A man wearing a pocket square shows not only he has style, especially as it can be folded in many ways to portray his personality, but it is also a signal that he is prepared for a number of eventualities.

Imagine the scenario, before he sits down on a park bench while on his daily exercise or stroll with his date, he notices crumbs on the seat – he can whip out his pocket square and use it to dust off the mess, so they can sit without marking their clothing. A quick shake out and it can be put back in the pocket to maintain his style.

Of course, in today’s time where we are having to be careful about what we touch, this accessory can be used as a barrier between hands and door handles for example; or to take a package that is delivered, or to pick up items from shelves. I have also seen them used to hand over and receive monies at supermarkets and news agents. This enables the customer and to reduce their risk of touching infected surfaces.

Why is it so important to have this barrier? Well, the Covid-19 virus lives on surfaces for a period of time depending on the surface from hours to days, so it’s best to have a barrier – like a pocketsquare – to reduce any risk of the virus getting on to your hands. Of course, once you are able, you should wash your hands with soap or an alcohol-based product.

Another example use for a pocket square, if you can’t get into the habit of covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow when you cough or sneeze, is in place of a hankie when coughing or sneezing. This is because droplets spread the virus. It is also hay fever season, so sneezes may occur randomly, so be prepared!

You must wash your hankie / pocket square when you get home if you have used it in anyway other than decorative. Don’t leave it lying around or put it with your other laundry, unless you’re putting a load on imminently. Pop it into a bowl of water with a soapy solution and it’ll be all fresh and safe to use again on your next outing.