Pocket Square Guide for Groomsmen

A pocket square is a small folded piece of fabric worn in the breast pocket of a suit jacket, and it's one of the easiest ways for a groomsman to look more put-together without much effort. Here's how to pick one, fold it, and pair it with the rest of your wedding outfit, including your suspenders.

The Basic Pocket Square Rules

A crisp white pocket square in a simple square fold is always appropriate for a formal wedding and works with nearly any suit color. Beyond that, the main rule to know is that a pocket square generally should not exactly match your tie. Modern style favors a pocket square that complements the tie rather than mirrors it exactly, though matching sets are sometimes requested for a more retro or uniform wedding look. If the couple has asked for matching sets, that request takes priority over general style advice.

Coordinating Colors Without Matching Exactly

The easiest way to coordinate a pocket square with your tie is to pull a secondary color out of the tie's pattern and use that as your pocket square's main color. For example, a navy tie with a subtle burgundy stripe pairs well with a solid burgundy pocket square. Pay attention to fabric and texture too. A silk pocket square reads more formal, while linen or cotton feels more relaxed and works well for daytime or outdoor weddings.

Choosing a Fold

For formal weddings, the classic square fold or the one-point fold are safe, clean choices that work with almost any suit. More elaborate folds, like the puff or the multi-point fold, add personality but are better suited to less formal settings, since they can look overdone at a very traditional ceremony. When in doubt, simpler is usually better for wedding photos that will be looked at for years.

Pairing Your Pocket Square With Suspenders

If your wedding outfit includes suspenders instead of a belt, the pocket square is one more place to bring the color story together. A good approach is to pick suspenders and a pocket square that share a color family without being identical, the same logic used for coordinating a tie and pocket square. Navy suspenders with a brown leather crosspatch pair naturally with a burgundy or grey pocket square, while X-back suspenders in a classic grey or dark brown keep the whole look cohesive under a jacket without competing with a patterned pocket square.

Common Pocket Square Mistakes

• Matching the tie exactly. Unless the couple specifically requested matching sets, an exact match tends to look more like a costume than an intentional outfit.
• Overstuffing the pocket. A pocket square should sit neatly, not bulge out of the jacket.
• Choosing a fold that's too casual for the setting. Save elaborate folds for less formal events.
• Ignoring the rest of the outfit. A pocket square is only one piece of the look. Coordinating it with your tie, suspenders, and even your socks makes the whole outfit feel planned rather than thrown together.

Suspenders to Complete the Look

Navy Blue Y-Back Suspenders - Brown Drop Clip $23.97 Shop Now

Dark Brown X-Back Suspenders - Button On Ears $23.97 Shop Now

Light Grey X-Back Suspenders - Button On Ears $23.97 Shop Now

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