It may seem like a small and insignificant part of a man’s wardrobe, but the humble cufflink is more than a chunk of metal to keep your shirt sleeves secure. They actually have a lot of history behind them, evoking the passions of once great men, displaying wealth and privilege that left envious streaks in their wake.
In the early 1700s, men started to wear shirts with large exaggerated wristbands which had to be secured with bits of string to make them more practical for everyday use. Over time the string was replaced with more decorative gold chains and decorative glass stones and, eventually, precious gems, depending on the size of your fortune and your social status.
And so the ‘cuff link’ as we know and love it was born – an ornate accessory that was the perfect manifestation of an individual’s wealth, power and personality.
When to wear cufflinks
There are strict protocol to when and how you should wear cufflinks as opposed to buttons. Cufflinks are worn with a shirt with French cuffs. A shirt with a French Cuff has a longer cuff which is folded back on itself, with two cuff holes that align for your cuff link. This allows you to select your unique mens cufflinks that showcase your personality, and give an individual flavour to your overall outfit.
Most day to day wear would not necessitate the wearing of fancy cufflinks – unless you are wanting to stand out from the crowd in ways which are unique yet congruent to your profession. However, more formal and evening wear, such as tuxedos and morning suits, must be finished with the right length of cuff showing beneath your jacket sleeve, and finished with a cufflink.
What is the right length of cuff?
The correct length of cuff that should be visible under your jacket sleeve is 0.25 inches to 0.5 inches. If you are attending a more formal or conservative event then less cuff is more suitable. However, if the event of circumstances ar more relaxed, and you want to celebrate your more fashionable side, then anything up to 0.75 inches is more than acceptable.
But never forget – such rules are always there to be broken. It is entirely up to the strength of your personality and confidence as to whether or not you can get away with it.
What is there so much stigma around cufflinks?
While the literary presence of sporting cufflinks (one of the main characters in the Count of Monte Cristo wore large diamond cufflinks which caused great consternation) brought the attention of more and more people to their existence, it was the Industrial Revolution that allowed them to be manufactured in greater quantities more cheaply, so that they could become popular throughout the different social classes.
However, progress once again swung its scythe and shirt makers soon started mass producing shirts with buttons sewn into the cuffs, eliminating the need for the cufflink. While this was a great advance in terms of practicality for the working man, instead of totally eliminating the existence of cuff links, it once again elevated them back to a higher status.
It is for this reason that cufflinks are now regarded as an item of luxury and sartorial elegance. While not an everyday item (except for those who are particularly driven by an innate sense of fashion), for special occasions such as weddings, formal dinners and suchlike, cuff links play an important role in men’s outfits. And while once they were the unique domain of royalty and the aristocracy, they are now highly accessible to everyone.