Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

From Dumpy to Debonair: Welcome to our new men’s fashion column–and to your first pocket square.

Screenshot 2015-01-28 00.01.51“Man, you look great.”

Those are four words that every guy should hear. That simple phrase evokes respect, confidence and could lead to endless possibilities in work and play. Most of us want to dress well, but are either intimidated or broke—or both.

Welcome to a new quarterly column dedicated to refining your lifestyle, fellas.

My name is Dave Marcheskie, Harrisburg reporter for abc27 News. Yeah, I’m the dude who was photobombed by another dude drinking out a vase last year. At least I looked good in that viral video, right? Being on TV comes with a certain responsibility of dressing well. And, when I was 22, I finally figured that out.

Before college graduation, I turned to Maxim Magazine or FHMfor male advice because, you know, bikinis, booze and Bentleys were the only things that mattered. Growing up, suit shopping was a once-every-couple-of-years venture with my parents. The experience usually consisted of going to a mall department store and having a clerk choose an off-the-rack ‘Merica-cut that did me two sizes too big, paired with a shirt and tie resembling Regis on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”

Despite my unassuming appearance, I landed my first job in Greenville, N.C. I encountered more tobacco fields and Waffle Houses than I could count. I made the big time. I eagerly inked my first contract with excitement earning a cool $22,000 salary. I had a full-time, on-air gig with one suit—$#*!.

I needed to look the part using pennies. Jose Cuervo was immediately traded for Jos. A. Bank. Honestly, I couldn’t afford either. I needed something to elevate my professional plight to posh. Thus, my affinity for the pocket square was born. The reaction from co-workers, government officials and viewers led me on a path to become a “Sharp Press Man.”

The pocket square instantly upgrades any blazer or suit and completes the look. My secret: that little piece of fabric is just that—fabric. Follow me. Most retail stores sell actual pocket squares from $8 to $15. You could even throw down a hundo-spot for handcrafted pocket art from Armstrong & Wilson.

Or you could go to any place that sells bulk fabric and ask for a “quarter yard” worth of paisley-print silk and walk out with 75 cents worth of sophistication.

I still rock these on a daily basis. (In full disclosure, I have amassed an extensive collection over the years of all-priced pocket squares, even those $90 A&W bad boys I received for free after winning a style contest.)

Using my secret, price should no longer be a factor. Selecting which colors and fabrics depends on a few basic principles. If you are going sans tie, you have more freedom in the color/pattern department. If you have a basic wool suit or blazer, go with shiny silk in the fall and winter, linen or cotton for spring and summer. Patterned pocket squares work best with solid suits and vice versa.

Screenshot 2015-01-28 00.01.39If you’re wearing a tie, there’s only one don’t—pre-packaged hanky-and-tie combos. Same goes with shirt-and-tie boxes you find nowadays, but that’s another lesson. It just looks forced.

Instead, pick a color that is either contrasting or an understated hue in your neckwear. Let’s remember your elementary school art classes. If you have a solid, dark blue tie slung around your neck, pick a green/purple/orange patterned pocket square (contrast). If you’re wearing a purple-and-blue striped tie, go with a solid purple pocket square against a blue suit (understated hue). If there are more than two colors in your tie, aim for the third or fourth dominant.

Don’t worry about crazy folds. Choose either “presidential” (think Don Draper from TV’s “Mad Men”) or “puffed” (a la Gordon Gekko from “Wall Street”). Please, keep your pocket from looking like a silky volcanic eruption. That’ll kill your look quicker than actual lava.

Simple. Clean. Details.

Treat your style like cooking: Follow a recipe but add one twist to make it your own. A pocket square is akin to a red wine reduction to chefs—basic, but it sure does heighten beef.

Style does not have to be expensive or intimidating; it just has to be yours. Take it from a TV guy who has to be camera-ready every day—details matter. Send your closet conundrums to TheBurg, and I’ll do my best to unlock your potential.

Since this inaugural column debuts around Valentine’s Day, pick a pocket square to wear on your date out. That little piece of fabric will be noticed and invite a reason for your date to touch your chest, which could lead to other invitations. If you’re single, start wearing a pocket square with your jackets and experience the difference yourself. And, if you hear a peer or an older gentleman call you “sir”—that’s the sign of respect you deserve.

This column is sponsored by and the clothes were provided by Top Shelf Menswear, 300 Bridge St., New Cumberland, 717-770-2080.

Screenshot 2015-01-28 00.01.44Our Sharp Press Man, Dave Marcheskie, is a reporter for abc27 News. If you’d like to ask Dave a question, please email it to info@theburgnews.com. He may use it in a future column.

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