Cufflinks are the small metal fastenings that hold a double cuff closed, and they say a great deal about a man's taste, his attention to detail and his standing on formal occasions. Mon Amie has written a general introduction to cufflinks before; this time we turn to practice: how to choose a pair that suits your French cuff shirt and the occasion at hand.
Cufflinks belong to double cuff shirts only
First, a point worth settling. Cufflinks are made for double cuffs — the French cuff, twice the usual length, folded back on itself with four buttonholes running through. A barrel cuff already has its button sewn on, so a cufflink there is simply redundant. The decision to wear cufflinks therefore begins at the shirt-making stage: if formal events feature often in your calendar, keep at least one white French cuff shirt in the wardrobe.
Folded back, a French cuff forms two substantial layers of cloth that show about a centimetre beyond your jacket sleeve — and the cufflink sits precisely in the line of sight each time you shake a hand, raise a glass or sign your name.
The value of cufflinks: small, yet unmistakable
Cufflinks carry symbolic weight and a strong sense of the personal. They are a small detail that nonetheless stands out, lifting an outfit, creating a refined accent and signalling an investment in quality and style. The right pair shows respect for the occasion, a discerning eye and care for detail — a small thing that makes a considerable difference to the whole.
That is also why cufflinks are among the most meaningful gifts a man can receive: they can be engraved, they hold their value, and they can be collected and handed down. In many families, a set of cufflinks passes from father to son on the morning of the wedding.
How to choose and match cufflinks
A few principles keep this small fastening in its proper place.
- Match your metals: cufflinks should share a tone with your watch, belt buckle and ring — silver with silver, gold with gold. It is the easiest rule to follow and the easiest to forget.
- Follow the level of formality: for black tie, choose black onyx or mother-of-pearl set in silver; for important meetings and client dinners, a plain or discreet guilloche face; novelty shapes and colour belong to more relaxed gatherings.
- Size: a face of 1 to 1.5 cm is the standard; anything larger pulls attention away from the whole.
- Fastening: bullet-back swivels are practical for everyday wear; chain links are more classical and more formal, since both sides of the cuff look finished.
Where cufflinks appear
Cufflinks belong to formal occasions — weddings, galas, significant meetings, dinners, client engagements, and any event with a dress code running from formal to black tie. For a groom, the pair worn on the wedding day often becomes a keepsake; for a businessman, they are the one discreet detail permitted to catch the light within an otherwise sober business suit.
Six reasons cufflinks complete the most formal outfits
Mon Amie's Tailor Library poster No. 349 puts it succinctly.
- They convey a man's standing and refinement.
- They create a small accent that is striking and hard to forget.
- They finish the look and make an outfit feel considered.
- They suit double cuff shirts and formal dress.
- They make a meaningful gift, expressing taste and thoughtfulness.
- They hold their value, and can be handed down and collected.
The closing line on the poster captures the spirit of this piece: "Precision accessories often separate elegant dress from ordinary dress."
A word from Mon Amie's artisans
When a client commissions a suit for a significant occasion, Mon Amie often suggests having a French cuff shirt made alongside it — because the jacket sleeve will be cut so that exactly a centimetre of shirt cuff shows, enough to reveal the cufflink without display. However fine a pair of cufflinks may be, it needs a properly measured cuff to show at its best; that part is the tailor's work.
If you would like a suit and double cuff shirt made to measure as a set, we invite you to book an appointment at one of Mon Amie's five showrooms in Ho Chi Minh City (Nguyen Trai, Ho Van Hue, 3/2 Street, Caravelle Hotel District 1, Nguyen Thi Thap) — hotline 0888.111.118, with full made-to-measure ensembles from VND 4.8 million through to Canonico, Holland & Sherry, Dormeuil and Scabal cloths. You may also wish to consult our pricing.