Cufflinks are the decorative metal fasteners that hold together the two edges of a double cuff shirt sleeve. In short, they replace the ordinary button at the wrist, and they are one of the very few pieces of metal a gentleman wears at all. Precisely because they are small and uncommon, they say a good deal about the taste of the man wearing them.
The value of cufflinks
Cufflinks strike a balance between function and beauty. They complete an outfit and reveal both care and taste. The poster sets out four points of value:
- Completing the outfit: a refined accent at the wrist that lifts the whole look to another level.
- Expressing character: they reflect your eye, your interests and your own way of dressing.
- Quality and durability: good metal wears for years and keeps its air of refinement.
- Intrinsic worth: a small object that can carry real sentimental value and personal standing.
Six reasons cufflinks still matter
- A perfect substitute: a refined alternative to the ordinary cuff button, giving the sleeve a distinctive, elegant finish.
- Easy variation: they refresh a look without changing a single garment.
- Suited to many occasions: from the office to formal events, dinners and weddings.
- A lasting investment: they pair with white shirts for years, never dating and holding their worth.
- Easy to combine: at home with white shirts, pale blue, fine stripes and classic suiting.
- A deliberate detail: never showy, yet enough to reveal taste and refinement.
How to recognise a good pair
- Quality metal: gold, silver, stainless steel or platinum give both durability and a fine lustre.
- Secure mechanism: a bullet back swivel that turns smoothly, holds firmly and is easy to use.
- Proportion and finish: sized in keeping with the cuff, finished with care, smooth to the touch and harmonious in colour.
Where and how to wear them
The poster identifies five settings where cufflinks belong: formal events, weddings and galas, senior corporate environments, important meetings and intimate dinners. Alongside them come a few practical principles worth remembering:
- Choose appropriately: shape and colour should suit both the outfit and the occasion.
- Favour good material: it adds durability, resists tarnishing and preserves refinement.
- Keep proportion: never too large or too small for the cuff and for your wrist.
- Store them properly: wipe them after wear and keep them in their own case, away from scratches and damp.
- Coordinate quietly: harmonise with watch, tie, belt and shoes for a unified whole.
- Wear them at the right moment: cufflinks shine where care and respect are called for.
Technically, cufflinks work only with a double cuff shirt (also called a French cuff) or a link cuff, that is, a cuff with buttonholes on both edges and no buttons. For black tie, choose a matching set of studs and cufflinks, faced in onyx or mother of pearl. For the office, plain metal or a monogrammed face is quite enough.
A word from Mon Amie's artisans
When we cut a shirt to measure, Mon Amie always asks whether you intend to wear buttons or cufflinks, because the two cuffs are cut and sewn differently from the outset and cannot easily be converted afterwards. We also advise setting the sleeve length so that one to one and a half centimetres of shirt cuff shows beyond the jacket sleeve, which is the margin cufflinks need to do their work.
If you would like a complete suit with a properly made double cuff shirt, please book an appointment at one of Mon Amie's five showrooms in Ho Chi Minh City, or call 0888.111.118. You may also wish to look at our bespoke service if you prefer a wardrobe built entirely from scratch.