First, look at your shirt’s cuffs. Do they have actual buttonholes? Or just buttons?
If you see buttons, you’re out of luck. Sorry. Cufflinks need holes, not buttons. It’s like trying to put a square peg in a round hole—except the peg is shiny and the hole is a button.
Most dress shirts have button cuffs. Only French cuffs (also called double cuffs) are cufflink-ready. They’re the fancy ones that fold back and have four holes.
The French Cuff Rule
French cuffs are the VIP section of shirt sleeves. They demand attention. They require cufflinks.
So, if your shirt has a standard barrel cuff with one button, stop right there. That shirt is a cufflink virgin—and it’s staying that way.
But wait—there’s a hack. Some shirts have convertible cuffs. These have both a buttonhole and a button. Sneaky, right? You can use cufflinks and buttons. Best of both worlds.
