How Do I Wear Cufflinks

So, you’ve got a pair of cufflinks. Nice! But now what? Do you snap them on like earrings? Nope. Do you glue them? Please don’t. Wearing cufflinks is a secret handshake with style—and it’s way easier than you think.

The Anatomy of a Cufflink

First, know your enemy. A cufflink has two ends: the face (the cool, shiny part) and the back (the wiggly bar or toggle). The face is the showoff. The back is the anchor. Together, they’re the Batman and Robin of your wrist.

Step One: The Shirt

You need a French cuff shirt. That’s the one with the super-long, floppy cuffs—no buttons. If your shirt has buttons, just walk away. French cuffs are built for this game. They look like tiny fabric wings waiting for action.

Step Two: Fold and Hold

Slide your arm into the sleeve. Then fold the cuff back over itself. Yes, it doubles the fabric. This creates a neat little pocket. Your cufflink will slide through the holes at the fold. It’s like threading a needle, but for grown-ups.

Step Three: The Insertion

Hold the cufflink like a tiny sword. Push the back end through the first hole. Feel the fabric resist? Good. Then push it through the second hole. Pop! The face sits on top, the back flips open underneath. You’re now officially a cufflink person.

Quirky fact: In 18th-century France, cufflinks were called “boutons de manchette.” They were often made of silk and string. Rich guys basically wore fancy shoelaces on their wrists. Modern ones? Silver, gold, or even Lego bricks. Yes, that’s a real thing.

How to Put On Cufflinks: A Step-by-Step Guide – Riblor

The Turn-Up Tuck

Once the cufflink is in, do the signature move. Tweak the shirt cuff so the link sits centered between your wrist and hand. It shouldn’t dig into your skin or dangle like an earring. Perfect? Now do the other side. Symmetry matters, friend.

The Fun Part

Cufflinks are a conversation starter. Wear funky ones: plastic dinosaurs, glowing dice, or miniature pizza slices. At a wedding, a guy once asked me if my cufflinks were alien DNA samples. (They were translucent blue marbles.)

Another funny detail: In Victorian times, men wore four cufflinks per shirt. Two at the cuffs, two at the collar. Imagine fiddling with that after a few drinks. No wonder they invented the tie.

How To Wear Cufflinks & Pair them with Shirts, Suits & Ties | Chokore

When Not to Wear Them

Don’t wear cufflinks to the beach. Sand gets everywhere—and so does your dignity. Avoid them at the gym, unless you want to clink every time you lift a dumbbell. And never wear them with a t-shirt. That’s fashion weird, not fashion fun.

The Secret Taboo

There’s an unspoken rule: Don’t mix metals. If your cufflinks are gold, don’t wear a silver belt buckle. It’s like putting ketchup on chocolate cake. You can, but people will talk. Also, never wear cufflinks that are bigger than your watch face. That’s just showboating.

Why Bother?

Because it’s fun. Because it makes you look like you know a secret. Because when you reach for a coffee, the cufflink catches the light and people think, “Whoa, that guy has his life together.” You don’t even have to be a millionaire—just buy a $10 pair of vintage ones online.

The best part? Every time you wear them, you feel like a puzzle-solver. It’s a tiny, daily victory. So go on. Button up. Fold. Insert. Clink. You’ve got this.