How to Put On Cufflinks: Step-by-Step Guide

Cufflinks add a finishing touch to a dress shirt for a wedding, business occasion, or evening out. Start with a shirt designed for cufflinks, check how your pair fastens, and take your time aligning the buttonholes.

For a typical swivel-back cufflink, fold and align the cuff, turn the backing into line with the post, and pass the backing through the holes. Leave the decorative face outside, then rotate the backing across the post to secure it.

Before You Begin

Use a French cuff shirt or another shirt specifically designed to accept cufflinks. A French cuff folds back on itself. A convertible cuff may offer both a button and suitable opposing buttonholes; follow the shirt's design rather than assuming that every button cuff can take cufflinks.

Inspect the cufflinks before dressing. A hinged backing should move as intended without feeling broken or loose. If the fastening is unfamiliar, check the maker's instructions. The steps below focus on swivel-back cufflinks; fixed-back and chain styles work differently.

How to Put On Swivel-Back Cufflinks

1. Fold the French Cuff

Fold the long cuff back along its crease. Bring the two edges together with the inside surfaces touching, rather than overlapping them as you would a button cuff. Align the four buttonholes through the folded fabric.

2. Insert the Backing First

Turn the movable backing into line with the post. Starting from the outside of the cuff, guide the backing and post through the aligned holes. The decorative face stays outside the fabric. Do not try to force the large decorative face through the buttonholes.

3. Secure the Backing

Once the backing has cleared the fabric, rotate it so it lies across the post. Check gently that it cannot slide straight back through the holes. Do not rely on hearing a click, because mechanisms vary.

4. Check Comfort and Appearance

Smooth the fold and move your wrist. The cuff should feel comfortable, with no sharp pressure from the fastening. Repeat on the other sleeve. Practising with the shirt off can help you learn the movement; if you fasten the cuffs first, make sure your hands can pass through comfortably.

Which Way Should Cufflinks Face?

For a pair with one decorative face and one plain backing, position the decorative face on the outward-facing side of the cuff. Check lettering or a directional motif so it sits as intended. The backing rests against the other side of the cuff; it does not need to be pressed against your skin.

Double-sided designs may have a decorative end on both sides. Judge their orientation by the design and the maker's instructions rather than a rule that every backing must be hidden.

Other Cufflink Fastenings

• Fixed back: The smaller end does not swivel. Ease it through the aligned buttonholes, adjusting its angle without forcing the fabric.
• Chain link: A short chain joins two ends. Pass one end through the buttonholes so the ends sit on opposite sides of the cuff and the chain connects them.
• Ball return: A rounded fixed backing passes through the holes. It is not the same as a snap closure and does not normally require clicking a ball into a socket.

Choose a pair for both its appearance and ease of use. Check the individual product details before assuming a particular closure or material.

Can You Wear Cufflinks With a Regular Shirt?

A standard button cuff usually lacks the opposing buttonholes needed for cufflinks. A convertible cuff is an exception when it is designed for both fastening methods. You do not necessarily need to remove a sewn-on button to use one.

Do not cut an extra hole yourself. If you want to adapt a favorite shirt, ask a tailor whether its cuff construction is suitable. A shirt designed for cufflinks is the more straightforward starting point.

Fixing Common Problems

• The backing will not pass through: Check that all the holes align and that a swivel backing is in line with its post. Stop if you need to force it.
• The cufflink slips out: Check its fastening and inspect it for wear. Set aside a pair that will not stay secure.
• The fabric bunches: Remove the cufflink, straighten the fold, and try again.
• The cuff feels tight: Recheck the fold and fastening. If it remains uncomfortable, choose a better-fitting shirt or a more suitable pair.

Removing and Caring for Your Pair

Reverse the fastening before easing the cufflink out. Avoid pulling against a closed backing. Store the pair together in a soft pouch or lined compartment and follow the maker's care instructions. Cleaning methods suitable for plain metal may be unsuitable for stone accents, plating, or other finishes.

Find Your Finishing Touch at The 5Fs

For a blue accent, explore the Sterling Silver Classic Formal Lapis Cufflinks. For a polished round design, see the Sterling Silver Infinity Edge Round Cufflinks. Read each product page for its materials and current details.

Explore The 5Fs cufflink collection to find a style for your next occasion or a thoughtful gift.