How to Wear Cufflinks: Shirts, Fastening and Fit
Published · UpdatedTo wear cufflinks, start with a shirt made for them. On a French cuff, fold the cuff back, bring the two open edges together and align all four holes. Pass the cufflink through every layer, then turn its toggle across the post. The decorative face belongs on the outside of your wrist.
A cufflink replaces the button that closes a link-ready cuff. It does not convert an ordinary button cuff into one. Check the shirt before buying the accessory.
Which shirt cuffs work?
| Cuff | What to check |
|---|---|
| French or double cuff | Folds back on itself. With both open edges together, the cufflink passes through four aligned holes. |
| Single link cuff | Does not fold back. It must have an opening on each side for a cufflink. |
| Convertible cuff | May have a button as well as an additional opening for a cufflink. Check the actual construction and the shirtmaker’s instructions. |
| Ordinary button cuff | A button on one side and no matching link opening on that side is not a cufflink-ready cuff. |
Charles Tyrwhitt’s cuff guide explains how the French cuff folds back and fastens with cufflinks. The important distinction is the shirt’s openings, not simply whether its cuff has a button.
Fastening a rotating toggle
- Prepare the cuff. Put the shirt on and leave the jacket off. Fold a French cuff back along its fold line. Bring the two open edges together, rather than overlapping them like a button cuff.
- Line up every hole. On a folded French cuff, check both layers on each edge: four holes form one passage. A single link cuff has no doubled-back layer.
- Insert the post. Turn the toggle lengthways, in line with the post. Push it from the decorative outer side through every aligned hole. Stop if it catches; realign the fabric instead of forcing it.
- Close and check. Once the toggle is fully beyond the inner edge, turn it across the post. Gently check that the cuff stays closed and that the toggle is not trapped between fabric layers.
These steps describe rotating whale-back or bullet-back fasteners. Chain-link and fixed-back cufflinks need a different insertion movement. Use the closure comparison to identify your pair. For slipping fabric or an awkward second wrist, see putting on cufflinks by yourself.
Check the fit before putting on a jacket
Bend your wrist and let your arm hang normally. The cuff should not pull tightly, pinch the skin or force the toggle out of position. If the post is too short for the folded fabric, a different cufflink or shirt may be needed. Do not bend the post to make it fit.
Show a little shirt cuff beyond the jacket sleeve if the sleeve lengths allow it. There is no need to change a comfortable fit to expose the entire decorative face. If a cufflink catches repeatedly on the jacket lining, check for a rough edge or loose mechanism.
Choose the occasion, then the finish
For a wedding, start with the invitation and the shirt you will actually wear. For black tie, follow the formal ensemble rather than treating cufflinks as permission to omit neckwear; Debrett’s dress-code guidance includes cufflinks and a bow tie in traditional black-tie dress.
Outside a stated formal dress code, metal matching is a preference. A silver-tone pair can repeat a watch case; a gold-tone pair can repeat another warm detail. Neither choice proves a pair is better made. See the no-tie outfit guide for a less formal setting.
Product details to compare
These are products sold by Silver Clover, selected here by listed finish and construction. This is not an independent product test. Check each current listing for price and availability.
18K Gold Plated Whale Back Cufflinks
The listing specifies brass with 18K gold plating, a rotating whale-back toggle and a redwood presentation box. Choose this finish if you prefer a warm gold tone; it is not solid gold.
Vintage Silver Plated Whale Back Cufflinks
The listing specifies silver plating, a rotating whale-back toggle and a redwood presentation box. The antique-style finish is a design treatment: this is not an antique or a solid sterling-silver pair.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use cufflinks with any shirt?
No. The cuff needs openings intended for cufflinks. French cuffs are one option; a suitable single link or convertible cuff can also work.
Which way should cufflinks face?
The decorative face sits on the outside of the wrist, with the retaining end on the inside. Check orientation with your arm relaxed.
Do I have to buy expensive cufflinks?
No. Start with a compatible cuff, a sound fastening and a finish you want to wear. A higher price alone does not establish fit or reliability.
Related guides
Browse the cufflinks collection and check the individual listing before ordering.