Double Besom Pockets

[gopherblue]

I'm having a Loro Piana Storm System cashmere 3/4 length topcoat made in charcoal color, and have the choice of slash or double besom pockets for the main outer pockets. I'd like to use the coat for casual as well as smart dress--basically, anything from jeans and a shirt/sweater to business casual attire to a suit. Will the besom pockets be too dressy for casual dress?

Thanks,
Goph

[a tailor]

i know what a besom pocket is. but what is a "double besom"?

[JibranK]

i know what a besom pocket is. but what is a "double besom"?

This. And what's a slash pocket?

[ToryBoy]

By double besom do you mean with ticket pockets.

I always prefer besom to flaps whether casual or not, they are no rules except that formal attire must have besom pockets.

[ToryBoy]

This. And what's a slash pocket?

pockets at an angle

[JibranK]

pockets at an angle

Thanks.

[Blueboy1938]

It seems to me that a topcoat that will be doing double duty for casual and more formal use should be the perfect case when a flap pocket that is convertible to bezel would have both a practical and aesthetic effect. However, it would not be easy to do as a slash, I wouldn't think. If your tailor could carry that off, kudos to him

[Sator]

Even the most formal of overcoats rarely take jetted pockets. The idea is that flaps can stop things falling out.

[deanayer]

I think overcoats look great with hacking pockets or "slashed" and with flaps AND with a ticket pocket of the same design.

[Sator]

None of these things reduces the formality of an overcoat either.

[WA]

Single piped would be better it seems. And, at an angle, so slashed.

[Matt S]

Are the slash pockets you mention the kind angled very steeply (not hacking pockets)? If you like to put your hands somewhere, slash pockets are very convenient. I've seen those with either a single welt or a flap, and most often those flaps have a button. Straight pockets or hacking pockets with or without a ticket pocket appear more formal to me than the slash pockets. But Sator says they are not, and he knows more than I. Besom pockets without flaps do look off to me on an overcoat. As Sator also mentioned, flaps prevent things from falling out. I often find myself carrying my overcoat over my arm when walking through a building too warm for it. Flaps are especially useful in this situation.

[gopherblue]

Thanks for the input. A double besom I believe means piping on each side of the opening.

Not to muddy the water, but here is a link to a double besom pocket (described as a "slash" pocket, but is actually a double besom):

http://www.tpub.com/content/MIL-SPEC...26A00060im.jpg

And this is what the slash pocket would look like:

http://www.nibh.com/html/products/overcoats/14.jpg

On the coat I am having made, either the besom or the slash pocket would be at an angle. Neither would have a flap.
Fuller disclosure: The tailor (Martin Greenfield) and my fiancee both said it should be the besom pocket. I went along with that, but preferred the slash pocket. Based on your responses, I think the slash pocket is better if I want someplace to put my hands, right?

Goph

[ToryBoy]

The tailor (Martin Greenfield) and my fiancee both said it should be the besom pocket. I went along with that, but preferred the slash pocket. Based on your responses, I think the slash pocket is better if I want someplace to put my hands, right?

Yes, if it is something you would like to do.

[Andy]

Besom (Pronounced "bee zom") or Piped -- The inset pocket opening is finished on one or both sides (top and bottom called a double besom) with a welt, a narrow folded piece of fabric (aka Piping or Cording) to show just the slit of the pocket.

The finishing technique reinforces the pocket opening. This style is more flattering to heavy men, since it draws less attention to the waist and has less fabric there.

Piping
A narrow bias-cut fold of fabric stitched into a seam to provide decorative embellishment. See also cording.

Cording
A soft cord folded into a narrow bias-cut piece of fabric that is stitched into a seam to provide decorative embellishment. See also piping.

Combination or Flapped Besom -- a pocket that has a flap, which can be hidden if desired since the pocket also has a double besom.

The slash pocket is probably a Hacking but it's usually a flap pocket.

Hacking -- A flap pocket placed at an angle, originally for easy access while riding a horse. From the word Hack, which means a carriage or car (taxi) for hire (also called hackney), a horse for hire, a horse for riding or pulling a carriage or an old horse that is in bad condition through age or overwork!

[gopherblue]

Thanks again. I called and changed the order to slash pockets. More functional.