One of the big myths about a man’s dress code is that there isn’t a way for them to show off their sense of style while in formal wear. This definitely isn’t true. When accessorizing formal wear, it’s true men have a somewhat limited amount of choices, however, there are many ways to show off their sense of style. For example, both rings and watches are mainstream accessories that everyone sports. Watches are a staple in menswear because they can be both fashionable and highly functional at the same time. Rings, on the other hand, portray a man’s accomplishment and commitment. However, an often ignored element of style with men’s formal wear are cufflinks, which replace buttons in holding a shirt’s cuffs around a man’s wrists.

Cufflinks were originally made for formal wear for royalty and high-class men. Throughout time, men’s dress codes have evolved to adapt to the demands of current society, making cufflinks a very important element in completing any man’s overall styled look. Cufflinks are a fun, underused part of men’s formal wear that should be rocked! Like watches, they can add a bit of class, a splash of color or a touch of whimsy to any outfit.

So, when should you wear cufflinks? Though in the fashion world there isn’t a real right or wrong answer, in general, there are two formal wear situations in which men may require cufflinks: work and social. Each of these occasions has different guidelines for when to wear cufflinks. For example, if you are a banker, it is highly likely that your dress code in the office is formal, requiring you to wear a suit and tie. However, because workdays can be long, it is expected that you likely will take off your jacket while working. In a case like this one, it wouldn’t be poor etiquette to dismiss cufflinks. On the other hand, if you are a banker who is receiving an award at a ceremony, dress etiquette may demand you wear a pair of dressy cufflinks.

While cufflinks are supposed to add a touch of style to an outfit, you should also have fun with them. The key to wearing cufflinks is to match the formality of the cufflinks with the rest of your outfit. So if you’re planning to wear a tuxedo you may want to stay away from wearing fuzzy dice cufflinks!

What cufflinks do you own? We’d love to see a picture of them!

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Photo Credit: Fluid Forms