As we already mentioned, French cuffs feature a length of fabric that is folded back upon itself and then fastened together with cufflinks, There are holes on both sides of the cuff going through all the layers of fabric. In other words, most French cuffs will typically have four holes in total to a cuff.
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What is the purpose of French cuffs?
French cuffs exude sophistication, drive, and power-but only when they’re worn correctly. Gentlemen traditionally wear their suits a bit looser, allowing for a dressier French cuff. Gentlemen who like more contemporary styles, such as thinner, more fitted suits, do not usually wear this kind of dress shirt.
When should you wear French cuffs?
1. There’s Rarely a Bad Time to Wear French Cuffs. As a general rule, you should wear French cuffs anytime you feel like sprucing up an outfit. Many people think of French cuffs as something you wear with a tuxedo at a black-tie event or something comparably formal – not so.
What is the difference between cocktail cuff and French cuff?
Cocktail cuff
Dressier than a barrel cuff but less formal than a French cuff. Cocktails cuffs are usually stiffened with an interlining of some sort, although they can also be made in a softer verson.
Is it OK to wear French cuffs without a jacket?
That said, the rules almost always take a more conservative stance on any given issue. Additionally, some rules are better to break than others. However, one of them that should never be broken is Rule 13 (Thou shall not wear a French cuff (double cuff) shirt without a jacket).
Can you wear French cuff with jeans?
French cuffs are elements of a dressy shirt. If you want to tone it down a touch, keep the cuff links casual and subtle, meaning no bling. (We suggest these sports-inspired ones.) And you’ll want to avoid jeans with lots of distressing; cuff links are refined, so your jeans should be, too.
Can you wear French cuffs with any suit?
French cuffs should always be complemented by the right type of suit and an appropriate occasion. French cuffs portray class, drive and power—but only when worn correctly. Traditional guys tend to wear their suits with a little more room, which allows for the dressier French cuff.
Why is it called French cuff?
An alternative to the modern buttoned cuff is the French Cuff, so called due to its resemblance to garments favoured by merchants and soldiers in the Napoleonic times. With French Cuff shirts the cuff is secured by metal cufflinks to give a suave and sophisticated look.
Are cufflinks only for French cuffs?
As long as you have a long-sleeved shirt with the necessary holes in the cuff, then you can easily wear your cufflinks. If by chance you don’t own a cufflink shirt or a shirt with a French or double cuff, then this article is for you.
Can you wear French cuffs with a sport coat?
French cuffs are a dressier look than buttons, but you can wear them with a blazer or even a sports jacket if you have that je ne sais quoi.
What is the most common shirt cuff?
Barrel Cuff
Barrel Cuff
The most common type of cuff seen on shirts. The corners of the cuff are square and the fastening can be secured with one or two buttons.
How should a French cuff shirt fit?
A French cuff or double cuff shirt cuffs should neither fit too tightly nor too loose. It should sit snugly so that the cuff forms a horseshoe shape around the wrist, without straining or sliding down over your thumb.
French Cuffs vs Convertible Cuffs
In fact, French cuffs do not have buttons sewn onto them at the cuff and so cufflinks are a must when wearing such a shirt. French cuffs are double layered (they’re essentially extra long and a certain amount of the cuff is folded back to create an extra thick (and stiff) cuff.
What do cufflinks symbolize?
What do cufflinks symbolise? Since their creation, cufflinks have been seen as a symbol of status for gentlemen with luxury gold and gemstone cufflinks seen as a symbol of wealth, power and reputation.
What are shirts that need cufflinks called?
Also known as French cuffs, they look the part and act as a great opportunity to show a little personality with your choice of cufflinks. Find the style that’s right for you in our range of double-cuff shirts, choosing from tailored, regular and slim cuts in a variety of fabrics, colours, prints and weaves.
Can you wear cufflinks without a suit?
Is it OK to wear cufflinks without a suit? You do not need to wear a suit to have cufflinks. They look great on formal shirts, like double/french cuffs or button/barrel cuffs. The jewelry can be a way to liven up a crisp white shirt or complement a bold color like blue.
Can I wear cufflinks without a tie?
Don’t worry about the lack of formal neckwear when wearing cufflinks. French cuffs look great under a jacket, whether you’re wearing a tie or not. In my opinion, wearing cufflinks without a tie is a subtle way to show your style without looking too formal. Don’t wear sport or hobby themed cufflinks.
What’s the difference between single and double cuff?
The Double (French) Cuff
It is folded back over itself and secured with cufflinks. It is more complex than its single cuff relative and it does indeed look more formal. Obviously, you would need to have a pair of decent cufflinks to be able to wear this type of cuff.
How formal are French cuffs?
The traditional view on this subject is that French cuffs should really only be worn in more formal scenarios, such as if you’re wearing black tie or if you’re wearing a conventional business suit and necktie. Some will even argue that wearing French cuffs with a blazer or sport coat is a stretch.
Can you wear French cuffs without a suit?
There is no set of rules on this question. Meaning it comes to the personal preference and your personality to pull it off to make it look good without a jacket. Generally speaking, French cuff shirts are too formal to wear without a blazer or a suit.
There are two buttons to fasten my sleeves, those that would make the cuff tighter and those that would allow them to be looser. This is an easy one! As Carl Goldberg demonstrated in our “Body” episode, commercial cuffs are almost always too big, not too small.