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If you are one of those who love treating your shirt pockets as a stationery store or a piggy bank or a comfortable mobile holder, just remember you are a serious victim of fashion. It’s time to show off our shirt pockets with eccentric cuts and styles that exhibit simplicity and yet highlight a play of contrasts.

Emphasising new styles and fashionable cuts on shirt pockets, Lokesh Ahuja, a fashion designer opines: “Pockets on shirts do make the ensemble look complete, but they are still treated more for their functionality than for the look.”

Depending on the style of the shirt and the occasion, pockets can be designed to make the garment look chic, light and dressy. “For men who are dressed mostly in formal suits, a shirt pocket is not really necessary, while the formal safari shirts can opt for a single chest pocket with a flap which helps to retain the traditional look,” advises Lokesh.

For those men who are experimental, casual shirts can be constructed with single and double-chest pockets that can be further highlighted with contemporary embroidery. Patches, detailed embellishments that can be seen through cut work or layers of texture can add newness to the design.

Sohan Ramesh, a 20-something, uses a lot of patchwork on this pockets. “It looks cool and has once helped correct errors,” he says, smiling. “I burnt an expensive shirt pocket while ironing and since the shirt was expensive, I did not want to discard it. I stitched a patch on the pocket, and made the shirt wearable and added colour to it.”

TREAT IT BETTER It’s time you stopped treating your pocket like a piggy bank

For those who want to experiment with the 1970’s look, double chest pockets with a box pleat flap or a classic flap can be a good idea. If you are getting your shirts tailored, opt for pockets that are styled in a crosscut pattern or are horizontally cut.

Diagonally cut pockets with subtle detailing gives a decent fit and also enhances the shirt. All these patterns will complement plain, striped and checked shirts.

Roshan Dalwani, a management executive, has shirts with double chest pockets with flaps that look trendy and fashionable. “Such pockets look good on half sleeved shirts and on semi formal shirts. They can be worn at a formal dinner party or a semi-formal corporate party,” says Roshan.

Dressing your pocket with a sophisticated pen is enough to pull all the attraction. Avoid bulking the pockets as it ruins the lines of the garment, and also makes the shirt sag, which is not very attractive. Young college goers can experiment with innumerable pockets on their cargo shirts that are designed with unique closures. To add a sporty feel, Velcro or zips can do the magic; else a variety of well-detailed buttons can highlight the pocket, advises Lokesh.

Pockets have also created a niche in the women’s wardrobe. “Keeping the feminine body in mind, pockets must be placed at the lower section of the garment which looks neat and comfortable,” says Shoba Lund, another fashion designer. Cargo shirts with dimensional pockets and double chest pocket shirts with pleated flaps add extra weight and flare. This style looks sporty as well as goes well with jeans, capris, skirts and shorts.

Plain straight cut pockets or diamond cut pockets are advisable on plain shirts. The pockets can be highlighted with patch work or with an intricate painting bordered with a piping.

Polka dots in contrast colours can also be designed on the pocket. On a vertically striped shirt a horizontal cut pocket with colourful piping can look fabulous,” advises Shoba.

Priya Nayak, a model, prefers wearing a shirt without any pockets. “The functionality of a pocket on a girl’s shirt is nil. In case my shirt has a pocket, I would prefer a mid length shirt that has an invisible side pocket, which is stitched at the adjoins of the shirt.”

LATIKA R. CHUGANEY

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