You've got your suit all set and ready, but it's missing one last final touch: a pocket square. This quick and dirty guide will provide you with all the information you need in order to buy exactly the right pocket square and wear it just so.
The first thing to remember is that pocket squares serve as colorful accents to your suit, so matching is important. What color is your tie? Many men choose to coordinate their tie and their pocket square. If your tie is multi-hued, pick one major color that you wish to emphasize if you can't replicate the pattern in a pocket square. Try not to be too matchy-matchy, though.
Think about the color scheme of your suit as a whole. Are you working with blacks, blues or even browns? Is there a particular shade that will pop against the rest of your colors?
Once you have a color in mind, you might take a moment to consider what kind of fabric you want to use. Most pocket squares are made of silk and still sold at a reasonable price. Silk is a wonderful cloth for vibrant colors and easy folding.
Finding The Perfect Square
Almost all retailers that provide men's suiting will also sell pocket squares. Ralph Lauren is a good option, as well as Brooks Brothers. Most department stores will have large selections of pocket squares, greater than more specialized stores. For a very high-end option Hermes is a great choice. thetiebar.com is excellent for cheaper pocket squares and bulk orders.
Now You Have It, Can You Use It?
The final step to rocking a pocket square is folding it correctly. There are a couple standard folds as well as some truly out-there ones. For a simple guide, check out the Wikipedia article. For a more comprehensive approach, head over to the artofmanliness.com