A French
cuff is an additional layer of fabric attached to the
sleeve of a garment that covers the arms. These are
secured by cuff links instead of buttons to help add more
statement to the attire. The purpose of French cuffs is
to avoid the sleeve from fraying; and when the cuffs
themselves fray, it would be easy to replace them as they
are detachable.
The French cuff was first introduced in the
19th century and was mostly worn by rich
businessmen. During that time, cuffs were attached to the
fabric using buttons, as suits that were made
commercially only came in one size. They came with
buttons on them so that people could attach a cuff
depending on their desired length. Most people didn’t
like using buttons on their suits, so they opted for
cufflinks instead, leading to the invention of French
cuffs.
As time passed, French cuffs grew in popularity as
they have been mass-produced and have become cheaper.
Wearing a French cuff with your business suit gives your
outfit a stylish flair. They come in different colours
and prints to make any regular outfit stand out. French
cuffs are sometimes called double cuffs. They are usually
folded back and are secured by either knot closures or
cuff links. A French cuff is usually worn for formal
events such as business meetings and formal functions.
A French
cuff is a simple way to add more style to any shirt.
It has become an essential accessory for executives and
has become more of a fashion statement as designers have
started creating cufflinks made of different
materials.
When wearing a French cuff, it is important to match
the cufflinks with it. Don’t go for novelty cufflinks as
they tend to look tacky and loud. You can opt to get
double-sided cufflinks made out of sterling silver to
make your attire fancier.
If you choose double-sided cufflinks, you might want
to get a British French cuff as they tend to go better
with double-sided cufflinks. When shopping for a French cuff shirt,
take your cufflinks with you so that you know exactly how
they look together. However, if you are not a fan of
cufflinks, you can also opt to get silk knots to put your
French cuffs in place. These are commonly used in Europe
and are called monkey’s fists. They are a classy
alternative to cufflinks and are generally less
expensive.
Don’t forget to always match your cufflinks with the
tie you are wearing, or at least make sure that their
colours don’t clash. Having too many bold colours with
your suit may ruin your attire. Just pick colours that
work well together; they don’t necessarily have to be the
same.
Never leave your French cuffs open, as the whole
point of wearing a French cuff is to make your attire
more formal. French cuffs are supposed to be closed; this
is why they always come with cufflinks or monkey’s
fists.
A French cuff can make any of your suits look
more stylish and elegant. Never sacrifice the design of
your French cuffs for the price.