You've probably noticed the great comeback of men's cufflinks. Available in a range of shapes and colours, cufflinks are now worn on any occasion with a shirt. Working men and retirees alike appreciate this small piece of jewellery used to fasten shirt cuffs.
If you'd like to know more about the history of cufflinks and their different fastening systems, you'll find all the answers in the cufflinks guide. If you're still hesitating to take the plunge and wear a pair of cufflinks, here are a few arguments to convince you.
Cufflinks: a practical purpose first and foremost
The first reason to wear cufflinks is their usefulness in closing your shirt cuffs around your wrists.
Today, most shirts have buttons sewn onto one edge of the cuff. You simply slot them into the buttonhole on the opposite edge. Practical but lacking any originality, these sewn buttons are all the same colour and size. Their job is to be as invisible as possible while closing the cuff of your shirt.
If you want to take care of every last detail of your outfit, choose men's cufflinks instead. Different fastening systems exist, so you can find a design that suits you.
Cufflinks with the simplest fastenings to close are:
- fish-tail cufflinks,
- silk-knot cufflinks,
- bullet-back cufflinks.
If you want a sturdy pair of cufflinks for everyday wear or for your many evenings out, choose stainless steel, titanium or metal-alloy designs.
Men's cufflinks can be worn to close:
- classic cuffs,
- French cuffs, which fold back on themselves.
Just like the tie or bow tie used to accessorise your collar, the cufflink is today an accessory that's as useful as it is decorative on your cuffs.
Adding a personal touch to your suit
To stand out from your colleagues or other guests at a reception, a tie, a bow tie or coloured socks are no longer the only option. More discreet while still allowing for a touch more eccentricity, men's cufflinks come in an endless range of styles, both classic and original.
Suits are generally all fairly similar, in shades of black, grey, burgundy or white. A tie or bow tie that's too flamboyant at more formal events can quickly come across as poor taste. A small accessory such as a cufflink, however, lets you make a difference without straying from a chic dress code.
To add a touch of colour to your suit jacket, go for coloured cufflinks, or ones in chrome tones such as silver, gold or bronze.
Making an impression at a wedding or reception
Every guest at a wedding or ceremony likes to add their own personal touch to their outfit. For men, accessories are generally limited to a tie or bow tie and a watch. The suit and shoes only stand out through their shade, in understated colours.
If you're the lucky groom, or invited to a loved one's wedding, make an impression with a pair of heart-shaped cufflinks, or even ones depicting a bride and groom! If you've previously felt limited in the accessories you could wear to a reception, with the hundreds of cufflink designs available, you'll no longer need to restrict yourself to classic dress codes.
For a chic dress code at a wedding, go for:
- square cufflinks,
- round cufflinks,
- stainless-steel or stone cufflinks.
If you add a small touch of colour with your men's cufflinks, don't forget to coordinate your outfit by choosing the same colour for your tie or your socks. It's this attention to detail that will win your style universal approval.
Asserting your style for an important meeting
Whether for a romantic date or an important business meeting, cufflinks convey confidence in yourself and your style.
To avoid any fashion faux pas, save your most original or colourful cufflinks in your storage box for receptions with a more festive atmosphere.
Classic, elegant men's cufflink designs are the way to go if you want to stand out for your appointment or meeting.
To play the confident-but-not-too-strict card, silk-knot cufflinks strike just the right balance between a classic and a relaxed look. If in doubt, avoid overly colourful silk knots and favour neutral, solid colours such as pine green, grey, navy or burgundy.
If you want to make an impression on a romantic date, choose a pair of cufflinks that reflects who you are. For men with a sense of humour, dare quirky, original designs. Cufflinks featuring superheroes or everyday objects are sure to grab attention, and why not steer the conversation towards your hobbies and interests?
For men with a more reserved personality, favour a look you'll feel comfortable in, without too much extravagance. The main thing is to match the style of your cufflinks to your personality, so you can be yourself during your date.
Treating yourself to men's jewellery
Men's jewellery is generally limited to rings and watches for the most classic styles. At an evening event or reception, this leaves little choice for accessorising a chic outfit.
Men's cufflinks let you add your own personal touch to your cuffs. Some designs are genuine pieces of jewellery to wear with your shirts and suit jackets.
Among the collection of cufflinks that are true men's jewellery, you'll find:
- silver or gold cufflinks,
- mother-of-pearl, stone or shell cufflinks,
- designer cufflinks,
- cufflinks with a clock or watch mechanism.
These pairs of men's cufflinks come at a higher price than more classic or silk-knot designs. However, these high-end cufflinks represent genuine jewellery, with a value well above that of simple silk-knot cufflinks.
If you also plan to wear a watch, don't hesitate to coordinate your accessories by choosing the same alloy for your watch and your cufflinks.
Ideally, these men's cufflinks should be stored in a box designed for the purpose whenever you're not wearing them. They'll have real impact on your French cuffs for special occasions, where jewellery and more elegant accessories are called for.
Also remember to wear a properly tailored jacket that lets your cuffs — and your cufflinks — peek out.
This type of cufflink also makes a great gift idea, to give or to receive, to complete a collection of men's jewellery and accessories.
We also recommend these other pages:
- A brief history of cufflinks
- Who wears cufflinks?
- Cufflink shapes
- Cufflink materials
- The most beautiful cufflinks
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