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  Home :: MensUSA Articles :: Men’s French Cuff Dress Shirts

Men’s French Cuff Dress Shirts- Versatile Addition to Your Wardrobe

French cuff dress shirtFrench cuffs may be described as cuffs on a man’s dress shirt that is long and folded back over the wrist. The cuff is secured by cuff links instead of the customary buttons and they certainly lend the wearer a classy look. A French cuff dress shirt is one of the most exquisite dressing styles recommended by fashion experts in America as elsewhere.

French cuff dresses with appropriate cufflinks are recommended for formal occasions. One of the prime advantages of selecting a French cuff dress is the wide array of customization options available with bespoke tailors. You can choose for a designer cuff on a plain shirt or a plain cufflink on a fabulous striped shirt.

Wearing a French cuff dress shirt does enhance your gait and overall personality. While attending a formal event, choose a French cuff dress shirt that can really turn heads and make you conspicuous the crowd.

Historic Background:
French cuffs first appeared during the 19th century and were used exclusively by the aristocracy. Till then, most commercially tailored shirts were generally sewn in one standard size and featured a row of buttons - so the wearer could attach the cuff at the appropriate length and fold back any excess length.

People started fancying decorative cufflinks for attaching to the shirt and this desire resulted in the French cuffs style - initially worn only by the elite who alone could afford cufflinks. Thereafter, French cuffs steadily grew in popularity and today it is worn ubiquitously by all men who value style. French cuffs are now routinely worn with dress business suits, three-piece formal suits and with tuxedos.

French cuff dress shirtPresent Trend:
The popularity of French cuffs ha prompted men to use flashy jewelry and wear shirts with French cuffs that are attached with diamond or other precious gemstone cufflinks. As a matter of fact, you can make a personal fashion statement with your choice of cufflinks that can vary from the most sober to the extremely flashy.

In European countries, many men avoid cufflinks with their French cuffs but instead opt for what are called monkey’s fists. The monkey fists are usually made of thin silk rope that is tied to produce a round flat knot on the top of the cuff. In the US, however, cufflinks are still preferred.

Business clothing trends moved toward the business casual instead of toward wearing three-piece suits to the office. Shirts with French cuffs became increasingly popular and senior executives in business firms chose to wear them.

Role of French Cuff Dress Shirts:
It is a fact that the French cuff dress shirts never go out of fashion trends and they have a tremendous staying power. For over a hundred years, the French cuffs were a smart way to dress up allowing men to adorn ornate jewelry type cuff links.

However, recent times, the fashion trend has moved towards to a simpler dress shirt without any shinny jewelry items - nonetheless, French cuffs is a way for men to show a little flair in their dressing.

French cuff dress shirts provided a regal look when they were worn by your grandfather, and some vintage cuff links have become the favorite of many youngsters today. But remember cuff links are just an accessory and part of the outfit and should not become the main focus.

Fashion experts suggest you wear a traditional square French cuff with less ornate cuff links in sterling silver or rose gold. Make sure that whatever metal you choose that your belt buckle and watch match it as well.

French cuff dress shirtCustom Tailored French Cuff Dress Shirts:
Custom tailoring of French cuff dress shirts is an art and a craft. It calls for several years of traditional tailoring techniques as also a sense of creativity. When you order some customized French cuff dress shirts, the tailors will ensure that each piece of clothing is a perfect fit every time. Reputed tailoring houses for making French cuff dress shirts are available in the USA. These super craftsmen routinely visit different states and prospective customers can meet them and place their orders.

For the French cuff dress shirts, there is an array of fabrics in several colors and shades and patterns. These shirts will be created in a custom shirt shop that makes unique shirt each time. The perfect custom tailor shop will store fabrics imported each season from the great shirting mills of UK, Italy, Switzerland and Japan.

The custom tailor provides you a choice of 15 collar styles and 4 pocket styles besides 5 cuff styles to choose from. You also have the option of Square French cuff or the rounded French cuff – apart from the convertible cuff. The advantage with custom French cuff dress shirts is that you can order elegant gold cuff links and these cuff links also available in several aesthetic designs with the custom tailor.

Choice of Cufflinks:
Amongst a wide variety of colors, designs and styles, gold cufflinks are certainly a class apart. A fashion-conscious man – who has affordability - would choose a gold cufflink over all other cuff models. Most bespoke tailors and fashion gurus would suggest gold cuffs on a plain French shirt as the right shirt-cufflink combination.

Apart from the metal aspect, make sure to choose the cufflinks of the right size. You can search online to obtain details about various cufflink designs and sizes. Your bespoke tailor may also be relied upon for choosing the cufflink of the right size and design.

When selecting a cufflink, make sure it synchronizes well with your dress shirt design. Although gold cuffs look quite unique and classy, you should try out different types of cufflinks and then select the one that matches with your shirt.

Final Thoughts:
Many people are under the false impression that a French cuff shirt is only for flamboyance. This is completely untrue. Try the unbuttoned French cuff - made so popular by many film celebrities – if you want to be different from the rest in the crowd.

French cuff dress shirts are rampantly seen in formal events, social parties and business meetings. Everyone desperately tries to grab attention with his unique style. Ask your tailor to marginally shorten your sleeves. This will allow you to wear the cuffs unfolded with no links and still have the right peeking past your jacket sleeves.


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