There is a running joke among people that women are lucky to have a wide selection of formal clothes. On the other hand, men only have to choose among suits and tuxedos, with just a small variation on the color of shirt and style of neckties.
One of the most commonly ignored details in fashion among men are the cufflinks, also known as the sleeve buttons. This kind of style detail is used in holding the cuff of a shirt around the wrists.
Men wearing cufflinks
A Brief History of Cufflinks
The modern sleeve buttons that many men are using today first appeared in the 16th century. It was then a ruffled wristband finished with small openings on either side that can be tied together using cuff strings. Cuff strings remained more popular than the cufflinks until the 19th century.
During the period of Louis XIV, shirt sleeves began to be fastened using boutons de machette, or popularly known as sleeve buttons. In the year 1715, cufflinks got their current design, having paste-glass buttons usually given away in pairs. Some were decorated with jeweled studs and were connected by decorative gold links.
Huge Selection of Cufflinks
You may not realize it, but there are a lot of kinds of cufflinks available in the market today. Here are some of them:
• Classic sleeve buttons – it is normally used for work, mostly simple in design.
• Novelty cufflinks – this kind of cufflink is worn during themed parties.
• Wedding cufflinks – a cufflink that will complement the theme of your wedding suit or tux.
• Initials sleeve buttons – this is usually characterized by the initials of your name.
• Heraldic cufflinks – this kind of sleeve button is best used when dining with business clients.
• Black Square – this kind of sleeve buttons can be perfect when going to galas and balls, as long as there is a bar in the venue.
Creating Your Own Cufflink
Sleeve buttons can easily be made on your own. This way, you will not worry about having the same cufflink as with your colleague’s. The decorations for your own can be anything from small charms to coins, jewels and even flowers.
You need a super glue to attach your decoration to the cufflink. Simply press on both until you are sure that the decoration is securely attached. Let your new cufflink dry for 24 hours before using them at work.
Where to Buy Online
There are a lot of stores where you can buy cufflinks, either online or from your personal tailoring shop. Some people buy from eBay, while others visit online novelty shops for customized sleeve buttons. You will never run out of places to buy these kinds of accessories online.
Some online jewelers are also selling sleeve buttons of different styles, shapes, and kinds so you may want to visit them when you decide to buy a pair for yourself. You can simply add the item to your cart and wait for them to be delivered to your house.
The Cufflinks Kingdom 