Men's Cufflinks
Cufflinks are small pieces of jewelry designed to fasten shirtsleeves. These formal alternatives to buttons are commonly used with shirts that have French cuffs, which do not come with standard enclosures. They come in a wide variety of styles and shapes, and are a welcome addition to any formal look.
What's the right way to wear a pair of cufflinks?
Cufflinks aren't difficult to wear. Simply follow these basic steps:
- Find the Right Shirt: Start by wearing a shirt with French or Double cuffs as they naturally allow for easy insertion of these accessories.
- Fold the Cuffs: Fold them back, so that the sleeves end in a straight line.
- Align the Holes: Before inserting one of the pair of cufflinks, hold the edges of the shirtsleeves parallel; they should lay flat together. The cufflink holes should line up perfectly.
- Insert: Place the cufflink in the hole, and secure it so that the embellished side of the jewelry is facing outwards.
What pieces make up a pair of cufflinks?
- Insert Member: The insert member, or large head, of the cufflink is the decorative front face of these accessories. These heads are attached to a post, which is inserted through the shirt's button holes.
- Hinged Toggle: The toggle is the fastener. It swings out from the post and latches shut to ensure that the cufflinks stay put.
What materials are pairs of cufflinks usually made of?
These accessories are made of a number of materials, including:
- Gold
- Sterling Silver
- Stainless Steel
What are common styles of cufflinks?
These pieces of jewelry come in a wide variety of styles. Here are a few of the most common:
- Bullet Back: Bullet back cufflinks are easy to secure. Wearers simply flip the bullet so that it lines up with post, and then flip it back again to secure it in the right position.
- Whale Back: These combine a flat head with a straight post and a type of enclosure known as a "whale tail," which flips flat against the post.
- Stud: Instead of having hinges, these pairs of cufflinks consist of a head and an interior backing. This variety is durable and secure, as well.
- Chain Link: These consist of two heads that are joined together with a metal chain. Both heads are decorative, and the chain provides a looser type of enclosure.
- Knot: These are similar to chain link varieties, but the heads are shaped like knots, and they're connected via a fabric cord.
- Locking Dual Action: Instead of a traditional post, this style uses a watch-like closure mechanism to attach the heads to the holes.
- Fabric: For a more casual aesthetic, fabric cufflinks have a button-style head made from fabric.