The Pocket Handkerchief

[Paul]

Anyone wear a tartan handkerchief?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Anyone wear a tartan handkerchief?

Not with a kilt, and for exactly the same reason I eschew tartan flashes-- it really seems to me to be just that bit too much!

With a dress Argyll jacket, or any evening coatee, I only wear a white linen handkerchief in my breast pocket.

With day wear, or informal* evening wear, I might wear a coloured handkerchief in my breast pocket (A la Sandford).

*for me, informal evening wear would be the Highland equivalent of wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and conservative tie to a nice restaurant.

[Asser 1]

I am well acquainted with both books you are referring and have observed the Duke of Rothesay as well as his great Uncle Edward (Duke of Windsor) with their pattern mixing panache. As Flussler says Edward could kick about in combinations that no mere mortal could concieve of.

If I have jacket on kilted or not I have a silk in the pocket, what other purpose does that little pocket have? It also "never" exactly matches the tie but compliments the tie or shirt or all of the above. I might add experimentation is key, I have had a few disasters that have not been repeated.

One final word, the arrangement in the pocket must look unplanned, almost an afterthought. Much the same reason I eschew a pre-tied bow tie because they are too perfect.

My compliments to JFSMACLJR and his stylish wardrobe and great examples of wearing a silk properly. To quote Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 as James Lovell "Gentleman this is how we do that". Well done!

[Ancienne Alliance]

... It also "never" exactly matches the tie but compliments the tie or shirt or all of the above. I might add experimentation is key....
One final word, the arrangement in the pocket must look unplanned, almost an afterthought. Much the same reason I eschew a pre-tied bow tie because they are too perfect.

Yes , my point exactly. This is why I like silk so much. You can create some elaborate puffy structure with it.

Of course this can also be done with linen but I personally keep away from pocket handkerchiefs folded in a flat, crisp way. A bit to static for me.

An interesting point made in those books, is that opposed textures should be encouraged.
For instance a silk handkerchief on a tweed; linen on a shiny jacket etc.


Best,

Robert