The shirt cuffs are a small but very important part of a gentleman’s ensemble; besides the collar, they are one of the only visible parts of dress shirts when a jacket is worn. Dress shirt cuffs commonly extend 1 inch below the jacket sleeves which can give a polished look to ones ensemble. In this article we will talk about two of the most common types of cuffs; Button and French cuffs. Keep in mind you can always choose which cuffs you’d like when getting custom dress shirts.

Button Cuffs

Shirt button cuffs are single cuffs that are buttoned in one place. These are the cuffs most commonly found on ready made shirts. Button cuffs may have a single button or may be adjustable, with two buttons side-by-side. Some have two buttonholes and two vertical buttons, a more formal option often called the barrel cuff. Shirt button cuffs also have a small button on the sleeve placket, between the end of the cuff opening and the cuff, which is intended to prevent it opening and exposing a gentleman’s wrist.

French Cuffs

French cuff dress shirts are the most formal option, yet are perfectly appropriate for daily wear in many industries. The French cuff is a double cuff, folded back and fastened with cufflinks to create a distinctive and distinguished appearance. Cufflinks must always be worn – though there are more subtle options available, such as fabric knots – so the gentleman must be prepared to keep a reasonable selection on hand. For low maintenance men French cuffs are a less attractive option as they are not made to be rolled up and cufflinks can easily disappear.

Remember that the choice of ones cuff type is a very important detail and should be chosen with the intended use of the shirt in mind. Though not everyone requires a closet full of French cuffed shirts, a gentleman should have at least one for those occasions when he wants to appear just a bit more stylish than the ordinary. People who choose the French cuffs appreciate subtle elegance and can declare to observers that he takes pride in his appearance.