How to Fold a Man's Pocket Handkerchief

A pocket square finishes off the look of a tuxedo.

A pocket square, although not a necessity, adds something extra to a suit coat and gives it a more polished and formal look. However, if a pocket handkerchief is folded incorrectly, it can make the suit look messier and less professional. The three most commonly used pocket handkerchief folds are the one point fold, the flat fold and the "puff". All these styles are equally easy to fold, yet each offers a different look to the outfit.

Things You'll Need

• Handkerchief
• Iron
• Suit coat

Instructions

Flat Fold

1. Iron the handkerchief flat and lay it on the table.

2. Fold the handkerchief in half by bringing the left edge over to meet the right edge.

3. Fold up the bottom edge of the handkerchief so that it is about 1 inch below the top edge.

4. Iron the folds flat and place the pocket square in the pocket with the flat edge (opposite the crease) facing up.

One Point Fold

1. Iron the pocket square and lay it flat on a table with the points facing up, down, left and right.

2. Fold the handkerchief in half by bringing the bottom point up to meet the top point.

3. Fold the left corner of the pocket square over to the right, stopping in the middle.

4. Fold the right corner over to the left.

5. Iron the folds down and place the handkerchief in the pocket with the point facing up.

Puff Fold

1. Iron the handkerchief and lay it flat on the table.

2. Grasp the center of the handkerchief with two fingers and lift it up.

3. Smooth the handkerchief down and gather the four corners closed at the bottom.

4. Fold each of the corners up about 2 inches.

5. Place the handkerchief into the pocket with the "puffed" side facing up.

References

• Sam Hober: How to Fold a Pocket Square
• The Art of Manliness: How to Properly Rock a Pocket Square
• Jim's Formal Wear: Three Ways to Fold a Pocket Square