WHY DID gay men in the 1970s need so many hankies? It wasn’t because they all had lots of colds, it was so they could have sex! Before the days of the hook-up app, the Hanky Code was a quick and easy way to work out what a guy was into, and advertise what you were looking for as well while hanging at the bar or cruising down the lane.
Here’s how it worked: a coloured handkerchief or bandana was worn in the back pocket. The colour of the hankie signified the wearer’s interests. For example, dark blue meant anal sex. But what if you met someone who was also wearing a dark blue hankie but, oh no, you’re both tops! The hanky code also helped recognise who was a top and who was a bottom. Tops wore their hanky in the left pocket, bottoms in the right. That way, there was no awkward confusion later on.