, silk, or linen? Find out what suits you best by reading on!

The General Rule

When should you wear a particular fabric? Should it matter? The general rule for most is cotton and linen are casual, while silk is formal.

Of course, the exception to this rule is a super-crisp cotton pocket square in white that looks impeccable paired with a black and white tuxedo or white dress shirt. This “James Bond” look is guaranteed to draw all eyes towards you.

Pocket square fabric selection is mostly dependent on the fabric of your suit jacket. Most of the time, you want to match these two to create a great overall look.

So, linen goes with linen, while cotton goes with cotton. If you’re going for more refined jackets like wool, then pick a fabric that’s just as refined for your pocket square, such as silk.

Diverging From the General Rule

Style and fashion are subjective, so you can always bend the rules if you want to. The outcome might not turn out as good in the eyes of other people, but what matters is that it looks good to you.

While the general rule is the safest choice and works most of the time, you can opt-out of it when building a unique style. Still, even when you’re heading down this path, it helps to establish a solid foundation of the basics.

Knowledge of the fundamentals of suits and pocket squares allows you to experiment in a tasteful manner. Though styles that seemingly go beyond the bounds of fashion are still fashion, it helps when your choices are actually to other people’s liking. Despite what you might think, it’s still important to be talked about for the right reasons.

Classifying Pocket Squares

In light of sticking to fashion rules, below are the kinds of pocket squares to go for on different occasions.

Weddings

For this special occasion, you want to stick to a pocket square made of refined fabric, like velvet, wool, cashmere, or silk. Pair this with either a bow tie or necktie, and make sure to stick to simple colors. Go pastel if it’s a day wedding and dark if it’s an evening event.

Also, bear in mind that you aren’t there to make the strongest statement. Sure, you want to be talked about but never more than the bride and groom. It is their day, so it’s only proper to remember that when choosing your outfit and accessories.

Business

Cotton, linen, and wool fabrics take the cake when it comes to pocket squares worn for business events. They’re best paired with a necktie in a similar dark shade. Navy, burgundy, or green would be perfect for these occasions.

Of course, you don’t want to forget the rules about keeping things simple and demure for events like these. Although you can mix things up by adding little creative accents to your look, please don’t overdo it, as it could make you appear unprofessional.

Weekend Lunches

Then, there are pocket squares you break out during the weekends. These can be made of casual and refined fabrics, depending on the occasion. You’d be fine with either tweed, cotton, linen, or silk.

Leave the necktie at home because we don’t want to appear too formal. Just throw on a jacket of contrasting texture to your cotton shirt, and you’d be good to go. Color-wise, no one can stop you from going all out.

When it comes to weekend events, you have free reign over shades and hues for as long as you choose ones that complement each other. That said, where you don’t have control is in the rules. Don’t go for anything too formal for these events. Stick to chinos and opt for the pocket square instead of the tie.

Pocket Squares Can Make a Difference

Pocket squares have definitely become the stylish man’s accessory of choice these days. And why not? They carry with them a novelty that you just can’t ignore whether or not you have that taste in fashion.

That said, wearing a pocket square without knowledge of proper selection can be a recipe for disaster. In particular, you first want to educate yourself on fabric selection since that tends to have the most significant bearing on how your overall look turns out.