One can wear cufflinks with either double (French) cuffs or single cuffs. (Naturally they are impossible with a button cuffed shirt.) However, single cuff shirts are so uncommon that for all practical purposes you must wear French cuffs to show off your links. It takes a sartorially sophisticated man, indeed, to even know what a single cuff shirt looks like. The only way to get them on this side of the pond is custom made. If there is a U.S. shirt supplier who can provide OTR single cuffs, no one on this forum has ever made me aware of the fact.

 

There is a form of cuff that is not a French (double) cuff, the name of which I can't remember, that is intended to be worn with cuff links. Fine formal shirts often have them. Other than those, yes, they are worn with French cuffs. IMNSHO, they should also be worn with a tie and jacket. Double-sided links are preferable to swivel-backed, and they should be small and tasteful. Usually not more than a 1/2" in any dimension. Precious metals are nice. Jewels can tend toward the vulgar if not very discrete.

 

I prefer antique/vintage cufflinks. If you go to Ebay and search under antique cufflinks, you will find a wide variety. It's not the deal it was 5 years, or so, ago, but you can still find both attractive and inexpensive links. They need not be precious metal to look good on your wrist.

These are enamel and plate from the classic manufacturer Krementz. While only plate, I find them very handsome. The current bid is only $24.

 

Are there any matching requirements for cufflinks: IE: steel with a steel wrist watch? (sorry I'm a perfectionist) LOL

 

I had this shirt tailored that has cuffs made for dual purpose. This is a single cuff. I wear this shirt and cufflinks along with my suit.

 

Are there any matching requirements for cufflinks: IE: steel with a steel wrist watch? (sorry I'm a perfectionist) LOL

I wear cufflinks when I have my suit on and I wear steel watch in leather strap to avoid the bracelet being scratched by the cufflinks, it never does.

 

Greenshirt, aren't you doing it wrong? The cuff links should be worn with both sides visible, not like a shirt stud. My problem with convertible cuffs, besides the vestigial button showing when wearing links, is that the gauntlet is twisted a bit to accommodate that. It also smacks of rental tuxedo shirts.

 

Jovan, thanks for pointing that out.

 

Greenshirt, aren't you doing it wrong? The cuff links should be worn with both sides visible, not like a shirt stud. My problem with convertible cuffs, besides the vestigial button showing when wearing links, is that the gauntlet is twisted a bit to accommodate that. It also smacks of rental tuxedo shirts.

The cuffs also aren't usually stiff enough. Proper single cuffs are typically stiff, since they lack the double thickness of double cuffs.

 

Are there any matching requirements for cufflinks: IE: steel with a steel wrist watch? (sorry I'm a perfectionist) LOL

Yes, they should look good with what you're wearing. Other than that, no, there's no need to stick to monotone metals.

 

Even cheap vintage/antique cuff links can look good.

More from the Bay, these are glass and enamel, not high quality, or in wonderful shape. But they're still handsome. And while the seller wants too much for them at $25, if you compare only the looks to those of most new cuff links, they're actually a good deal.

 

but are cufflinks suitable for any dress shirt, or just french cuffs

 

but are cufflinks suitable for any dress shirt, or just french cuffs

French cuffs.

 

French cuffs, convertible cuffs and also the third style known as Turnback, the Cocktail, or the Bond cuff.

Bootz: Review the Cuff Link Chapter of The Encyclopedia of Men's Clothes!

 

Pretty much all of my shirts are French Cuff as I have an enormous cuff links collection - everything from subdued and tasteful to the really gaudy 70's style wraparound links (I'm usually not bold enough to wear these). As someone else said, eBay is a great place to find a good deal on cuff links, I've probably bought 50-100 pairs there over the years.

 

Not all wraparound links need be gaudy. These, for instance, are understated yet still unique next to most cufflinks.

https://www.kentwang.com/cuff-links/stirrup-wrap-around.html

 

Not all wraparound links need be gaudy. These, for instance, are understated yet still unique next to most cufflinks.

https://www.kentwang.com/cuff-links/stirrup-wrap-around.html

Those are pretty cool, unfortunately, I'm referring to the gold mesh wraparound red ruby/rhinestone cufflinks inherited from my Dad. Think Sean Penn in Carlito's Way.....lol

 

I wear them not so much to dress a shirt up, but to add a bit of personality to an otherwise businessy outfit. Here's a few of mine.

 

but are cufflinks suitable for any dress shirt, or just french cuffs

Short of the couple of more obscure cuff types that are capable of taking a cufflinks (of which, BTW, I'm entirely convinced that you are not asking about), exactly where would you put a cufflink on a shirt that isn't a French cuff? You know a shirt is suitable for cufflinks when it comes with a hole to stick the cufflinks through. Are you planning on slicing up your shirt cuffs? Getting some sort of clip-on cufflinks? I don't understand either your initial question or your repeated re-posing of it despite clear answers on the topic. It's rather like I'm reliving your shoe thread from the other day.

 

We should take it easy on Bootz and assume that he's been deluged with information and he may be having a hard time distinguishing between some of the technical aspects of men's clothing.

Bootz,
French cuffs, sometimes known as double cuffs, are the type of cuff most often associated with the wearing of cuff links. A good way to remember is that when purchasing an off the rack shirt, a french cuff will often be displayed so that the buyer knows that he will need cuff links.

If the cuff has buttons on it, then there's no need for cuff links. Otherwise, you'll need cuff links.