Arts & Culture

Photo courtesy DJ Scammell

Fashion for Men: The Ticket Pocket

By Douglas James Scammell

Published 3:39 PDT, Thu July 2, 2026

Fashion for Men

Fashion for Men

BY DOUGLAS JAMES SCAMMELL

Douglas Scammell’s articles on men’s fashion are so much more, and every production week Douglas always has yet another story to share. What makes his articles interesting is that he writes about the history behind the design and fabrics, which can go back decades. You can tell he’s a fan of the era of black-and-white movies, a time when an actor’s wardrobe was designed for a specific role, often winning Academy Award recognition – Douglas sometimes will make reference to famous people who wore a design that has lasted the test of time.

The Ticket Pocket

One detail that I often receive compliments about from people when wearing some of my suits is the little extra side pocket that is positioned above the hip, called the “ticket pocket”.

It is the smaller pocket that is above the main pocket, just on the right exterior side of the suit jacket.

Recently, my wife had a custom suit jacket made, and the first thing I asked her did you make sure you got them to include the ticket pocket? Her response was no. What is the ticket pocket? I explained to her the history behind the pocket, and thankfully, she was able to have the tailor add this detail, giving her jacket an overall stylish touch that comes with a story.

Why the Ticket Pocket Was Designed

That is something I am going to dive into for you. There were mainly 2 roots
that originated back in the 19^th century in Britain as a practical solution for gentlemen traveling by train. During the industrial revolution boom, as rail-way travel became a standard mode of transportation, tailors added a third smaller pocket specifically sized to carry train tickets and passes. Hence, it is called the “ticket pocket” to make life easier for gentlemen travellers to find the train ticket on their daily commute. The “ticket pocket” was also used by horse riding equestrians in their jackets so that these riders could easily reach for coins to pay tolls at gates without having to unbutton their coats.

Today, the ticket pocket is largely just an aesthetic detail that indicates bespoke tailoring or a nod to heritage British style. Functionally, it serves as a great place to stash smaller items like business cards, transit passes, or cash.

Today, suits that feature the “ticket pocket” add to the design, making a suit look better by adding visual depth, elevating the garment’s elegance, and helping create better proportions, especially on tall or lean men. Whereas a jacket not featuring the “ticket pocket” will leave a large uninterrupted section of fabric over the torso. It’s all about design, the intent of the design and the impact of one’s overall appearance, as the “ticket pocket” helps enhance the suit jacket’s silhouette and shows a high level of thoughtful tailoring. With today’s mass-produced off-the-rack suits, they rarely include a ticket pocket because it requires extra fabric, alignment, and labor. Spotting a suit jacket that features the ticket pocket immediately implies a British Savile Row look that is custom, made-to-measure, or high-end suit jacket.

Not all of my suits feature the ticket pocket. Some suits I want to break up the look, featuring patch pockets, as well as to focus on other details such as the lapels and the pattern on the fabric, or to help make the suit look a bit less busy. But 90% of my suits feature a ticket pocket, and I will be honest, they are my favorite suits that feature this option.

The next time you look for a suit, see if the suit includes a ticket pocket, and if it does, I am sure you will like the way it makes your suit look.