Pocket Square or Handkerchief for My Wedding???

To help you decide which of these you might want to wear at your wedding, we provide you and grooms everywhere this easy-to-use guide to smart style!

Hey, John!

I need your help! Hannah and I are getting married at Ainsworth House & Gardens in October and I still don’t know if I should pick a pocket square or a handkerchief as the groom. What’s the difference?

Thanks for your guidance!

Your friend, Dallas

Hey, Dallas!

You’ve got this and I can help!

A pocket square and a handkerchief perform two quite different jobs in men’s fashion: Each is worn for a different reason for a different event. The formality of the event (or lack thereof) often determines which of these you select.

Once you know the purpose of the pocket square and the purpose of the handkerchief, you probably will never confuse them again.

Let me explain:

What is a pocket square?

It is a fashion accessory to improve your look.

Unlike a handkerchief, it does not have a practical purpose.
A pocket square is made from silk, wool, or an expensive fabric.
A pocket square is worn with a tie and a suit (or tux) to formal events.
A pocket square is thinner and smaller than a handkerchief so that it fits into a breast pocket easier than a handkerchief.
A pocket square can match your tie’s pattern and fabric OR match the pattern but in a different fabric OR pick up the primary color of the tie but in a different pattern.
Many stylists use a pocket square to balance the colors of your outfit.
It can be folded into a flat one point or two point presentation.

What is a handkerchief?

Long before there were tissues in a box, men stuffed a handkerchief into their pockets to wipe sweat from their brows and/or blow their noses at the decibel level of a moose bellowing in the forest.
(Some men were quieter…)

A handkerchief was primarily practical and made from easy to wash cotton while a few made out of richer fabrics were fashion accessories for suits.
Usually made from cotton.
You can launder them and use them again and again and again…
Since a handkerchief is larger and thicker than a pocket square, it rarely replaces a pocket square due to the handkerchief not easily fitting into a suit’s smaller front pocket.
When details are added or a higher quality fabric is used, it becomes a fashion accessory.

Pocket Square or Handkerchief for My Wedding???

Hey, John!

I need your help! Hannah and I are getting married at Ainsworth House & Gardens in October and I still don’t know if I should pick a pocket square or a handkerchief as the groom. What’s the difference?

Thanks for your guidance!

Your friend, Dallas

Hey, Dallas!

You’ve got this and I can help!

A pocket square and a handkerchief perform two quite different jobs in men’s fashion: Each is worn for a different reason for a different event. The formality of the event (or lack thereof) often determines which of these you select.

Once you know the purpose of the pocket square and the purpose of the handkerchief, you probably will never confuse them again.

Let me explain:

What is a pocket square?

It is a fashion accessory to improve your look.

Unlike a handkerchief, it does not have a practical purpose.

A pocket square is made from silk, wool, or an expensive fabric.

A pocket square is worn with a tie and a suit (or tux) to formal events.

A pocket square is thinner and smaller than a handkerchief so that it fits into a breast pocket easier than a handkerchief.

A pocket square can match your tie’s pattern and fabric OR match the pattern but in a different fabric OR pick up the primary color of the tie but in a different pattern.

Many stylists use a pocket square to balance the colors of your outfit.

It can be folded into a flat one point or two point presentation.

What is a handkerchief?

Long before there were tissues in a box, men stuffed a handkerchief into their pockets to wipe sweat from their brows and/or blow their noses at the decibel level of a moose bellowing in the forest.

(Some men were quieter…)

A handkerchief was primarily practical and made from easy to wash cotton while a few made out of richer fabrics were fashion accessories for suits.

Usually made from cotton.

You can launder them and use them again and again and again…

Since a handkerchief is larger and thicker than a pocket square, it rarely replaces a pocket square due to the handkerchief not easily fitting into a suit’s smaller front pocket.

When details are added or a higher quality fabric is used, it becomes a fashion accessory.

If you are wearing a suit or a tux to your wedding, you probably want a pocket square rather than a handkerchief.

If you have any other questions, please reach out to me.

Your friend in the wedding business,

John Shyne

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Images below are from the Ainsworth House & Gardens Gallery.

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