Fine lines of Durham fashion: Blazers are dapper but a pocket square is too much

The exact moment from when dressing smartly becomes ‘too posh’


I am very lucky to now be attending Durham. On my first day, arriving at Castle, I wore my standard of a shirt and a blazer – with a pocket square. Unbeknown to me, the consensus has been the pocket square was not a good addition to my attire – it is too smart.

What is wrong with the pocket square? Not only does it add a little something to an otherwise monotone blazer, it allows a little more individuality. But I have been vindicated in wearing it as it is a practical piece of clothing.

It was a dreary, grey, wet morning and I was sitting on a train to Chippenham. As I approached the town drearier than the weather (Swindon) I began to feel the familiar sensation of the ignominious nose bleed. I had no tissues but I did have a pocket square so I rapidly pulled it out and used it to help stem the flow of my blood. Had it not been for the pocket square my serious nose bleed could have turned into a far more embarrassing event with blood on the seats – not nice for the next user.

Not only was I able to travel in style but I was able to medically aid myself with the pocket square.

I may dress poshly. Yes I have red trousers, yes I have a tweed jacket, yes I like port and red wine and yes I have pocket squares. But that does not make me weirder than anyone else and it does not make me pretentious.

I have, by some, been given the kind nickname of “Well-Dressed Guy” for the blazer, shirt and jumper combo. But I add the pocket square and it entirely changes the dynamic of how I appear.

I seem to have found the exact moment from when dressing smartly becomes “too posh”. So while the first rule of dressing poshly at uni is to have red trousers it seems that the second may be only to bring out the pocket squares when in suits, black tie or white tie – or else you will become “too posh”.