How to Match Your Cufflinks

If you are looking for ways to add more style and a more personal touch to your outfit, cufflinks are an excellent piece of accessory. Just like there are a few basic rules for matching ties to dress shirts, and belts to your dress shoes, there are a few things to consider when pairing a set of cufflinks to the rest of your outfit.
The Colors:

The most common cufflink colors are silver and gold. In this case, the basic rule is to match the cufflink color to your belt buckle. In addition, your other pieces of jewelry, like your wristwatch, should match the cufflink color. Gold cufflinks also look great with shades of brown such as a tan colored suit, brown dress shoes, and brown belt.
Many cufflinks have colored stones at the face. Those cufflinks will add a classy look 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.


The Styles:

The styles of cufflinks are endless. 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 reputation in men's fashion, novelty cufflinks are well accepted. If you are an avid golfer for example, why not add a personal touch to your outfit by wearing a pair of cufflinks in shape of golf clubs or golf balls. It will always be a good conversation started in a business meeting or sales call.

The Materials:

Cufflinks are made out of a wide range of materials. Most common are metals, including the precious metals gold, silver, and platinum. In addition cufflinks are made in part of glass, fabric, wood, and even bone. What material of cufflinks you wear is up to you and often times up to your budget. Matching the colors the right way is more important.
Your 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 do budget:

Cufflinks can range anywhere from a few dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Traditionally, the deciding factor in price is the metal and stones used. The more precious the metal and/or the stone, the more expensive the cufflinks will be. How much you want to spend on a set of cufflinks is your own personal choice. It is advisable however to have multiple sets of cufflinks to match to your outfit. If you travel a lot then buying a slightly less expensive set of cufflinks is a good option as cufflinks are one of the most forgotten things in your hotel room.

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Matching Cuff Links to Shirts

Fashion Sense

Elegance and style are something of an art form, and it takes a keen understanding of color theory, art styles, and current trends to really capture a specific look. Cufflinks are a part of this, and can be used as a bit of flare to your outfit when a dress code is necessary but somewhat too conservative for your taste. So what styles and colors of cufflinks can you wear at different times of the day, and at different events? lets look into it.

During the day, you have the widest spectrum of cufflinks to choose from. This is because, generally speaking, daytime events are somewhat less formal, often not even requiring a jacket. This is when you would likely wear cufflinks dealing with sports, hobbies, or other interests. All you really have to pay attention to is the color.

You may match your cufflinks to your shirt, watch band, or tie. For instance, you might use a gold and pearl cufflink on a white or pale pink shirt. If you match it to your watch band, you can create some nice contrast with the shirt, watch, and cufflinks. You may be somewhat creative and fanciful with your cufflinks choices during the day use this time as a time to experiment and express your own tastes and fashion sensibilities.

In the evening, you are more restricted, and good taste dictates you follow certain rules. Firstly, it must be stated that metal-banded watches are not to be worn in the evening. Dinner Jackets are becoming increasingly scarce, but if you do wear them you must usually match the cufflinks to your shirt (white).

Matching the jacket is a possibility (black), but it is less customary and shouldn't be necessary with a proper jacket. Also, avoid silver and gold cufflinks with a dinner jacket, as they are considered to choosy. If you are wearing a standard evening suit, you must remember to stick to dark colors for the suit itself. This opens up your options in cufflinks to include gold, silver, stones, jewels and even crystals.

At formal gatherings, such as weddings or engagement parties, cufflinks are generally considered to be a necessity. Normally you would match them to the color of your wedding ring, either silver or gold. If you are not married or engaged, you may match them to your shirt as usual, or you may also match them to your waist coat. Always remember when wearing a watch not to wear a silver watch with gold cufflinks, or vice versa.

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