Text: Jiří KrálPhoto: Ilja Hubálek
Men’s formal fashion has one disadvantage compared to women’s. If you observe it to the letter, after a certain period of wearing a suit day in and day out, boredom begins to set in. For social rules usually dictate quite clearly which colour, material and pattern are appropriate for which occasion. And so not much space is left for imagination and originality.
One way of setting yourself apart is cufflinks. They were made famous by the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. In its day it stirred the waters of strait-laced fashion and set off a great boom in double-cuff shirts.
Cufflinks express your taste as well as your attitude. Some may be serious and understated, others symbolise power and superiority, and others still simply reflect a playful nature.
Cufflinks – the exception that proves the rule
For men’s fashion, a simple rule generally applies: the less striking, the more formal. It works with shoes, belts, pocket squares and shirts. Cufflinks, however, show that this rule does not apply unconditionally.
For it is precisely important formal events that are the occasions on which striking cufflinks belong. At balls and weddings, your cufflinks should literally dazzle. Precious stones, lustrous metals, intricate patterning – you may indulge in all of this without any hesitation.
Conversely, for business meetings such as interviews and negotiations with business partners, we choose cufflinks that are matte and understated. With overly striking ones, you would fall into the overdressed category and thus diminish your credibility.
In the casual style, cufflinks are encountered rather rarely. This is partly because few casual shirts have cuffs on which you could place them. With the growing popularity of convertible cuffs, however, demand is rising, for example, for silk knots – simple coloured knots made of silk. From time to time you will also come across playful informal cufflinks in the shape of ships, footballs or even animals.
How to coordinate cufflinks with the rest of your outfit
As regards shape, it is best for a start to stick with the tried and tested. With round, square, rectangular or oval cufflinks you cannot go wrong. There will be plenty of time for more unusual pieces once you feel more sure of your ground.
Cufflinks should harmonise with the other accessories: with your watch, rings, belt buckle and tie bar. This, however, in no way justifies buying sets. Accessories should merely be in keeping with one another and share a similar shade.
If you wish to truly have fun with your outfit, you may also take up the pattern of another accessory, for instance one of the colours of your tie or pocket square.
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