When I was growing up, my father often told me, “Being a gentleman is all about knowing how to tie a tie.” Looking back, I realize that he was absolutely right. Only, that this was half the truth. Being a man is not only about knowing how to tie a tie (especially the classic Windsor knot) but also knowing how to fold a pocket square. The crux of looking dashing and well-groomed lies in these little details. If you take a close look at any celebrity who is considered an epitome of style and sophistication, you’ll notice how perfect his accessories are.
For instance, you’ll never find James Bond out on a formal occasion without the perfect Windsor knot, pocket square neatly folded, shoes polished and a great watch to complete the look. If you’re wondering what a Windsor knot is, don’t worry- you’re not the only one. Most don’t know that it’s just the classic version of the tie that men wear these days. You probably never knew it was called a Windsor knot, that’s all.
It got its name from the Duke of Windsor who actually sparked off the trend of wearing the tie this way. The style grew really popular and is now the conventional way of wearing a tie. If you want to learn how to tie a tie, you can visit any good website such as that of Stanley Lewis, a specialist in men’s accessories, that gives you a step-by-step illustrated guide on how to tie a tie. If a tie is knotted perfectly it will be comfortable and look great as well.
It is unfortunate that most men avoid wearing ties now because of the discomfort factor. It is also true that when men dress formally, the humble pocket square is often given a miss. This could possibly be because some men simply don’t know how to life hacks to fold a pocket square. Many just crumple it and stuff it inside the pocket of their suits. Here’s a simple lesson on how to fold a pocket square: 1. Lay the pochette flat on a surface. 2. Fold it in half, length wise 3.
Now fold it again along the width, to form a square 4. Position the square so that it looks diamond-shaped. Fold the left and right corners to overlap each other 5. Tuck it into the pocket of your suit with the upper part jutting out. There are many variations to folding the pocket square including the puff fold, the one, two, three and four-point folds among many others. Learn a couple of styles to really look good. Again, these can easily be learnt from any informative website on men’s accessories.
All it takes is a little practice and you’re good to go. So before you make it for the next big occasion, brush up your skills on tying the Windsor knot and folding a pocket square. You’ll dazzle the ladies with your James Bond-esque suaveness! Richard Burrows is an acknowledged fashion designer and expert author.