Are shirt breast pockets really tacky?

A ” shirt ” is an essential item for businessmen. Many men probably wear shirts with breast pockets. It is often said that “shirts with breast pockets are tacky. In this article, we would like to introduce the origin of breast pockets on shirts and points to be aware of as a businessman.

Many businessmen probably carry their cell phones, cigarettes, employee ID cards, notebooks, pens, etc. in their breast pockets. The act of putting things in one’s breast pocket may not be considered a sophisticated suit style.

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In fact, shirts without breast pockets are more common worldwide. When dress shirts were first created, breast pockets did not exist.

Breast pockets emerged amidst changes in suit styles, “a detail that symbolizes the difference between the British and American attitudes toward clothing.

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When shirts were first created in England, three-piece suits were the norm. In other words, the lounge suit style, which consisted of a “jacket,” “vest,” and “slacks” in one set, dominated the world. However, after World War II, two-piece suits without vests were born and became popular in the United States because they were ” too hot ” and “difficult to move around in. One of the most popular theories is that the vest pocket was replaced by a pocket on the shirt, which was used to store pocket watches and other items at the time. The “breast pocket” is a detail that shows that while the British pursued stylistic beauty based on tradition, the Americans pursued functionality rather than tradition.

There is a theory that the shirt’s breast pocket originated in military uniforms.

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Another theory is the origin of military shirts, such as P coats, trench coats, MA1s, and M65s, which are representative of military items developed with functionality as the top priority. Their influence on menswear, both classic and mode, is significant. Military shirts, among others, have many pockets for storage, which is a nod to the theory of their origin.

Are shirt breast pockets tacky?

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Aside from the origins, as mentioned above, shirts with breast pockets are a worldwide phenomenon. It is said that “shirts with breast pockets are tacky,” but can we really say that they are “tacky”? The classic suit style is classified into ” Germanic, ” Latin, ” and “American. Shirts with breast pockets are an acceptable choice for American-style suits and casual suits. As evidence of this, some dress shirts of Brooks Brothers and Gidman Brothers, which symbolize American style, have chest pockets. This is especially true for casual button-down shirts. However, if you are aiming for a classic suit style of European origin or a formal suit style that will not embarrass you wherever you go, no breast pockets are the way to go. It is worth remembering that worldwide, sales of shirts with breast pockets have been on a steady decline over the past few years, and many brands are discontinuing the breast pocket specification altogether. Even in the United States, on Wall Street, where the financial elite gather, it is often said that wearing a shirt with breast pockets is enough to be branded as unprofessional.

However, in the West, shirts are considered underwear and it is polite not to remove one’s jacket. There is also a somewhat more tolerant view of shirts, saying, “The presence or absence of a shirt’s breast pocket is not known to the business partner, so it is OK either way.”

Choose shirts with or without breast pockets with confidence. That’s chic!

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In light of the above, it is up to you to choose your own shirt. Choose a shirt according to your work environment, your position, and the style you are aiming for. And if you are ever questioned by a foreigner, you should be able to confidently answer back, isn’t that what chic is all about?

The suit style I am aiming for is the English style. So naturally, I don’t have breast pockets.

“I like the American suit style, but I don’t think breast pockets are appropriate for business.

” “Except in the summer, but Japanese summers are hot and humid. The climate in Japan is different from that in Europe. In summer in Japan, business style without a jacket called “Cool Biz” is the basic style. If you are going to work in Japan, it’s about time you learned to wear a shirt with a breast pocket.

Try wearing a shirt without breast pockets in Japan. If you wear a shirt without breast pockets in Japan, your boss or clients will brand you as an overdressed man. It is important to dress for business without making others feel uncomfortable, isn’t it? This is the right way to dress for Japanese business.

I hope that more men will have pride and philosophy in their suit style and shirt selection, and not just obsess about whether or not they have a breast pocket.