Does Anyone Wear A Pocket Square Anymore?

I hate carrying kleenex outside of the home for some reason. If I bring enough to get me through the day, it’s bulk I don’t need in my pockets; having only one or two generally doesn’t cut it if I’m having a day when I actually need to use them with some frequency. Subsequently, I’ve been in the habit for years now of carrying a men’s handkerchief. I’ve noticed along the way that other men don’t seem to pay any mind when I use one, but if I use it in the presence of a woman, they inevitably recoil with some repulsed comment about my ’snotrag’.

Nevertheless, because I do often have one with me, on the occasions when I am wearing a suit or a sportcoat, I’m often tempted to fold my handkerchief neatly and stick it in the outer breast pocket, a’la the gents of old. I always thought they looked great, a natty detail that you never focused on, never drew the attention away from the tie, but complemented the ensemble well. I read recently that the square and the tie should never match, but should rather complement each other. I also read that it’s one of the cheapest ways to dress up an otherwise mediocre suit. Food for thought.

Of course I would never actually use it if I were wearing it for effect, save but to offer it to a lady in an emotional moment, and how hot would that be? But I never quite have the stones to actually work it. For one, I don’t know quite how to fold them and I’d hate to smack of amateurism. (A quick online search provided three simple instructions here.)

Another thing stopping me: as pretentious as I know I can be sometimes, it seems just a wee bit too affected, and I’m trying to get away from that. Still, I think if I started doing it, eventually it would become an unconcious part of dressing; like the Velveteen Rabbit, what was once an affectation would become real. I like that idea. It being springtime, and bright colors becoming acceptable again, there are so many opportunites for trying it out coming up. Jaunty silk pocket squares, why not?

What do you guys think about pocket squares—a modern conceit, a totally affected, even outdated look, or is it a sharp and classic finishing touch that is worth keeping up?