When it comes to clothing I am a big believer that everyone has that one “go to” garment that is their weak spot. Mine, in case your wondering, is jackets! Whether I am scanning the Zara sale, perusing the vintage shops in London or flicking through the next seasons looks on Pinterest,  jackets are the first thing I go to.

I’d never really thought too much about it until I moved out of home and had to  pack up my collection for moving. Then came the realisation that I had more than 60 jackets! Not having space for them all I had to go through the painful process of cutting down my collection but thankfully I still managed to squeeze 42 into my apartment – 19 of which are blazers! God I love a blazer!

Blazers for me are my go to outfit, and, while at university these where practically my uniform on a day to day basis! Skinny jeans and a blazer, paired with anything from a hoody, jumper or a tee underneath, they were always with me rain or shine (but teamed with shorts in the shine).

For me, a blazer was always a great choice while at Uni as it fitted my quite skinny frame well, giving me a more grown up silhouette, and at the same time was an extremely versatile item for a student on a budget! My old faithful navy Topman blazer, (which I have tried and tried to replace) fits so well and is a classic that has seen mixing plaster for making ceramic moulds over a slouchy tee to nights out with a shirt and dickie bow.

Where am I going with this you may be wondering! Well, to get to my point, how do you add a new look to your favourite jackets to create a fresh take on your wardrobe?  For me the answer lies in the accessories, and in particular, pocket squares (and bow ties for a  more formal occasion).  A couple of years ago I did a modelling job for a pocket square company which got me hooked on them! Considering it is something so small and affordable (compared to 18 new blazers haha), it can breathe a new life into any one of my old blazers and have a great impact to create a fresh look. What’s even more great about them is that you can move them from jacket to jacket and, each one has the potential to change your look. The added beauty of a pocket square compared to the dickie bow is that they can still be worn casually during the day – I have even been known to dress up a plain white shirt with a pocket square in my chest pocket! However for a formal occasion a dickie bow and matching pocket square is always a winning combination for the sophisticated man about town.

There are many different ways you can fold a pocket square, however I always tend to keep it quite informal and stick with one particular casual style  so that it shows the pattern (that and the fact that I am usually in a rush to get ready!). I tend to go for ‘The Puff Fold’ or the ‘The Dunaway Fold’ as these are of the two most laid back folds.

A lot of my pocket squares came from ‘Squared Pocket’, the company I modelled some for previously, but they have unfortunately stopped making them (I blame the model haha). The rest of my collection have mostly been picked up on the high street or have been gifts – like my liberty one. However before I go any further, I must tell you about my latest pocket square which has been handmade in my beloved York and, even more impressively, is bespoke for me!

I am in love with this latest addition to my collection – a pocket square by Meiji – a brand run by two York based textile designers who create one of a kind silk pieces. They have featured in Vogue, Elle and GQ magazines (which is where I first saw them and began following their insta – @meiji_designs). Their beautiful pieces are all bespoke and individual to each customer, which means I will avoid the faux pas ‘who wore it better’ with the Duke of York (if I ever go hobnobbing at the Queens garden party that is!)

To make sure they created a piece they knew I would love they first engaged with me to get to know my colour and style preferences better. The designers first chatted to me about the colours I usually wear and suit me (to which I obviously said navy!) before getting to work on creating a bespoke pocket square.

I love how the marbled and almost floral pattern of the metallic grey has been submerged by a smokey pink overlay, creating a fluid appearance. Sections of the pattern are left see through, which is called ‘Devoré’ – I just learnt about this word (it even sounds magical) and is a technique which really compliments the silky fabric. The fabric has 30% silk to give it a gorgeous silky texture, but importantly, it keeps it wearable rather than a constantly creased mess!

I can’t wait to wear it out to an upcoming event and I also can’t thank both of the designers enough – they are both so approachable, knowledgeable and passionate about their work. I am a big believer in supporting local businesses, especially when they create something as beautiful as this, and so if like me, you want to add a new dimension to your old faithful and inject some of your personality into your pocket, then I’d really encourage you check out their insta/ website – you will be as hooked as I am!