Hello,
I'm a new reader of your blog, and I must say I'm enjoying
it thoroughly. As I read it, I realised that I had a question I haven't found a
good answer to and it’s been bothering me no end: what is the best way to store
one’s pocket squares? I tend to fold them loosely then roll them up, but this
can often lead to an unsightly crease or fold line that I feel obligated to
hide. Surely there must be a better way!
Thank you,
Ben
-
Hi Ben,
Cotton or linen handkerchiefs should just be folded into
quarters and kept in a draw. Nothing untoward needs to be done to them, but
probably best not to roll them up.
Silk handkerchiefs can be kept folded loosely in the same
way, but they are also very versatile and can be stuffed somewhere or even tied
into a knot to help keep them secure. They will develop creases this way but these
are usually fairly minor and won’t be seen when the hank is stuffed into the
pocket anyway.
I keep my silk handkerchiefs tied and stored in a large
glass jar. It makes a nice decoration and you can see pretty much all the
handkerchiefs at once, just by turning it around. It was inspired by a similar
display I saw at the Etro store in Milan once. Etro makes lovely handkerchiefs,
too.
Hope that helps
Simon
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I actually think that the best advice which can be given as to clothes or in this case small square pieces of fabric is to relax and enjoy them. Lots of people get hung up over their maintenance, which is understandable if one has invested a G in a nice suit, but when it comes to appreciation of the clothes and general piece of mind I think its sanest to go with the simple rules of hanging stuff up, ensuring it is free of human or animal excrement and then taking pleasure from wearing it. If you fret too much about your clothes then that's going to show through one way or another and you're not going to pull them off so well. Otherwise you might be afraid of climbing trees or fishing for minnows and other such wholesome pursuits.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of pocket squares, unless you're wearing them in a highly regular fold, they just get messed up anyway (the fluff and plop method or whatever you call it is pretty much the ideal way to crease them), so just roll with the creases a little. The chances are that you will be the only one to notice.
I agree. The only thing I would that everyone should do is brush their shoes and suits regularly. Saves a lot of time (repolishing) and money (dry cleaning)
DeleteYes, I completely agree with shoes. Once you have them to a high shine it is relatively easy to maintain it, so long as you don't leave it too long and lose it entirely.
DeleteDo you find that brushing suits helps? I know plenty of people do it so I guess it must have logic to it, but I don't ever notice any difference. I tend to get suits dry cleaned once a year anyway, when they're going out of season.
It's much harder to see the value of brushing, as it just prevents long-term damage. But particularly important with bespoke tailoring, which you want to ever avoid dry cleaning if possible
DeleteThis is a great question, and one I think of every time I put one away in a very disorganized manner. Thanks for your answer. I'm not sure what you mean when you refer to a "knot." You mean you just take two of the corners and tie a regular knot?
ReplyDeleteEssentially, though leave a large loop at the end. It doesn't really matter either way though.
DeleteAn excellent question and most interesting responses. I agree, when it comes to worrying about creases and what not, splendidly louche is the way forward. I'm quite a fan of the varied ways of folding a pocket square, it adds a bit of variety to the proceedings.
ReplyDelete