How to wear cufflinks, not everyone knows today. Meanwhile, several decades ago, the appearance at ceremonies in a shirt without cufflinks was considered a manifestation of bad taste.
Today, stylish and expensive cufflinks are an indispensable accessory for successful men. Small in size, they can have a significant impact on the perception of the image of a person as a whole.
History and Origins
The predecessors of modern cufflinks were ruffles on the sleeves of men's shirts of noble gentlemen. Fashion at the beginning of the 18th century was distinguished by an abundance of lace, ruffle and bows. Some men began to thread ribbons through the lace to fasten the wide sleeves that interfere with them. Later, the ribbons were replaced with 2 gold or silver chains fastened with decorative buttons made of colored glass or precious stones, usually diamonds.
Until the mid-19th century, wearing cufflinks was an exclusive privilege of the nobility. In royal and aristocratic families, cufflinks have always demonstrated the noble origin and high wealth of their owners.
Along the path of progress
After the opening of the galvanization process, cufflinks began to be made from cheaper metals coated with a thin layer of gold, and diamonds were replaced with semiprecious stones. They came into widespread use in 1882, after the start of their industrial production.
By this time, the men's shirt had also changed : the starched cuffs were very stiff and difficult to fasten with buttons, and the cufflinks were perfect for this purpose. It was then that they became an integral part of the men's suit.
From childhood, boys were taught how to wear cufflinks, and girls — how to choose them. Acquiring expensive cufflinks on their own was considered a bad sign in men. Most of the collections were formed from gifts and inherited rarities. This tradition is still alive: a modern man often receives cufflinks and a tie clip as a wedding gift .
From elite to mass
In the mid-20s of the last century, the so-called casual style came into fashion . It was then that the sport shirt with long sleeves became an integral part of the men's wardrobe. Question: “How to wear cufflinks?” he was no longer standing because the cuffs of the new shirts were not intended for them at all. So cufflinks were again in the background, taking their place as an elite accessory.
Men usually don’t wear any jewelry except an engagement ring and watches, so they have few opportunities to make their appearance individual. A traditional tie adds appeal to its wearer, but only cufflinks can give an ordinary costume a truly unique look.
Fashion trends
Now you can find a lot of information on how to wear cufflinks, since modern fashion has again included them in its arsenal. Given the incredibly wide range of colors and styles, as well as the availability of today's cufflinks, it is not surprising that their popularity is higher than ever.
Cufflinks are not only great for men, they are also an exclusive option for ladies. Today, no one is surprised by a woman’s shirt with cufflinks. How to wear them, each woman decides on her own, but the ladies give the most preference to large specimens that have a non-standard shape or richly decorated with stones and rhinestones.
Selection tips
You may not have chosen a shirt yet because you don’t know how to wear cufflinks. Photos of various models can be found in all fashion magazines. Most casual men's shirts come with cuffs fastened with buttons and buttons, however, many manufacturers of high-end models have retained their signature cufflinks for cufflinks in the design.
It should be noted that cufflinks are designed to be worn with shirts and blouses with loops on both sides of the cuffs. You can not wear them with clothes on the cuffs of which buttons are sewn.
There are many different types of cufflinks, so you can choose them according to your personality. Accessories are designed to create a stylistic unity of the costume and emphasize the individuality of the appearance of its owner. That is why there are several general rules on how to wear cufflinks.
- If you put on a tie, you must remember that it will determine the style of your suit. The shirt in this case will serve as a backdrop for him. Therefore, the clip and cufflinks should be matched to match the tie and have a discreet design. The classic is the option when they make up one set.
- Of course, cufflinks are appropriate without a tie. In this case, they should be combined with the color of the metal of the dial of the watch and the buckle of the trouser belt.
- Exclusive cufflinks attract attention, therefore it is recommended to wear them in cuffs of plain shirts of white or light color.
The materials and style of cufflinks may be different, but their purpose does not change from this. From the time of diamond buttons and gold chains to the current exclusive platinum accessories, the presence of cufflinks on cuffs demonstrates their holder's belonging to the highest class of society.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your great-grandfather’s rarities or if a trendy set was bought recently, cuffs fastened with cufflinks are a universal and undeniable sign of stylish and confident people.