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Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers.
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Next to fabric and lapel style, there’s nothing that effects a suit’s formality and overall style effect than the type of pockets on the jacket. The three types of pockets – patch pockets, flap pockets and jetted pockets – run the gamut from casual to formal. Today, we’re rounding up all three suit jacket pocket styles and helping you choose which one is right for you.
Patch Pockets
Patch pockets were actually the first iteration of blazer pockets – pockets originated as separate pieces (think of a man-purse). Tailors began to loosely attach them to garments in order to better secure one’s valuables from pickpockets and thieves, and fully attached patch pockets were just the obvious next step to that end.
Style Effect: Casual
REMINDER: Your suit jacket pockets are meant to be used!
HSS Style Advice: Because they’re more casual, patch pockets are a great option for a sport coat or blazer. However, don’t discount them as an option for a full suit. Their casual nature helps make your suit more versatile, especially when considering the jacket as a separate.
Flap Pockets
The flap pocket is a versatile, middle-of-the-road, conservative pocket style. Its versatility can be liberating in that it doesn’t automatically restrict the garment to a certain dress code. A flap pocket jacket can be equally appropriate in a full suit ensemble in the boardroom or as a separate paired with business casual jeans and a tie.
Style Effect: Conservative
HSS Style Advice: There’s a reason the majority of suits and blazers you see have flap pockets. They look great in just about any situation. In fact, I’d say you can never go wrong with them (except if the event is black tie). If you are buying your first made-to-measure suit, you should get flap pockets.
Jetted Pockets
Jetted pockets are pretty much the opposite of patch pockets. We’re talking both in effect and in construction. While a patch pocket is 100-percent external to the body of the jacket itself, the jetted pocket is almost entirely internal. By keeping the pocket purely internal, the lines of the jacket are inherently more clean and sleek – perfect for your impeccably tailored tuxedo or dinner jacket.
Style Effect: Formal
HSS Style Advice: Jetted pockets on formalwear are a must. Jetted pockets on a regular suit should be reserved for true sartorialists who understand the rules of style and have an incredibly strong sense of their own personal style. These are they folks who can pull off a jetted pocket with a denim shirt and nobody would question them.
Thanks for reading.
Stylishly Yours,
Brian Sacawa & Adam Lehman
He Spoke Style
Brian Sacawa
Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers. Since 2013, his goal has remained the same: to provide men the advice and inspiration they need to dress well, develop their personal style, and gain more confidence. Brian’s interest and passion for men’s style and luxury watches has led to his writing for The Robb Report, The Rake, and Sotheby’s and he has been quoted on menswear in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Today.com, Brides Magazine, and the Huffington Post. He lives in the woods north of Baltimore with his wife, Robin, kitties Nick and Nora, and German Shepherd/Collie mix Charlie.
