Why do men still tuck a tiny square of cloth into the breast pocket of a suit? It certainly isn't for blowing their noses anymore.

This week on Threads of History, we trace the surprising journey of the pocket square from the Roman sudarium and the embroidered handkerchiefs of Renaissance Europe to the polished elegance of modern menswear. Discover how changing ideas about hygiene, fashion, and status transformed an everyday necessity into one of the last purely decorative elements of a gentleman's wardrobe.

The smallest accessory often tells the biggest story.