Pocket Square + Boutonniere

[Josephine]

Who said anything abouit matching ties to pocket squares?

My question to you gents out there is this: is it a faux pas to wear a matching tie and pocket square?

Widebrim was asking.

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

Widebrim was asking.

Boy do I feel dumb. :eusa_doh:

 

[Bugsy]

Be daring and wear both. I do.

This is the black tie look that I ultimately hope to achieve, but I have heard that wearing a pocket square and boutonniere is a faux pas. What are your thoughts (if I were to wear both the PS would be white linen)?

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Pretty suave,huh? And on a side note,what do you think about the pocket square in the link posted? I would rather have a linen PS without the border,but this one is extremely budget friendly. If anyone can offer insight as to other places where one can get a white linen pocket square on the cheap, I'd appreciate it.

http://www.paulfredrick.com/catalog/PFCLProductDetails.aspx?Category=CLAccessories&ProductId=QUC152&MySearchString=&myOrderClause=&mySortClause=asc&FromProductCheckFlag=1&Callingpage=pfclcategory&Slno=1

I also plan on getting a red silk from Mens Wear House ($6.99 for a silk PS,hard to top that) to wear when not sporting a boutonniere.

 

[Dashing1]

The flipside of this thought is people try to look so casual, dashing, and classic they look extremely contrived.

I've yet to see anyone trying to look "too casual" with a pocket square.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I suspect casual was being used in rather a different sense. More effortless than lack of effort.

Not being a wearer of pocket squares (too fussy for me) i have little to add to the discussion, so English it is.

bk

 

[Geesie]

I've heard that it's better to coordinate the pocket square with the shirt than the tie.

 

[B. F. Socaspi]

I've heard that it's better to coordinate the pocket square with the shirt than the tie.

And I've heard perfection lies in having a pocket square not overly-coordinated with the tie nor the shirt, but complimenting both.

Why must beauty hide in the details!

 

[Dashing1]

The great men of style always have a practiced isouciance. Archibald Leach practiced to become Cary Grant. Gary Cooper used to drag his denim jeans & shirts behind a car until they had the proper "naturally" worn and frayed look. The key is to own your look with confidence.

As pocket squares go, I would argue that it looks far more sterile and contrived to match the square to the tie than to show a bit of (perhaps intentional) sprezzatura.

One would be hard pressed to show visual examples of non-tie-matching pocket squares that look contrived, whereas one can find numerous examples of silly-looking matching square-tie combos!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Just look over at certain StyleForum-ites (also sometime members here). They can contrive to make anything look contrived. Or all the perfectly imperfectly angled hats up in the hats section … is 30 or 35 degrees from the horizontal brim the perfect insoucance?

I honestly think that Cary Grant's look really does come from not caring whether something was slightly off. Not from caring that things "must be" slightly off.

bk

 

[Dashing1]

A better way to frame the matching tie-pocket square debate might be to ask, "Can anyone show visual evidence of a man widely considered to be consistently really well-dressed (e.g. Cary Grant, George Clooney, Douglas Fairbanks types) who wears matching pocket squares and ties?"

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Great question!:eusa_clap

It hasn't come up yet in this thread, but so that we don't go through it again I shall here interject with a reminder to consider the meaning of "Matching" and "Co-ordinating" before posting.

bk

p.s. I assume we are excluding white tie attire. That would be too easy.

 

[Dashing1]

It hasn't come up yet in this thread, but so that we don't go through it again I shall here interject with a reminder to consider the meaning of "Matching" and "Co-ordinating" before posting.

bk

Good point, Baron!

By "matching", I mean "made from the same fabric."

 

[Baron Kurtz]

see my edit, also.

I fear a thread hijack warning should be initiated. Sorry folks.

bk

 

[Dashing1]

well, to get back to the point...

Yes, a boutonniere and square are not only acceptable, but are quite dashing (if I may say so!)

Pics abound of Fred Astaire with both, and Cary Grant also wore both (see the cover of the book, The Boutonniere: The Syle on One's Lapel).

Wear them in good health & style!

 

[Tomasso]

Cary Grant also wore both (see the cover of the book, The Boutonniere: The Style on One's Lapel).

Interestingly, the author is the former head of Brioni, which is the only high end maker (to my knowledge)that offers matching tie/pocket square.

 

[Widebrim]

Boy do I feel dumb. :eusa_doh:

Don't worry about it, chum!

 

[Highlander]

I often wear my favorite blue silk (wth red dots) pocket square with my blue suit. Pictured with it is my Grandfathers's silk pocket square he always wore.

I do agree though, I'd never wear a pocket square that matched my tie.

 

[GWD]

Interestingly, the author is the former head of Brioni, which is the only high end maker (to my knowledge)that offers matching tie/pocket square.

Wow, there are books written about EVERYTHING!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

For any that haven't read it, that is an excellent read.

bk