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Cufflinks are a vital accessory to any dress shirt. Not only are they practical, they also offer a key opportunity to flaunt your style.
These tiny accessories can have a huge impact on the overall success of your outfit. Get them right, and they can add a flash of personality to your tailoring. Get them wrong and you risk undermining the rest of your look.
Like a lot of great fashion pieces, cufflinks originated in France. They were developed in response to a practical need: keeping shirt cuffs together. However, they soon outstripped this basic need and noblemen began competing to out-style each other with cufflinks made of diamonds, pearls and other precious gems.
The industrial revolution brought with it the modern shirt cuff, and with it the integral button. Though this was certainly an advance in many ways, it spelt the quick demise of the cufflink. This stylish accessory soon became called upon only for dress shirts and special occasions.
Of course, there’s no rule that says cufflinks are inherently more formal than buttons. Many tailoring aficionados are embracing more traditional shirt styles, and with them the handy cufflink. Whether for black tie events, the office, dinner dates or lunch with friends: choosing the right pair of cufflinks can add the sartorial finishing touch.
Want to know how to choose a successful pair of cufflinks? We’ve shared a few guidelines below.
Less is more
If in doubt, go classic. Simple shapes and lines will never go out of style, and they’re unlikely to take away from the rest of your outfit.
Quality material matters
Gold, silver or quality metal cufflinks are likely to be far more stylish than their fabric or plastic counterparts. Single colour cufflinks are also far easier to style and wear.
Don’t be afraid to show a little personality
A little personality is certainly never a bad thing. So long as you choose with our other guidelines in mind, cufflinks that give a nod to your personal tastes and hobbies can be a fun way to make your outfit your own.
Got tailoring accessories on the brain? Take a look at our post on the history of pocket squares.