Do You Wear Cufflinks with a Suit

The Short Answer: Yes, But Only With the Right Shirt

Yes, you wear cufflinks with a suit — but only if your dress shirt has French cuffs. French cuffs are the double-length cuffs that fold back on themselves and fasten with cufflinks. If your shirt has standard button cuffs, you cannot wear cufflinks with it. It is that simple.

Many men ask this question because they see cufflinks as formal or old-fashioned. The truth is that cufflinks work with almost any suit — from a navy worsted wool suit for the office to a light linen suit for a summer wedding. The key is matching the cufflink style to the occasion. A polished pair of silver cufflinks adds a sharp detail that a button simply cannot match.

When to Wear Cufflinks With a Suit

Cufflinks belong in most suit situations. Business meetings, weddings, formal dinners, job interviews, and date nights all call for them if your shirt has French cuffs. They signal that you pay attention to the details of your outfit. That matters in professional settings.

Here is a quick breakdown of when cufflinks are appropriate:

• Business formal: Always wear cufflinks with French cuffs. Choose simple silver, gold, or mother-of-pearl.
• Business casual: You can skip the suit entirely, but if you wear one, cufflinks still work.
• Weddings: Cufflinks are standard. Match them to your watch or belt buckle.
• Black tie: Yes, but use studs for the shirt front and cufflinks for the cuffs. Keep them black or white.
• Casual suits: A linen suit with a French cuff shirt and fun cufflinks — like enamel or wood — looks great.

There is one rule to remember. If you wear a suit with a French cuff shirt, you should wear cufflinks. Leaving the cuffs open looks sloppy. If you do not want to bother with cufflinks, buy shirts with barrel cuffs and skip the whole issue.

How to Choose the Right Cufflinks

Start with metal. Silver, gold, and steel are the most versatile. They go with every suit color and most shirt colors. Mother-of-pearl is another excellent choice — it is classic and works with navy, gray, and black suits. Avoid plastic or cheap metal that looks shiny and fake.

Size matters. The cufflink face should be about the size of a dime or a nickel. Anything larger looks flashy. Anything smaller gets lost in the cuff. The connecting bar or chain should be sturdy. A flimsy link will bend or break within a few wears.

Match your cufflinks to other metal you wear. If your watch has a silver case, wear silver cufflinks. If your belt buckle is gold, wear gold. Mixing metals is not a crime, but matching looks more polished. For a bold statement, choose enamel cufflinks in a deep color like navy or burgundy. These work well with solid-colored suits.

How to Put On Cufflinks Correctly

Putting on cufflinks is easy once you know the steps. First, fold the French cuff back over itself. The two sides of the cuff should align with the buttonholes facing up. Then push the cufflink through the holes from the outside of the cuff. The decorative face sits on the outside of your wrist. The bar or toggle locks on the inside.

Here is the step-by-step:

1. Button your shirt cuffs are unbuttoned and the sleeves are rolled to your wrists.
2. Fold the cuff back so the inner fabric faces outward.
3. Align the two buttonholes on both layers of the cuff.
4. Push the cufflink post through both holes.
5. Adjust the face so it sits centered and flat.
6. Repeat on the other sleeve.

Most men wear cufflinks with the face pointing toward their hand or toward their elbow. Either works. Pick one and be consistent. If you wear a watch, the cufflink on that wrist should not clash with the watch face. Keep them at least an inch apart.

Style Rules for Cufflinks With Suits

The biggest mistake men make is wearing novelty cufflinks to serious events. A pair of tiny football-shaped cufflinks might be fun for a game day party, but they do not belong in a boardroom. Save playful designs for casual settings. For work and formal events, stick to classic materials.

Shirt color matters too. White and light blue shirts are the safest choices for French cuffs. They let the cufflinks stand out without competing. Bold patterned shirts with French cuffs can look busy. If you wear a patterned shirt, choose plain cufflinks. If you wear a solid shirt, you can afford a little more detail in the link.

You should also consider your suit lapel width. A slim suit with narrow lapels calls for smaller cufflinks. A classic suit with wider lapels can handle a slightly larger link. This keeps the proportions of your outfit balanced. It is a subtle point, but it makes a difference in how put-together you look.

Caring for Your Cufflinks

Cufflinks are small, so they are easy to lose. Always store them in a dedicated box or a small pouch. Never leave them in your shirt pocket or on a dresser. They will vanish. A simple travel case with individual slots keeps them organized and scratch-free.

Clean metal cufflinks with a soft cloth. For silver, use a silver polishing cloth to remove tarnish. For gold, a mild soap and water solution works. Dry them immediately. Mother-of-pearl links are delicate — wipe them with a damp cloth and avoid harsh chemicals. Enamel links can crack if dropped, so handle them gently.

Check the posts and toggles regularly. If a toggle is loose, tighten it with small pliers. If a chain link stretches, replace the pair. Wearing damaged cufflinks looks careless. It takes thirty seconds to inspect them before you put them on.