Invest in a quality pair of cufflinks so you’re prepared for any off-the-cuff formal occasions.
erhaps not the most used but certainly an essential element of every man’s accessory arsenal is the unassuming cufflink.
With countless options out there, many of which should be avoided at all costs, we’re here to help you choose styles that will add a touch of elegance to your formalwear.
Fulfilling the entirely necessary task of securing the cuffs on a French dress shirt (which has an extra buttonhole where a button would usually lie), your sleeves would be flailing around in a most unsophisticated manner without a solid set of cufflinks.
When it comes to choosing the right pair for you, there are a few cufflink-related rules to abide by. First of all, novelty is a no-no. Generally steer clear of anything you’d describe as ‘fun’, or else end up looking like you won them in a Christmas cracker. Secondly, try to match them with your watch and jewellery for a united-metal-front - having a silver set and a gold set will cover all bases.
Whether you prefer to wear the cuffs ‘kissing’, with the ends pinched together, or barrel-style, overlapping like a regular shirt cuff, the link is a tiny expression of your personality that’s not to be overlooked. At the flash of the wrist, you’ll be able bolster your well-dressed-man-about-town charm, and for as little as £58 - in this edit, anyway.
So it’s time to smarten up and invest in one of the pairs below. Happy shopping!
As experts in joyful colour combinations, Paul Smith’s watercolour-inspired cufflinks are a stylish way to introduce a pop of colour to your formal look. Use them to tie together a navy or blue-toned suit worn with a white shirt and silver-toned jewellery to create a tonal and cohesive outfit.
Seeing as they’re replacing a button, why not have cufflinks that look like, well, a button? From a jewellery brand that was founded in 1997 solely as a cufflink brand, Babette Wasserman London are experts in the field.
Crafted using rhodium-plated metal, this design is a more sophisticated take on the humble button, featuring red thread and blue enamel that would pair well with suits in the burgundy or navy world. Your shirt button, but better.
It doesn’t get any more luxurious than Cartier. Featuring the jeweller’s instantly recognisable CC logo, the palladium finish and 18-carat yellow gold sun rays will make you shine - and, even better, you can pair these with either silver or gold so you can forget about needing two pairs. Timeless and classic, they’re ready to be passed down through the generations to become a family heirloom that will be worn on shirt cuffs for years to come.
Is there anything Gucci can’t do? Designed in sterling silver and black onyx, and featuring the house’s iconic interlocking G logo, this pair will work well for any black tie event. As onyx is the December birthstone and the astrological birthstone for Leo, these are the perfect gift for any winter babies or fiery Leos in your life.
London-based brand Tateossian has a vast selection of cufflinks to satisfy all of your dress shirt fastening needs. Finished with yellow gold plated metal and mother of pearl stones, these will work well with almost any suit colour. They even come with matching studs, which fasten the placket of a dress shirt, for a full matching look.
Why not add a sprinkle of logomania to your suit with Burberry’s logo cufflinks? With an engraved face and whale back fastenings, they’re an easy-to-wear set that will subtly elevate your shirt sleeve. Pair with the brand’s tie pin for full Mad Men 50s appeal.
As a brand who’s speciality lies in men’s tailoring, Reiss knows what’s needed when it comes to suiting - and the classic knot cufflink is not to be sniffed at. An age-old classic, this gold-toned pair will add a refined finish to any tailored look - and for £58, they’re a steal.
Any jewellery aficionado will recognise this yellow gold plated hook as Shaune Leane’s signature design. A specialist in sculptural jewellery, the designer founded his eponymous brand in London’s Hatton Garden in 1999, and has since become a jewellery heavyweight, collaborating with the likes of Alexander McQueen and Damien Hirst, as well as having pieces exhibited at the V&A and The Metropolitan Museum. Look out for him as a judge on All That Glitters, BBC2’s jewellery talent show that’s back on August 25.
Think pink! Handcrafted in England using a sterling silver inset with hand-fired enamel, Aspinal of London’s design is for those who want to make a statement with their cuffs.
With a beautiful marbled appearance that almost looks translucent, they’re equal parts elegant and flamboyant, and come in four colourways meaning there’s an options for every stylish man’s wrist.
If your social calendar is awash with black and white tie events, then Turnbull and Asser’s reversible design works with both dress codes. Made using sterling silver, onyx, and mother of pearl, the brand uses only the best materials for a design that would be ideal as a gift for a special man in your life - even if that special man is you.