Saturday 14 November 2009

Hankie panky


As one grows older, it's usually a good idea to change one's wardrobe along with one's age. And Lord Bassington-Bassington is now at the point in life where he thinks a jacket doesn't look quite right unless it has a handkerchief tucked into its breast pocket. But how to do it? Having large, clumsy (well, Basset-y) paws, His Lordship hasn't yet mastered the art of pocket hankie tucking. While it should be as easy as dipping his paw into the pocket and then tucking the hankie in place, getting the right effect with this "dip and tuck" approach can be a challenge.

Luckily, the ever-expanding Interweb comes to the rescue yet again. Lord Bassington-Bassington really liked the short instructional film below, especially since the musical interludes add an extra touch of class.



Whatever you do, remember to not let the handkerchief match the tie too closely. That just looks like you've bought a set.

You should also realize that if you for some reason move the hankie from your breast pocket to your back pocket, and then wander into a gay club, you might be in for a surprise. And that if you wouldn't be surprised by such reactions to your hankie, you should know that there are hankies available that are designed especially for you.

(The picture at the top of this blog post is from The Chap Shop, which should be a natural stopping point for pocket squares, cravats and other essentials).

7 comments:

  1. Tie? What tie? Gentlemen wear bowties.

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  2. Well, I'm quite partial to ties, but I'm planning to get a bow tie on my next visit to Jermyn Street, the natural homing point for the Basset. Or perhaps the Lutetia Dandy Club will make me have to visit Paris again.

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  3. When that noble hound has mastered the techniques shown above, this site might be a good place to visit for him and for anyone looking to advance deeper into the art of pocket square folding:
    http://www.lordwhimsy.com/trifles/tutorials.html

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  4. Thank you so much for posting this! This looks great, a but a bit too advanced for my rather clumsy paws, but I'm sure I'll pick up a few hints!

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  5. After looking at Lord Whimsy's webpage I see that I have to purchase his book...

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  6. Yes, the book seems quite interesting, and the cover looks great!

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  7. Yes, the book is now bought. I couldn't resist it. It was really cheap too.

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