Mens French Cuff Dress Shirts – The Perfect Shirts for Every Occasion

Some people think there isn't much variety in men's clothing. A nice shirt, a pair of slacks and some black or brown shoes, and the guy is ready to go, but the little details in these pieces can set you apart from the crowd. Men wear classic button-down dress shirts everywhere from a day at the office to a night out. Most off the rack dress shirts have a standard two button cuff, which while safe and suitable for any situation, you may want to spice up your wardrobe with a little variety. A French cuff can do just that.

Mens French Cuff Dress Shirts: A History

French cuffs first became popular in the 19^th century. The wealthy of this period would adjust their open cuffs with fancy, sometimes bejeweled cufflinks. This style was particularly prevalent among the French nobility. After a time, with the creation of cheaper metals and materials, cufflinks and French cuffs began to circulate through the masses. Since the 19^th century, french cuffs have gone in and out of mainstream fashion, while still remaining a staple in formal events.

Cufflinks

Also known as a double cuff, french cuffs were useful in that they could be folded over and adjusted to the man's particular arm length by fastening the excess cloth around the wrist with cufflinks. Cufflinks come in many shapes and sizes, and can be used to dress up and dress down an outfit. Most men seem to opt for the smaller, silver variety, which can be worn with any color to any occasion. Larger, more ostentatious cufflinks seem to be the preferred style for executive bigwigs in the business world. In Europe, silver soccer balls are a popular novelty design, although many men's fashion publications are staunchly against novelty cufflinks, as they detract from the classic elegance of the cuff. But coordinating cufflinks with your tie and shirt colors gives your attire a stylish, put together look.

Silk Knots

If you are overwhelmed by the choices and styles available in cufflinks, you may want to consider a silk knot, also known as a “monkey's fist”. Originally created as a cheaper alternative to cufflinks, silk knots are a more understated look, and are ideal for more casual events. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, so you can still match them to your shirt and tie, and are a good option for those who feel too flashy in a pair of cufflinks.

“Kissing” and “Barrel”

There are two popular methods in fastening french cuffs. The most common is the “kissing” style, where the ends are pinched together. This immediately gives the shirt a more unique appearance from the two button, off the rack shirts, and goes well with a formal affair. With the “barrel” style, the ends are overlapped and gives the shirt a similar appearance to a that with a two button cuff, and could be worn in a casual event.

French cuffs have been making a comeback in recent years, particularly with European business men. While many associate french cuffs with formal, black tie events, recently men have been wearing them in more informal situations with modest cufflinks and without a jacket or tie. So with the right links and accessories, the french cuff is a classy, unique and stylish for any situation.