Women's Cufflinks: Style Guide and Trends

Long filed under menswear, cufflinks are changing hands. On a white poplin blouse, beneath the sleeve of a slightly oversized blazer or echoing a signet ring, women's cufflinks become a clear, confident style statement.

Women's cufflinks are no longer a timid borrowing from reclaimed menswear codes; today they are a territory in their own right, at the crossroads of unisex jewellery and workwear accessories. You still need to know which shirt to choose, which metal to favour and how to strike the right balance. Here is our complete guide, written for women who want a piece with character rather than a mere detail.

Women's cufflinks: a style guide and the latest trends

Reading time: ~8 min

1. Why cufflinks have earned their place in women's wardrobes
2. How to wear cufflinks as a woman
3. Which shirt do you need for women's cufflinks?
4. Which materials to choose for women's cufflinks
5. How much to budget for quality women's cufflinks
6. How to match your cufflinks with the rest of your jewellery
7. Are women's cufflinks suitable for the workplace?
8. 2026 trends: luxury or affordable?
9. Taking women's cufflinks further
10. FAQ

Why cufflinks have earned their place in women's wardrobes

An accessory gaining ground in womenswear

Cufflinks have made a strong comeback over the past twenty years or so, and women have embraced them wholeheartedly, to the point of making them one of the hallmarks of contemporary workwear. The reasons are simple. Women's tailoring has become more structured, the double-cuff shirt has returned to the office, and androgynous style has become a signature rather than a provocation.

At the same time, the offer has kept pace. Ready-to-wear labels such as Anne Fontaine or 17h10 include selections of women's cufflinks in their shirt and suit collections, while jewellers such as Buccellati, Wempe or Van Cleef & Arpels, with its Alhambra collection in gold and mother-of-pearl, position the accessory as a genuine piece of fine jewellery.

This shift is interesting because it opens up a space of freedom. A man wears his cufflinks according to a fairly strict grammar. A woman, on the other hand, can play on the contrast between a fluid blouse and a bold metal fastening, between a silk knot and a crisp cuff, between a soft material such as mother-of-pearl and a geometric line. That is exactly the spirit at Une Autre Paire de Manches, where cufflinks are organised by shape and by colour to help you build a style, not just tick a box.

How to wear cufflinks as a woman

Wear your cufflinks as jewellery

The first rule is intention. A cufflink is meant to be seen: it draws the eye to your gestures, your hand, your wrist. So wear it with the same confidence as any visible piece of jewellery. On a white blouse worn on its own, a pair in mother-of-pearl or rock crystal adds a discreet glow. Under a suit jacket, a silver or gold-finish design creates a point of shine that echoes the jacket buttons. With raw denim and an oversized shirt, a novelty pair becomes the touch that tips the whole look firmly into style.

The second rule is balance. If your pair is elaborate, with semi-precious stones or a figurative motif, keep everything else light. A fine bracelet, understated earrings, and you are done. Conversely, a very pared-back pair in stainless steel can take a bolder statement cuff bracelet on the other wrist. This play of contrasts between very feminine accessories and structured cufflinks is precisely what makes the look modern.

Master the French cuff technique

Third point: the technique. French cuffs do not fasten like ordinary cuffs. The two sides of the cuff are brought together edge to edge, without overlapping, and the fastening then passes through all four layers of fabric. Take the time to position the swivel bar or toggle on the inside of the cuff so that the decorative face stays perfectly visible on the outside.

Good to know

The cuff should show about one centimetre below the jacket sleeve; otherwise your cufflinks stay hidden and lose their whole point.

Which shirt do you need for women's cufflinks?

Choosing a shirt suited to cufflinks

It all starts with the cuff. To wear cufflinks, your shirt needs French cuffs, also called double cuffs, recognisable by their folded-back turn-up and their two facing buttonholes, with no sewn-on button. Some single-cuff designs with two buttonholes also work, particularly on designer blouses.

In terms of cut, three options dominate the women's wardrobe. The white or sky-blue poplin blouse, an office staple that lets the pair shine without competition. The silk or satin shirt, softer, where the weight of the cufflink gives the cuff a lovely drape. And finally the heavy cotton or flannel shirt, more relaxed, which welcomes novelty designs that are more graphic or more colourful.

If you are just starting out, begin with a white blouse and a silver or silver-finish pair. You will see the effect immediately.

Which materials to choose for women's cufflinks

Metals and materials for women's cufflinks

Materials define how a pair is worn. Stainless steel is tough, easy to care for and perfectly suited to everyday wear. Silver offers a more refined elegance, often identifiable by the precious-metal hallmark stamped on the piece. Gold, whether solid or gold-plated, belongs to the realm of fashion fine jewellery and special occasions. Mother-of-pearl, rock crystal and semi-precious stones feature heavily in women's designs, as they bring colour and sparkle without heaviness, as the collections of retailers such as Cristal Bijoux in Strasbourg, Mortabijoux or Joavany show.

As for quality, four criteria are enough to tell apart two pairs that look alike:

How to judge quality

• Precision of manufacture and fineness of detail, visible to the naked eye on the edges and stone settings.
• Weight, which tells you about the density of the metal used.
• The hallmark, for precious metals.
• The strength of the fastening, whether bar, toggle or knot, as this is the first thing to give way on a poorly made piece.

How much to budget for quality women's cufflinks

The price ranges quoted in specialist buying guides give clear benchmarks depending on the material chosen.

These ranges apply to new pieces and exclude signed jewellery-house editions, which follow their own pricing logic. For a first pair, silver or steel offers the best balance between style and how often you will wear it. For a present, our gift sets take care of the presentation, and our sale lets you try out several styles without committing a fine-jewellery budget.

How to match your cufflinks with the rest of your jewellery

Matching your metals remains the most effective rule. If your rings, bracelet and watch case are silver-toned, choose women's silver cufflinks or a silver finish. If your palette is warm, stick with women's gold cufflinks or a gold finish. Deliberately mixing the two metals also works, as long as it is clearly intentional, for example with a two-tone pair that bridges the two registers.

Think about the colour of your outfit too. Buying guides point out that the pair should complement the tones of the shirt and jacket rather than compete with them. Silver or gold on a white shirt and dark suit, mother-of-pearl on a cream blouse, a coloured stone picking up a print. Our silk knots offer an interesting textile alternative when you want an exact colour match with a scarf or a jacket lining.

Key takeaway

A successful cufflink is not noticed for its own sake: it holds the whole silhouette together.

Are women's cufflinks suitable for the workplace?

Yes, and it is in fact their most natural setting. Women's workwear cufflinks have established themselves as a credible office accessory because they tick every expected box: restraint, polish and durability. For a formal environment, favour simple shapes, round or rectangular, neutral materials such as steel, silver or understated gold, and tones that extend your outfit. For an important meeting, a slightly bolder pair becomes a perfectly readable style signal.

For formal occasions, the dial shifts. Women's cufflinks for ceremonies can take mother-of-pearl, gold, stones and iconic motifs, like the yellow gold and mother-of-pearl jewellery designs of the Alhambra collection. Weddings, award ceremonies, galas: the accessory finds its ideal setting here, especially with a women's dinner suit or an evening suit.

2026 trends: luxury or affordable?

The momentum seen since 2024 is holding firm. The accessory is becoming visible again in dressy outfits, and originality is taking precedence over strict convention. Two families coexist. On one side, noble pieces in gold, mother-of-pearl and stones, worn as jewellery. On the other, women's novelty designs with figurative motifs, cultural references and sporting themes, which embrace a playful twist while remaining elegant. Our themed collections, from golf to Star Wars, belong to this second approach, as do our regularly refreshed new arrivals.

So should you aim for luxury or for something more affordable? The answer depends on how often you will wear them. A single pair meant to last justifies an investment in precious metal, with a hallmark and a flawless fastening. A small collection of three or four pairs, rotated according to outfit and mood, calls for gentler prices and a wider variety of shapes. Many of our customers combine both approaches: an understated pair for the working week and a pair with character for the moments that matter, often chosen from our best sellers.

Taking women's cufflinks further

Women's cufflinks need neither permission nor justification. A shirt with French cuffs, a material suited to how you will use it, a consistent choice of metals, and you have an accessory that structures your silhouette in two seconds.

Start simple, in silver or steel, on a white blouse, then branch out into mother-of-pearl, colour or motifs. That is how this accessory moves from borrowed item to personal signature.

FAQ

How do you care for women's cufflinks day to day?

A soft, dry cloth after each wear is enough to remove fingerprints. Silver can be brightened with a dedicated polishing cloth, while mother-of-pearl and stones dislike household cleaning products and perfume applied directly onto them. Always store the complete pair in its box to avoid metal pieces scratching each other.

Can you wear cufflinks on a shirt with standard button cuffs?

Not directly, because a cuff with a sewn-on button does not have two facing buttonholes. There are chain-link cufflinks and removable systems that adapt to some pierced cuffs, but the result is never as neat as with a true double cuff.

Is a pair of cufflinks a good present?

It is a clear and easy present to get right, as there is no question of size. You simply need to know which metals the person wears, gold or silver, and choose a gift box suited to the occasion.

Can you wear two different cufflinks?

Yes, provided the mismatch is clearly deliberate, for example two colours of the same shape or two motifs from the same series. It is an increasingly common practice in creative wardrobes, though less suited to very formal settings.

What size of cufflink suits a slim wrist?

On a slim wrist, a decorative face of moderate diameter avoids an overloaded look and stays in proportion with the sleeve. Also check that the fastening is not too long, or it will stick out and rub against the jacket sleeve.