Cufflinks- Big Style in a Little Package
- By Hendrik Pohl
- Published January 12, 2009
- Advice
- Unrated
Hendrik Pohl
Pohl is a regular contributor for men's fashion. Most of his articles revolve around formal wear. He has a passion for fine neckties and is the founder of http://www.cheap-neckties.com/. If you enjoyed reading this article you might find more helpful tips on dress code and mens fashion, including how to match cufflinks on his blog.
View all articles by Hendrik Pohl
Most people have this preconceived notion that in order to come off as stylish and good-looking, you should invest a lot of money into your clothes. While having a wardrobe straight out of the pages of Men’s Vogue would indeed achieve that effect, it is definitely not the only way to look good. In fact, with a little bit of practice and moxie, even something as small as cufflinks can make a big impact on your outfit.
Before you go on, keep this in mind: you can only wear cufflinks with shirts that have link cuffs, more popularly known as French cuffs. These are sleeve cuffs that have buttonholes on both ends of the cuff but no buttons on either side. If you don’t have a shirt with a French cuff, now would be a great time to get one. It is a prerequisite for wearing cufflinks.
Breaking the Cufflink Mold
It’s time to break out of the stereotype that all cufflinks are in typical ho-hum designs such as squares and rectangles. Quite the contrary! Once you go out and start looking for cufflinks, you are sure to come across a wide assortment of cufflinks in snazzy novelty styles and designs. However, the traditional plain cufflink is still a good choice if you are going to wear it to business meetings and very formal events. For all other occasions, feel free to break the cufflink mold.
Getting cufflinks that are appropriate for the occasion can make you feel completely tuned in to the event. If you are watching a baseball match with your boss for example, you might want to wear cufflinks shaped like baseballs or themed with a team’s colors. Do you want to dress up for the Fourth of July? Complete the celebratory mood with an American flag or a bald eagle cufflink..
Color on Your Cuff
Despite
their size (or lack thereof), cufflinks can contribute to the overall color scheme of an outfit. Properly matching a pair of cufflinks to the right outfit often results in a spectacular-looking ensemble. Here’s how to achieve the effect yourself.
For formal occasions, always opt for a classic metal color such as gold or silver. It’s the safest option you’ve got, and it’s practically foolproof regardless of the color of your shirt. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, try one with a solid-colored stone such as onyx. Either way, just make sure that your cufflinks are clean and simple so that you display the elegance that befits the event.
On regular days, go out and be as out-of-this-world as you’d like. But if you want to make a real stylish statement with your cufflinks, you may want to match its color with one of your other accessories. A gold watch looks even better paired with gold cufflinks. Black cufflinks go really well with black leather shoes and a clean white shirt. Match or complement the colors of your other pieces, but make sure that the cufflinks still sufficiently contrast with the shirt’s color.
How many cufflinks should you own?
Cufflinks are the male equivalent of earrings: they’re small, they’re versatile and there’s no such thing as too many of them. Guys typically have three to five cufflinks in their dresser but you need not have as many if you are not mad about cufflinks. You can start by getting one or two in classic designs in simple squares in gold or silver and then getting customized ones as you find or need them. That way, you’ll never find yourself without an appropriate pair of cufflinks for any occasion.
Don’t underestimate the significance of a cufflink because of its small size and inconspicuous appearance. With the right outfit, a simple cufflink can make a great ensemble look spectacular.
Before you go on, keep this in mind: you can only wear cufflinks with shirts that have link cuffs, more popularly known as French cuffs. These are sleeve cuffs that have buttonholes on both ends of the cuff but no buttons on either side. If you don’t have a shirt with a French cuff, now would be a great time to get one. It is a prerequisite for wearing cufflinks.
Breaking the Cufflink Mold
It’s time to break out of the stereotype that all cufflinks are in typical ho-hum designs such as squares and rectangles. Quite the contrary! Once you go out and start looking for cufflinks, you are sure to come across a wide assortment of cufflinks in snazzy novelty styles and designs. However, the traditional plain cufflink is still a good choice if you are going to wear it to business meetings and very formal events. For all other occasions, feel free to break the cufflink mold.
Getting cufflinks that are appropriate for the occasion can make you feel completely tuned in to the event. If you are watching a baseball match with your boss for example, you might want to wear cufflinks shaped like baseballs or themed with a team’s colors. Do you want to dress up for the Fourth of July? Complete the celebratory mood with an American flag or a bald eagle cufflink..
Color on Your Cuff
Despite
For formal occasions, always opt for a classic metal color such as gold or silver. It’s the safest option you’ve got, and it’s practically foolproof regardless of the color of your shirt. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, try one with a solid-colored stone such as onyx. Either way, just make sure that your cufflinks are clean and simple so that you display the elegance that befits the event.
On regular days, go out and be as out-of-this-world as you’d like. But if you want to make a real stylish statement with your cufflinks, you may want to match its color with one of your other accessories. A gold watch looks even better paired with gold cufflinks. Black cufflinks go really well with black leather shoes and a clean white shirt. Match or complement the colors of your other pieces, but make sure that the cufflinks still sufficiently contrast with the shirt’s color.
How many cufflinks should you own?
Cufflinks are the male equivalent of earrings: they’re small, they’re versatile and there’s no such thing as too many of them. Guys typically have three to five cufflinks in their dresser but you need not have as many if you are not mad about cufflinks. You can start by getting one or two in classic designs in simple squares in gold or silver and then getting customized ones as you find or need them. That way, you’ll never find yourself without an appropriate pair of cufflinks for any occasion.
Don’t underestimate the significance of a cufflink because of its small size and inconspicuous appearance. With the right outfit, a simple cufflink can make a great ensemble look spectacular.