Cufflinks are a classic accessory that adds a touch of sophistication and personal style to your formal or business attire. While they serve the practical purpose of securing your shirt cuffs, they also make a distinct fashion statement. Mastering how to put cuff links on is essential for anyone looking to elevate their look. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to properly fasten your cufflinks, ensuring you present a polished and confident appearance.
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Cufflinks first emerged in the 17th century as a functional alternative to ribbons or ties for fastening shirt cuffs. Before buttons became widespread, they were primarily used by the wealthy, signifying status and elegance. Over centuries, cufflinks have evolved in design, materials, and availability, becoming a versatile accessory for various occasions, from formal events to adding flair to daily business wear.
Detailed parts of a cufflink showing the face, post, and back mechanism
A standard cufflink is typically composed of three main parts: the decorative face (the visible part when worn), the connecting post, and the back mechanism used for fastening. Different back styles offer varying levels of ease and security when attaching them to your shirt cuff.
The Right Way to Wear Cufflinks
When wearing cufflinks, the most crucial rule is ensuring the decorative face is visible to others when your arm is in a relaxed position. This means the emblem, design, or decorative side should always face outwards, away from your body. The fastening mechanism on the back goes on the inside of the cuff, against your wrist.
How to Put Cuff Links On: Step-by-Step
Cufflinks are traditionally worn with French cuff shirts, also known as double cuff shirts. These shirts have extra-long cuffs that are folded back on themselves, creating four layers of fabric with aligned buttonholes on both sides. While French cuffs are the classic choice, cufflinks can also be worn with convertible cuff shirts, which have both buttonholes and buttons, allowing for either fastening method.
Regardless of whether you’re using French or convertible cuffs, the cuff opening is typically located towards the back of your wrist. To easily put on your cufflinks, you’ll need to bend your arm.
- Prepare Your Shirt Cuff: Put on your shirt and get ready to fasten the cuffs. You’ll need access to the buttonholes on both sides of the cuff opening.
- Fold and Align: With your arm slightly bent (bringing your hand closer to your chest or shoulder makes it easier), pinch the two sides of the cuff opening together. Ensure the buttonholes on the top layer of fabric are perfectly aligned with the buttonholes on the bottom layer. Unlike buttons where one side overlaps the other, cufflink cuffs are typically folded so the edges meet side-by-side.
- Insert the Cufflink: With the buttonholes aligned, take your cufflink. The process varies slightly depending on the type of back mechanism, but the general principle is to insert the back part through all four layers of aligned buttonholes. Always insert the cufflink from the outside of the cuff inwards, ensuring the decorative face remains on the outside.
- Secure the Cufflink: Once the back of the cufflink has passed through all the buttonholes, adjust the fastening mechanism to secure the cufflink in place. This usually involves rotating or manipulating the back to prevent it from slipping back out.
To visualize the finished look: bend your elbow and extend your wrist outwards. The face of the cufflink should be clearly visible on the outside of your wrist.
Different Cufflink Back Types and How to Fasten Them
Understanding the different types of cufflink backs makes the fastening process clearer. While they all serve the same purpose, the method of securing them varies.
The most common types include bullet back, whale back, fixed back, and chain link styles.
Bullet Back and Whale Back Cufflinks: These styles feature a post connected to a movable bar (bullet shape) or a flat piece (whale tail shape).
Close-up view of a bullet back cufflink showing the rotating bar mechanism
Close-up view of a whale back cufflink illustrating the flat, rotating back piece
- How to use: Before inserting, twist the bar/whale tail so it is parallel to the post. This creates a straight line that easily slides through the buttonholes. Once the post is through all four buttonholes, rotate the bar/whale tail 90 degrees so it is perpendicular to the post. This horizontal position secures the cufflink and holds the cuff layers together.
Fixed Back Cufflinks: These have a rigid back that is permanently attached to the post, often smaller than the decorative face.
Detailed view of a fixed back cufflink with one side smaller for insertion
Another example of a fixed back cufflink, often with a ball shape for the back
- How to use: There’s no movement required. Simply push the smaller back end through the aligned buttonholes. The difference in size between the back and the buttonhole keeps the cufflink in place. This type might require a little more pressure to insert but is very secure once fastened.
Chain Link Cufflinks: These feature two decorative ends connected by a flexible chain.
Image showing chain link cufflinks with two decorative ends joined by a chain
- How to use: Like fixed back cufflinks, there’s no movable part to adjust. Simply push one of the decorative ends through the aligned buttonholes until the chain connects the two sides of the cuff. The decorative ends are large enough to prevent them from slipping back through the buttonholes.
Different cufflink styles and materials are suited for various occasions. Precious metals and elaborate designs are perfect for formal events, while simpler designs or fabric knots can be worn in less formal settings.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to put cuff links on is a simple skill that adds significant polish to your attire. While the process is straightforward once you understand the basic principle of aligning the buttonholes and securing the back, the slight variations among different cufflink types are worth noting. Whether you prefer the ease of a bullet back or the classic elegance of a chain link, correctly fastening your cufflinks ensures they stay in place and allows their design to be appreciated, perfectly finishing your look.