Pocket Squares - A How-To By Prince Charles

Fashion Lessons With Charles

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 19: Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2012 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/Getty Images) — How-to: Chaz sets off the light grey tail suit with a pale puff handkerchief at ascot yesterday. Love the watch chain too (Danny Martindale / Getty Images)

Prince Charles, reigning clothes horse of the British Royal family, gave an excellent lesson in how to wear a pocket square yesterday at Royal Ascot.

Chaz knows that a well-chosen pocket square gives even the most formal suit a refreshing change in tone, creating an atmosphere of sartorial friendliness.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 13: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales talks with Sebastian Coe (L) Chairman of the London 2012 Organizing Committee, during a tour of the Olympic Park on June 13, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Lefteris Pitarakis - WPA Pool/Getty Images) — How-to: The pocket square should appear to have been effortlessly thrust into the top pocket, although in fact it has been carefully arranged to puff (Lefteris Pitarakis - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The knack of choosing a great pocket square is to make sure it works with your tie, and then fold the edges in on top of themselves as indicated by this GQ style guide. If you have to use it - say for example to chivalrously hand it to a lady who has been moved to tears - simply plonk it back in your pocket afterwards, with the messy bit folded inside. And then don't offer it to anyone else.

It's all the fault of the name really, but Chaz knows a pocket square should never be worn, er, square, as it was by actor Jack Fox yesterday at an Armani party. It's knowledge he has handed on to his son, too.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 19: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Oliver Jackson-Cohen (L) and Jack Fox attend as EA7 Emporio Armani Summer Garden Live presents Summer of Sport at Emporio Armani on June 19, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images) — How-not-to: Jack Fox (right) at the Emporio Armani Summer Garden Live event last night in London, England. That square is too square (Dave M. Benett / Getty Images)

If you want a more formal look, better to ditch the hankie altogether than impose straight lines.