Friday, December 12, 2008

Tips on Wearing Cufflinks

By: Hendrik Pohl

Are you interested to add more style to your outfit without burning a deep hole in your pockets? Then adding a nice pair of cufflinks to the sleeves of your dress shirts will be a perfect option for you. If you are confused about how to wear cufflinks and how to match them to the rest of your outfit, then this article is right for you. Just like matching neckties to dress shirts, and your below to your shoes, there are a few simple rules on matching your cufflinks to your other pieces of clothing.


Matching Colors


If you are looking for a very versatile set of cufflinks to wear with almost anything, then your best option is a solid silver cufflink set. Silver is the most common color for cufflinks for a reason: It is easy to match, classy, and timeless. The second most common cufflink color is, yes you guessed right, gold. The general rule for silver and gold cufflinks is that the cufflink color has to match your belt buckle. In addition, your other pieces of jewelry, like your wristwatch, should match as well. Gold cufflinks also look great with shades of brown such as a tan colored suit, brown dress shoes, and brown belt, while silver is the preferred color for gray and charcoal-black suits.

Besides silver and gold, many cufflink sets have colored stones on the front. Even though those cufflinks are typically less formal they will add a great touch to your outfit. Try to match the color to another piece of clothing you are wearing. If you wear pink cufflinks, then a pink necktie would be an excellent choice. What you want to avoid is dressing like a parrot with too many bright and conflicting colors.


Cufflink Styles


There are an endless amount of different cufflink styles available. Just try searching for a particular cufflink theme on the Internet and you will guarantee find what you were searching for. As a general guideline: The more basic the cufflink design, the more conservative the look. If you are bored with your suit and tie look then novelty cufflinks are a good option. Unlike novelty ties, that have a somewhat tacky , novelty cufflinks are well accepted. If you like playing poker, then a nice set of poker cufflinks might just be right up your alley. With so many different styles and themes available, cufflinks will make a great gift for the Holidays, Father’s day, and birthdays.


Different Cufflink Materials


Today cufflinks are made in a wide range of materials. Most common are metals, including the precious metals gold, silver, and platinum. Besides metals, cufflinks are commonly made from glass, colored glass that is as the face, fabric, exotic woods, and even bone.


Matching Cufflinks to Dress Shirts


Cufflinks are worn with French cuffed shirts. The French cuff is often times also referred to the double cuff as the cuffs are folded back before they are secured with a knot or cufflinks. Unlike traditional dress shirts, they do not have any buttons on their own. French cuff dress shirts are often considered more formal, particularly when paired with a set of quality cufflinks.


How much to Spend on Cufflinks


The range in cost of cufflinks can go from a few dollars to thousands of dollars. What makes the difference in price is not so much the designer that makes them, but the materials used. Precious metals and stones are common on high-end cufflinks that can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. How much to spend is obviously your choice. For daily use and travel it might be more suited to choose a slightly less expensive set, and save the “good ones” for special occasions.


About the Author : Pohl is an expert author on formal attire. He considers himself a necktie aficionado. His passion for wearing fine neckties inspired him to start his own necktie business, Ties-Necktie.com - His store not only features a wide range of mens ties, but also offers dress code tips, and instructions on how to tie a necktie.


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