Most guys know about a suit jacket or blazer’s inner pockets – a great place for a cell phone, wallet, or business cards – but a jacket’s outer pockets are often overlooked. They’re not just for decoration. A suit jacket’s outer pockets are functional and meant to be used as well.

| BRIAN WEARS | Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Suit, Al Bazar shirt, Montezemolo tie, S.T. Dupont lighter, Timex watch, Giles and Brother cuff | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo

Why are suit jacket/blazer pockets sewn shut? It’s so the garment keeps its shape while in store or in transit. Remove the stitching once you get it home with a seam ripper, small pair of scissors, or knife – just as you’d do with the chest pocket or center/side vents.

I use these pockets most when I’m traveling. Easy access to important items like boarding passes, metro cards, and hotel room key cards.

Never overburden your suit jacket pockets with heavy or bulky items. Preserve their integrity by limiting their contents to smaller, lighter, and thinner objects. This will also keep the jacket’s silhouette looking as it should.

And remember that fabric stretches over time. If you use your suit jacket pockets, they will lose a bit of their structure eventually. Keep this in mind, especially with patch pockets.

Thanks for reading.

Stylishly Yours,

Brian

He Spoke Style