How to Wear Cufflinks: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Cufflinks look hard, but they are not. If you can fasten a button, you can wear cufflinks. You only need the right shirt and about one minute.

Here is the quick version. Fold back your shirt cuff. Line up the holes on both sides. Slide the cufflink through all the holes, and then lock it in place. The fancy side of the link faces out. Done.

This guide walks you through each step. You will also learn which shirts work, how to match your metals, and when cufflinks are a good idea. We are Lucho, a Houston menswear shop that has been dressing men since 1989, and we help guys with cufflinks every week.

Why Wear Cufflinks at All?

A regular button is fine. But cufflinks are one of the few small things that make a whole outfit look planned.

They are a tiny piece of style. They show you took care when you got dressed. A pair of simple silver links can make a plain white shirt look sharp. A pair with a bit of color can show your personality without being loud.

They are also useful. A cufflink holds a cuff closed, and it lies flatter than a button. That keeps a neat line from your wrist to your sleeve.

First, Check Your Shirt

You cannot wear cufflinks with every shirt. Look at the cuff. It tells you what you have.

A button cuff (barrel cuff). This is the cuff on most shirts. It has a button and a buttonhole. There are no extra holes. You cannot use cufflinks on this cuff.

A French cuff. This cuff is longer. It folds back on itself. It has no button at all, just a hole on each side. It is made for cufflinks. You will often see it on dress shirts.

A convertible cuff. This cuff is a clever mix. It has a button, but it also has a hole next to it. You can fasten it with a button or with a cufflink. This is a good choice if you want one shirt that works both ways.

If you are not sure what you have, look at the end of the sleeve. If you see two small holes where a button would be, you are good to go.

Need a shirt that works? Browse our collection of men’s shirts. You can also see how our shirt club works if you like to build up a wardrobe over time.

The Main Types of Cufflinks

Cufflinks come in a few designs. Each one fastens a little differently.

• Swivel back (bullet back). This is the most common kind. One end has the fancy face. The other end is a small bar that flips. You push the bar through the holes, and then it turns flat to lock. It is simple and easy for a beginner.
• Whale back. This is much like the swivel back. The back piece is a flat, curved shape that flips into place. It is a bit stronger and feels more solid.
• Chain link. Two fancy faces are joined by a short chain. Both faces show. This style often looks classic.
• Fixed back (stud). The face and the post are one solid piece. A small back piece snaps or screws on. This style often takes more time to put on.
• Silk knot. This style has two small knots of silk joined by a short cord. It is soft and casual. It looks good with both suits and sport shirts.

If this is your first pair, choose a swivel back. It is the easiest to learn.

How to Wear Cufflinks With a French Cuff

This is the classic way. Here are the steps.

1. Put on your shirt first. Button the shirt, but leave the cuffs open.
2. Fold the cuff back. Pull the cuff back on itself, like a cuff on a sleeve. The fold should sit toward your hand.
3. Line up the holes. Bring the two sides of the cuff together so all four holes line up. The edges should meet side by side. This is often called a kissed cuff.
4. Slide the link through. Push the post of the cufflink through all four holes. The decorative face should sit on the outside of the cuff, where people can see it.
5. Lock it. Flip the swivel, or snap the back in place, so it will not fall out.
6. Check it. Make sure the face looks up and out, not sideways, and that the cuff feels snug but not tight.

A good trick for the other hand: Put the first cufflink on, then fasten the second one with your newly dressed hand. It is easier than it sounds.

How to Wear Cufflinks With a Convertible Cuff

A convertible cuff does not fold back. You treat it like a flat cuff with two holes.

1. Open the cuff. Leave the button alone.
2. Line up the holes. Bring the two sides together, so the holes meet.
3. Slide in the cufflink. Use a swivel back or a silk knot. Push it through both holes.
4. Lock it in place. Flip the swivel or tie off the knot.

The overlapping cuff looks a little different from a French cuff, but it still looks neat. Some men like it better.

How to Wear Silk Knot Cufflinks

Silk knots are very quick.

1. Line up the holes on your cuff.
2. Push one knot through the hole on one side. It will be a snug squeeze at first. Do not give up. The knot is made to be stretchy.
3. Pop the second knot through the other side. The cord will hold the cuff closed.

Silk knots work well with convertible cuffs and with more relaxed outfits.

How Much Cuff Should Show?

Here is a detail that most guides skip. Your shirt cuff should peek out from your jacket sleeve. About a quarter to a half inch is the sweet spot.

This little bit of shirt makes your outfit look finished. It also shows off your cufflinks. If your cuff hides under the jacket, nobody sees the links, and the jacket sleeve may be too long.

The cuff should also fit your wrist. It should be snug but not tight. You should be able to slide it over your hand without a struggle. If the cuff floats loose or slides up and down your arm, the fit is off. Our guide to how a dress shirt should fit will show you what to look for.

How to Match Your Cufflinks

This is the part that makes most guys nervous. It does not have to.

Match your metals. If you wear a silver watch, wear silver cufflinks. If your watch is gold, choose gold. Try to match your belt buckle and tie bar too. You do not need to be perfect. But two or three matching pieces look planned.

Pick one color from your outfit. If your tie is navy, a pair of cufflinks with a navy stone will look great. You are just picking up a color that is already there.

Keep it simple at work. For the office, small and quiet cufflinks look best. Think round, square, or a plain knot.

Save the fun ones for fun events. Novelty cufflinks are great for a party or a night out with friends. Wear one bold thing at a time. If your cufflinks are the star, keep the rest simple.

Want a few ideas for the other pieces? Check out our ties for good color matches, and learn how to fold a pocket square for the finishing touch.

When to Wear Cufflinks

Cufflinks are never required, but they are a nice choice at many events.

• Weddings and formal parties. A French cuff with simple cufflinks is a safe bet.
• Black tie events. With a tuxedo, cufflinks are the standard. If you are not sure what to wear, read about the difference between a suit and a tuxedo.
• Job interviews and big meetings. A pair of quiet cufflinks can add polish.
• Dinners and galas. Houston has plenty of these, and cufflinks fit right in.
• Everyday work. If you wear a jacket most days, cufflinks can be a small, daily upgrade.

You do not need a jacket to wear them. But since the cuff is the star, it helps if a jacket sleeve frames it. If you roll up your sleeves, take the links out first or your shirt will not roll cleanly.

How to Take Cufflinks Off and Care for Them

Taking them off is easy. Flip the swivel back, and slide the post out of the holes. Do not pull on the face, or you might bend the post.

A few care tips will keep them looking new:

• Wipe them with a soft cloth after you wear them. This clears away skin oils.
• Keep them dry. Water can spot or tarnish some metals.
• Add cologne first. Put on your cologne before your cufflinks. Spray can dull the shine.
• Store them in a small box. A flat case keeps them from scratching each other.
• Take them out before laundry. Never wash a shirt with the links still in. Also, remove them before you iron. Our guide to how to iron a shirt has more tips for the cuffs.

Common Problems and Easy Fixes

The clasp is stiff. New cufflinks can be tight. Open and close the swivel a few times to loosen it.

The link keeps flipping. If the face spins around, the post may be too short or the cuff too thick. Try a different style, such as a whale back.

The cuff feels too tight. You may need a cuff with a bit more room. A good tailor can adjust it, or you can pick a shirt in a different size.

The cuff gets stuck on your hand. Fasten the links with the cuff loose on your wrist, and slide it up rather than over your hand.

The links feel heavy. Choose a lighter pair. Weight can pull on thin shirt fabric.

A Few Mistakes to Skip

1. Using them with a barrel cuff. There are no holes. Do not make new ones.
2. Wearing too many bold pieces. Cufflinks, a loud tie, and a bright pocket square can compete. Pick one star.
3. Mixing too many metals. One mixed accent is fine. Five is a mess.
4. Letting the face point the wrong way. The decorative side belongs on the outside.
5. Skipping the fit check. A cuff that does not fit will look bad, even with a beautiful pair of links.

Frequently Asked Questions