Men's Cufflinks: A Simple Guide to Wearing Them Right

 Cufflinks have a reputation problem. A lot of guys file them under "fussy" — something reserved for grooms, butlers, and men who own more than one tuxedo. That's a shame, because a pair of cuff links is one of the easiest ways to make an ordinary shirt look deliberate, and they're nowhere near as complicated as their formal reputation suggests.

Here's everything you actually need to know to start wearing them, minus the snobbery.

First, you need the right shirt

This trips people up immediately. Regular shirts have buttons on the cuffs, and cufflinks won't help you there. What you want is a French cuff shirt, also called a double cuff. The fabric at the wrist is extra long and folds back on itself, leaving two holes that line up — and that gap is exactly what a cufflink threads through to hold the cuff closed.

There's also the single cuff with holes, which some dress shirts offer, but the French cuff is the classic. If you're buying a shirt specifically to wear cufflinks, look for "double cuff" or "French cuff" on the label and you're set.

The mechanisms, briefly

You don't need to memorize these, but knowing the names helps when you're shopping.

The most common is the whale back — a flat head on the front, a post through the middle, and a little tab on the back that flips up to slide through, then folds down to lock. It's secure and easy, which is why it dominates.

Bullet back (or toggle) cufflinks work similarly but use a small cylinder that rotates upright to pass through the hole, then turns sideways to stay put. Fixed-back cufflinks have no moving parts at all — they're one solid piece, which looks clean but takes a bit more wiggling to get through. And chain link cufflinks connect two decorative faces with a small chain, giving a looser, more traditional drape. They're elegant but fiddlier than the rest.

Then there are silk knots — soft, woven fabric balls joined by an elastic cord. They cost almost nothing, come in cheerful colors, and are a low-stakes way to test whether you even like wearing cufflinks before spending real money.

How to actually put them on

It's simpler than it looks. Fold the cuff back so the two holes align. Thread the cufflink through both layers from the outside, so the decorative face sits on the outer side of your wrist when your arm hangs down — yes, the pretty part faces out, away from your body. Flip the closure to lock it, and you're done. The first time takes about thirty seconds; after that it's muscle memory.

Matching them to the occasion

This is where taste comes in. For a wedding, a job interview, or anything black-tie, keep it understated — simple silver or gold faces, mother-of-pearl, or a small inset stone and pair nicely with a stylish matching tie clip. The point is polish, not personality.

For everyday wear or a creative office, you've got far more room. Enamel colors, geometric shapes, a subtle monogram, or a quiet nod to a hobby all work, as long as the rest of your outfit stays grounded. The trick with novelty cufflinks is restraint: let them be the one playful note, not a costume.

A couple of quiet rules keep everything looking intentional. Match your metals — silver cufflinks pair best with a silver watch and belt buckle, gold with gold. And read the room; loud cufflinks at a somber event send the wrong signal, no matter how nice they are.

Building a small collection

You don't need a drawer full. Three pairs will carry you a long way: one plain silver or gold for formal occasions, one with a touch of color or pattern for work, and one fun pair for when you feel like it. That covers almost everything a normal life throws at you.

Care is minimal. Wipe metal pairs with a soft cloth now and then, keep enamel and stones away from hard knocks, and store them somewhere they won't get scratched — a small box, or even an egg carton in a drawer, does the job.

The takeaway

Cufflinks aren't a relic, and they aren't reserved for the ultra-formal. They're a small, reversible upgrade that turns "I'm wearing a shirt" into "I thought about this." Get yourself a French cuff shirt, start with an affordable pair you actually like, and learn the thirty-second routine. Before long, reaching for them feels less like an occasion and more like a habit — which is exactly when they're doing their job.