As an accessory for a chic men's outfit, cufflinks bring that polished touch right down to your wrists. Several designs exist, with closure systems ranging from the simplest to the most technical. To know everything about cufflinks, an overview of the different designs and styles is called for.
What's more, how can you wear cufflinks properly without knowing their meaning and history? This accessory very nearly disappeared from the gentleman's wardrobe altogether, but that was without reckoning on the revival of cufflinks with more modern, easier-to-fasten designs. Here are a few tips for finding the pair of cufflinks that matches your style.
The origins of cufflinks
Every garment, accessory or piece of jewellery has an origin and a meaning that we tend to forget. Yet knowing the era and purpose of these clothes and accessories helps us pair them better and choose the right occasions to wear them.
The brief history of cufflinks as we know them today dates back to the 17th century. The cufflink then came to replace the ribbons or scraps of lace previously used to close shirt cuffs. That said, this piece of jewellery wasn't worn day to day — it was reserved for special occasions, to close the French cuffs of a shirt.
Just like the tie, the cufflink has gone through several successive periods of popularity, followed by falling out of fashion. From the 1980s onward, the cufflink came to be seen as a dated, flashy accessory. Young men turned away from it, preferring to innovate with new styles and leave traditional dress codes behind.
But that was without reckoning on the eternal cycle of fashion, which loves bringing old styles back into vogue. After the triumphant return of the tie and the bow tie, the cufflink also reclaimed a prime spot among men's favourite accessories.
Since the 2000s, the biggest names in fashion have worked hard to make the cufflink fashionable again, offering it in various shapes, colours and materials. The hoped-for effect wasn't long in coming. Today, the cufflink is just as popular with older men as with younger ones, for dressing their wrists in a confident gentleman's style.
Cufflinks: who are they for?
Cufflinks are among those accessories that dress up an outfit for a particular occasion requiring a dress shirt.
Depending on the design and materials used, a cufflink can be more or less large, more or less shiny. Until the 2000s, it was seen as an accessory reserved for those nostalgic for old-school dress codes.
Who wears cufflinks today? Every generation is tempted by this small cuff ornament, both useful and decorative. The many designs, ranging from the most classic shapes to the most unexpected materials, have greatly contributed to the cufflink's revival.
Older and younger men alike now enjoy owning a lovely collection of cufflinks for special occasions and important appointments.
On what occasions should you wear cufflinks?
Even though fashion is relatively relaxed these days, certain dress codes remain, to avoid an outfit in poor taste.
Cufflinks, like the tie or bow tie, are generally associated with formal occasions calling for a men's suit. This accessory is appreciated for:
- ceremonies such as weddings,
- romantic dates,
- business meetings where appearance needs to be impeccable,
- galas and other receptions with a chic dress code.
Why wear cufflinks? Beyond their decorative side, cufflinks serve to close the cuffs of a dress shirt around your wrists.
So why choose cufflinks over the traditional button already sewn onto one edge of the shirt cuff? Men have few options when it comes to accessories for a chic outfit, beyond the tie, the bow tie and cufflinks. Sure, you can do without this decorative fastener, but this accessory lets you personalise a traditional suit into an outfit that reflects who you are.
Gentlemen attached to classic dress codes can assert their style with square or oval designs in noble materials such as silver or gold.
For the more creative types, dare original cufflinks in silk, leather or even wood, in various shapes, for a wedding or a reception.
The different cufflink designs
To satisfy every gentleman wanting to perfect his evening outfit down to the smallest detail, different cufflink designs are available, at every price point.
Cufflink shapes also differ in the fastening system linking the two edges of your shirt cuff.
Among the most popular fastening systems, you'll find:
- fish-tail cufflinks,
- bullet-back cufflinks,
- stud cufflinks,
- ball-back cufflinks,
- chain-link cufflinks,
- silk-knot cufflinks,
- double-action cufflinks.
The easiest closure systems to use on your wrist are the fish-tail, bullet-back and silk-knot designs.
As for the shape of the cufflink itself, every eccentricity is allowed, with hundreds of different designs letting you personalise your shirt down to the finest detail.
For a classic style, elegant round, square or knotted cufflinks can be matched with any of your dress shirts. For a touch of originality, you could choose a pair of cufflinks in a colour matching your tie or bow tie.
At a reception calling for a dress shirt, don't hesitate to set yourself apart from other guests with quirky cufflinks! Among the most original styles, cufflinks can take the shape of a Lego brick, a fighter jet, or any other everyday object repurposed for the occasion.
Somewhere between original and classic, silk-knot cufflinks are both very simple to use and hard-wearing over time. Made purely from skilfully knotted fabric, silk knots are available in countless colours. Don't hesitate to add to your collection with this style of cufflink, which, whenever you're unsure which design to choose, is a versatile accessory that's both fashionable and colourful.
As a gift for a man, or for yourself, some cufflinks are genuine jewellery to wear on your cuffs. Many designers compete in imagination to offer you unique cufflinks made from fine wood, rustic watch movements, and more.
Materials used for a cufflink
You'll find different alloys and materials used in cufflink manufacturing. Some materials are purely decorative and sit on the visible face of the cufflink, while other metals and fabrics make up the post and the fastening back.
Cufflink materials most commonly used include:
- stainless steel,
- sterling silver,
- gold,
- silk.
For a pair of cufflinks that won't oxidise over time, stainless steel is a safe choice. Indeed, as receptions and ceremonies go by, your cufflinks will need careful cleaning. In stainless steel, the cufflink closing your shirt cuff will regain its full shine with a light clean using a slightly dampened soft cloth.
Silver and gold require a little more care, but both remain metals always appreciated for an elegant accessory. To stop your cufflink from oxidising too quickly, don't hesitate to clean it with a soft cloth before storing it in a box designed for the purpose until the next event.
Despite appearances, silk cufflinks are actually fairly hard-wearing against repeated friction with your sleeves. Silk knotted into silk-knot form allows for countless colour combinations. Don't hesitate to grow your collection with these designs, available from as little as €5.
The most fashionable cufflink designs
The most beautiful cufflinks are the ones that stand out from the most classic designs. To make an impression at a wedding, a reception or a business meeting, aim for the right balance between elegance and originality.
Among the most popular styles, let yourself be won over by cufflinks:
- quirky, with a nod to a brand, a film or an animal,
- elegant, with noble materials such as stainless steel, gold, mother-of-pearl or precious stones,
- designer pieces with a distinctive design and colourful details.
Don't hesitate to match your cufflinks with your tie or bow tie for a chic outfit, polished down to the smallest detail. Style tip: wood is the trending material for accessorising a chic men's outfit. Don't miss the chance to pair your wooden cufflinks with a bow tie also made of wood!
Far from being limited to wearing a watch, your wrists can now be tastefully accessorised with cufflinks that won't go unnoticed.
We also recommend these other pages:
- How to match your cufflinks
- When to wear cufflinks?
- How to care for your cufflinks
- How to put on cufflinks
- Buying your cufflinks
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