Needless to say, there are innumerable cufflinks available on the market and it would be impossible to list them all. They can be as cheap as a couple of dollars or very expensive depending on the brand and the materials used to make them. You’ve probably noticed by now that cufflinks come in a wealth of options. Ahead, Stolch explains each one: In terms of style, there are definitely some cufflinks that are less staid and allow the wearer to show a bit of personality. There are no shortage of themes and designs for cufflinks, and you can get anything you like if you just search long enough: coins, replicas of street signs, animals, even bones! Custom / Personalized Cufflinks If your cufflinks are made of precious metals you can use a professional jewelry cleaning solution, or warm water soapy water, and a soft cloth to gently clean them,” Stolch recommends.

Gunmetal – an alloy of copper, zinc, and tin that produces a dark, glossy metal. Masculine and contemporary. Certain types of men’s dress shirts require cufflinks. More specifically, the cuff of a shirt will dictate whether or not cufflinks are needed.As a rule, I only ever wear cufflinks with a French cuff shirt. They tend to have a weight and formality which feels in keeping with the tradition of this sartorial accoutrement. However, this isn’t the only option. Unless trousers are custom tailored to stay securely in placewith side adjusters, suspenders ( bracesin the UK) are always worn with a tuxedo. Mother-of-pearl – a pale, glossy material sourced from seashells. This is the same material used to make high-quality shirt buttons, so cufflinks made from it can closely resemble shirt buttons. Commonly seen on the cufflinks for formal and semiformal outfits. Cufflinks are physically tiny compared to the other things that we wear, but they punch well above their weight class in terms of the image that they project. With that in mind, it’s imperative that you choose to wear cufflinks in the right scenarios, and that you choose the correct ones to wear within those scenarios. Just like buttons, cufflinks come in many shapes, sizes, styles, and materials. They usually offer a little more contrast than a button, and are considered a more ornamental option, but they're not inherently more or less formal. The Basic Cufflink: How It Works

If you need some assistance with color coordination, our guide to color will help you out. What Is The Difference Between Cufflinks Vs Studs? Cufflinks don’t just fasten your shirt cuffs, they also add a certain flair. How, exactly, then, do you coordinate your cufflink’s colors with the rest of your outfit? Follow our tips below and you’ll always be properly dressed:Though not an imperative, definitely try to match your cufflink with the material of your watch and ring if possible, giving your outfit a sense of cohesion. And it almost doesn’t need to be said, but just in case: always wear two cufflinks, never one. If you lose one, frame the other, put it on the mantlepiece or smelt it down to its raw materials – it’s better this way. 3. Knots, studs and the everyday cufflinks

Start by housing your cufflinks in their own box to prevent them from getting dirty or damaged during storage. Silk knots are the only cufflink style not made from metal. If you’re dressing a bit more informally, silk knots are an excellent choice, as they open up your options in terms of color coordination. They also tend to be the least expensive style of cufflink, which is an added bonus. Glass: Typically on the more casual end of the spectrum, glass links are available in a multitude of colors and are often very affordable. Chain Link Cufflinks have two heads (usually identical) connected by a short length of fine chain. This creates a slightly looser fastening than other styles, with visible decoration on both sides of the closed buttonholes.Belts are not an option because they would cause the cummerbund or waistcoat to bunch up. This is not just a matter of tradition but also of style because they ensure that the trouser waistband does not slip below the bottom of the waistcoat, they align the trousers’ pleats with the waistcoat’s points and they avoid the extra waistline bulk that would result from wearing a belt. Let’s say you’re an attorney who’s trying a serious case. You’d be well-advised to not wear, say, the Spongebob Squarepants cufflinks your son bought you for your birthday, but rather some simple metal ones in silver or gold. Your cufflinks can -and should- be more casual and playful. Choose colorful silk knots or something personalized as opposed to, say, precious gems. Push the closure through the two inside panels. Be sure that the inside panels are flat and flush against the outside ones; do not curve it underneath the outside panels as if you were buttoning a barrel cuff shirt. On the other hand, more casual occasions, like dinner dates or parties, allow you to wear cufflinks that show a bit more personality. Knowing the difference and understanding your audience is key in making the decision about what cufflinks to wear, and indeed whether or not to wear them.

For those going on job interviews or attending funerals, our advice is to avoid cufflinks altogether, as they can be distracting in the former scenario and too showy in the latter.They're an alternative to the buttons that are commonly sewn onto shirt cuffs. The defining feature is that cufflinks are separate objects: sew it onto the shirt and it's a button, but if it's fully removable it's a cufflink. Note that silk knots are sometimes quite difficult to get through the buttonholes of a shirt cuff. Just keep at it! Not long after that book was published, tailors recognized just how important the accent could be to a “proper gentleman’s” clothing.