James Bond wearing a cufflink!
Men in suits, men wearing tuxedo’s; all are often seen wearing cufflinks. A cufflink is a decorative fastener worn by men or women to fasten the two sides of the cuff on a dress shirt or blouse.
Nowadays cufflinks come in a range of shapes and sizes – engraved cufflinks are very common as are novelty ones. My dad owns a pair of 007 cufflinks…
The cufflink has been a in fashion in men’s clothing or at least an element of men’s style for nearly 800 years. Prior to the existance of the cufflink, tailors used buttons solely as decoration, and men kept their clothes together with pins, laces and straps. During the 13th century, tailors began using buttons as fasteners. The development of the worked (stitched) buttonhole during the Renaissance aided in the button’s popularity. But it wasn’t until the post-Renaissance period in the 1600s that two ornamented buttons, attached in the middle with a link of chain, became de rigeur among the upper classes of Europe, especially Great Britain.
Jewelers began turning out what they called “sleeve buttons” in silver and gold, with etched or stamped designs, and often encrusted with precious gems. Royals commemorated weddings and other special events with them, and the wearing of cufflinks became the mark of a gentleman. (http://clevercufflinks.com/cufflink_history.html).
Cufflinks are designed only for use with link cuffs (also known as French Cuffs), which have buttonholes on both sides but no buttons. These may be either single or double-length (“French”) cuffs, and may be worn either “kissing,” with the ends pinched together, or “barrel-style,” with one end overlapping the other. Kissing cuffs are usually preferred.
How to attach a cufflink? This video clip will show you how:
Traditional dress required that French cuffs be worn with a tie and jacket. However due to the emergence of business casual, many are now wearing French cuffs without tie or jacket.
Cufflink designs vary widely. The simplest design consists of a short post or chain connecting two disc-shaped parts. The part positioned on the most visible side is usually larger. A variety of designs can connect the smaller piece: It may be small enough to fit through the button hole like a button would; it may be separated and attached from the other side; or it may have a portion that swivels on the central post, aligning with the post while the link is threaded through the button-hole and swiveling into a position at right angles to the post when worn.
The visible part of a cufflink is often monogrammed or decorated in some way. There are numerous styles, including novelty, traditional, stone-based and contemporary cufflinks.
It is now common for men to be given engraved cufflinks as gifts. Usually as a thank you gift the groom or the bride will get the best man at their wedding a set of engraved cufflinks as a best man gift. Most likely hoping that he will wear them on the big day. Cufflinks are usually engraved with the wearer’s initials – this adds a personal element to the cufflinks. I also know a number of brides who give them to their husbands as groom gifts.
Engraved cufflinks are quite a sentimental gift and are often handed down from father to son at a special point in the latter’s life. Probably a graduation, wedding or christening of a child.
