A ticket pocket - what is it and do I need it?

A ticket pocket on a suit refers to a small flapped or jetted pocket normally found on the right side of a jacket and roughly half the width of a regular pocket. You may have been sporting this dandy feature without knowing or perhaps you think it is a new fad but this humble pocket has a long British sartorial history dating back to the 1600's and it was not used for tickets as today's name might suggest.

When the first toll roads, or as they were then known turnpike roads were introduced, people traveling on horse back found they needed to have access to change to pay for these tolls. To save gentlemen of the middle ages opening their jackets to pay tolls they had their tailors make a small change pocket on their equestrian jackets. This was made slightly higher so it would be easier to access while sitting on their horse.

It was only in the mid 1800's when railroads and train travel became hugely popular that this small coin pocket was adapted to what we know it as now, namely a ticket pocket that was used for train tickets. Urban gentleman getting frustrated with having to search their pockets for tickets started having this small extra pocket tailored on their work suits.

Today this is not a necessary item, most of us store our travel tickets digitally or travel by car. But this is still popular in bespoke circles not just in Britain but sported by well heeled men (and women) the world over to show a little extra panache and style IQ. It does still have some practical use in today's world, it is the perfect size and very handy for storing business/visiting cards.
Really you could use it for any purpose, a key, money, receipts, metro card, aspirin, a pen drive, a tea bag, the list goes on! And it also works very well for tall and larger gentlemen, as it breaks up a large expanse of fabric with a fine detail.

If you like this British-dandy vibe there are a couple of simple rules to follow.

Traditionally it is always on the right side.

Should you be left handed this may seem counter intuitive to you, however with the breast pocket on the left side your jacket can look a little unbalanced with 3 pockets on one side and 1 on the other. If you definitely want a left side ticket pocket then go all out and have them on both sides to keep the look balanced.

Ticket pockets are a great addition to a seasonal blazer such as a Harris Tweed sports coat or a linen summer jacket.

Book an appointment today and let us guide you on a sartorial journey.