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.
You can find a large selection of
quality french cuffs @ Amazon or have a look at the assortment
below