Post: #51

@Twi,

Sorry to have to bear the bad news, but take that solid black dress shirt and throw it directly in the trash bin. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

This goes for pretty much all dark solid dress shirts (black, red, cobalt blue, purple, etc.).

Nothing screams Men's Warehouse like a dark solid dress shirt. Fine if you only have budget to shop here, but no need to look like it. Men's Warehouse is the only place to try and convince you that this is OK. But think about who you are listening to first...I bet the sales guy's last job was at America's Tire Factory.

Sorry to pick on you, using this as an example to help all on the board. (And the high end suit game indeed works...my suit closet has gotten me laid more than once...)

Just to be clear, I'm not snubbing on the budget (we all start somewhere).

Post: #52

(03-03-2014 09:14 PM)anonymous123 Wrote:  @Twi,

Sorry to have to bear the bad news, but take that solid black dress shirt and throw it directly in the trash bin. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

This goes for pretty much all dark solid dress shirts (black, red, cobalt blue, purple, etc.).

Nothing screams Men's Warehouse like a dark solid dress shirt. Fine if you only have budget to shop here, but no need to look like it. Men's Warehouse is the only place to try and convince you that this is OK. But think about who you are listening to first...I bet the sales guy's last job was at America's Tire Factory.

Sorry to pick on you, using this as an example to help all on the board. (And the high end suit game indeed works...my suit closet has gotten me laid more than once...)

Just to be clear, I'm not snubbing on the budget (we all start somewhere).

I have to disagree here.

Pairing a solid fitted, black dress shirt with a grey suit and loud pocket square is a look that pops.

The key is the fabric and the suit you pair it with and the key is knowing the difference and how to 'spice' it up.

Pairing a loud pocket square and lighter dress shoes counter balances it.

Examples of solid color dress shirts kicking ass and taking names below:

Post: #53

Agree with CMQ

It is about contrast and looking sharp and not like a full retard mens warehouse dork.

The issue is again most guys have terrible attention to detail. That and i am a bit of a cunt (okay a huge cunt) when it comes to picking clothes. IMHO the only guy who looks good in CMQ's photos is the first guy bc the buttons match the square.

2nd dude looks like a funeral goer
Last dude is full on guido weirdo look you see in vegas... notice not "d-bag" but weirdo

Post: #54

CMQ - Well, I guess it is also the audience you are after. I'm speaking from the perspective of someone that buys high end suits. All of those model examples are trying for the "cool" look. Even have the scruffy face and the "my hair might looked messed up but I spent an hour on it."

Second dude is in a rent-a-tux from Men's Warehouse. If they weren't models they would look down market.

And it definitely is about the material.

But, I've read your stuff and have respect. I just run a different game than you. I go with the successful businessman look.

Post: #55

Relevant: I just posted a blog post breaking down the most popular pocket square folds and step by step instructions and diagrams for each fold.

How To Fold A Pocket Square: The Playboy's Ultimate Guide

Post: #56

Like your stuff Mcqueen but you should give credit to Samhober.com for the how-to illustrations, if only to protect yourself from legal liability.

Post: #57

I've been rocking pocket squares for the past 4 weeks and the difference is night and day. I'm already a sharp dresser, but the pocket square has taken things to the next level. Increased ioi's, sometimes very blatant, random chicks complimenting me in the street and stores, better service, more dates, easier alpha projection, the list goes on.

What a difference a little piece of silk makes. Quit often I'll be mistaken as the boss of where ever I'm hanging out at (tickles my ego a little) and this is happening more often with the pocket square in play.

Along with baking soda and acv, the square is a must have, but only for sharply dressed players (if it's the style you rock). I think that congruency is the key. Bravo to GManifesto and the other contributing gents for bringing this straight up pimp juice to light.

Post: #58

I have a pocket square that came with a plastic card attached to it. It is not attached to anything and my pocket square slips into my pocket and I have to readjust it every few minutes. What to do to stop it from slipping into my pocket? Tape it?

Post: #59

It's hard to find a jacket without an upper pocket, so you might as well fill it.

Post: #60

For on the budget players, Jos A Banks (Jose Banks, haha) has some really loud spiffy squares. The great thing about it is that I don't get too phased when girls steal it. ($16)

I probably lose 5-10 squares/year from random girls. I did 1 loop at the club once and somebody jacked my square. Dammit.

I have my 50-60 dollar squares too, but I almost never wear them out. Id be really pissed if somebody stole those..

Post: #61

I've also had good luck at tie bar, 10 dollars for a hand-rolled square.

Post: #62

Mid range priced but these are convenient in more ways than one: http://www.travelteq.com/Pocchiali
Same great IOI's, less fuss.

Post: #63

If I understand right, wearing horizontal lines, such as a square-folded pocket square, can make you look shorter and wider. Wearing a triangle-folded or puffy pocket square can help make you look thinner and taller. If the square has a bold pattern it can have the same effect.

So, you need to experiment to find the fold and pattern that gives you the proportional image that you're looking for. If you have broad shoulders and chest from weightlifting, should you emphasize it with a square fold, or contrast it with a triangle fold?

Post: #64

@DVY - funny you should mention Jos A Bank. I went to a shit hole bar this past Thursday. Very few good looking women anywhere. Then this smoking hot chica rolls in with her Beta boyfriend (or, he thinks he is her boyfriend). I went outside and sat down, and then this chica walks outside and sits down next to me. After about fifteen minutes I just said "so, out of all the places you could sit...why did you just walk over and sit next to me outside". She said "you look extremely confident, which is rare, and that suit doesn't exactly look like it came from Joseph A. Bank."

I'm going to hit her up tomorrow - she sent me her text that night at like 3am to make sure I had her number (presumably when she was by herself). (this is top shelf poosy...but I'm on a hot streak!)

Post: #65

(04-14-2014 07:39 PM)Carlos100 Wrote:  So, you need to experiment to find the fold and pattern that gives you the proportional image that you're looking for. If you have broad shoulders and chest from weightlifting, should you emphasize it with a square fold, or contrast it with a triangle fold?

Haven't really thought about that but it depends on your stature. If you're already tall it shouldn't matter otherwise they can add to that illusion of height in the same way that peak lapels can.

I'm not a fan of matching PS's to ties and/or shirts (white being the obvious exception). Smacks too much of the 'prom-rental' look and you can't really be taken seriously. You may as well wear matching braces.

And please in case this wasn't bleeding obvious, never, ever use a hankie as a pocket square. Too much bulk and if it's that checked hankie pattern, screams 'cheapskate'.

Pocket squares are pretty much de rigueur for me if the jacket takes one. Why else is the pocket there?

Post: #66

(04-16-2014 03:35 AM)JWLZG Wrote:  I'm not a fan of matching PS's to ties and/or shirts (white being the obvious exception). Smacks too much of the 'prom-rental' look and you can't really be taken seriously. You may as well wear matching braces.

Hey matching braces could be good hook.

I'm experimenting with correlating colors with pocket square and tie - blue tie with a paisley blue/silver square, black and dark orange paisley tie with a bright orange square... Today I killed it with a dark gray shirt, pink/silver tie and a bright pink square on a light gray suit. Compliments left and right.

Post: #67

After experimenting with different colored shirts I still go back to the neat white linen square with white shirt combo. The Draper, the Connery, whatever you call it, I like it. I let the tie do the talking for boldness as it's easy to have too much going on.

Sometimes I see such an overstatement of colors and accessories that I get a headache. Bright shirt, brighter square, flower lapel, deep medium blue suit, leather bag with carrying handles so long it looks like a purse - all at once in the daytime. Then there are the guys with a pocket square tied onto a pocket square (probably tied onto another) - I think clowns carry those for birthday parties. I never knew pocket squares could get that serious.

If I'm wearing a blazer sans tie, I like to tease out an intricate paisley square. It's got enough presence without being too sugary.

Post: #68

I was out in Manhattan last night. Roughly half the guys who were wearing a jacket had on a pocket square. I felt like I was at a RVF meet up.

Post: #69

I am looking for high quality pocket squares. Any recommendations for stores or online options? What brand are you guys using? I have been to Boss, Banana Republic, and Calvin Klein recently and they had very little selection. I bought a red silk one today for 17 dollars at Macy's. They only had Club Room.

Post: #70

Buy them online from Styleforum's used marketplace or Ebay. I've gotten some decent ones this way. Sometimes guys sell them in lots, which is a good way to get a wide variety for not much money.

Post: #71

(09-25-2014 03:38 PM)Drazen Wrote:  Buy them online from Styleforum's used marketplace or Ebay. I've gotten some decent ones this way. Sometimes guys sell them in lots, which is a good way to get a wide variety for not much money.

Thanks Drazen

Do you go with Silk? Any particular brand that you prefer?

Post: #72

Edit: ^^^ wizard!

http://kentwang.com -very good quality at a decent price. handrolled

thetiebar.com- ok quality, cheap, not handrolled. good for some starters

http://putthison.com very good quality, expensive

look on Ebay , but don't buy the cheap Chinese ones they are trash. Look for vintage squares sold by the lot, you can get a bunch cheap that way. Ones by Italian and English makers are generally good as are the Ralph Lauren ones

Post: #73

(09-25-2014 03:40 PM)Dantes Wrote:  

(09-25-2014 03:38 PM)Drazen Wrote:  Buy them online from Styleforum's used marketplace or Ebay. I've gotten some decent ones this way. Sometimes guys sell them in lots, which is a good way to get a wide variety for not much money.

Thanks Drazen

Do you go with Silk? Any particular brand that you prefer?

I usually use linen pocket squares as they are a little more discreet when they are folded. I usually "flower" the silk ones.

I have Apolis, Paul Smith, the Hillside and a few cheap ones I've collected over the years for linen/cotton. My silk ones are valentino, psycho bunny and Lanvin. I am on the lookout for the 90s era style versace ones.

Post: #74

I was at a street fair last weekend and got a few squares from this vendor who had a booth. Very affordable (at the fair they were only $10 each).

http://www.weekendcasual.com/

Post: #75

(09-29-2014 01:09 PM)Drazen Wrote:  I was at a street fair last weekend and got a few squares from this vendor who had a booth. Very affordable (at the fair they were only $10 each).

http://www.weekendcasual.com/

They have some pretty cool stuff. never thought anything could be cheaper than the tie bar.

thanks