Many men may be unfamiliar with the french-cuffed dress shirt, a slightly uncommon variety of the standard dress shirt that possesses one important and distinctly unique quality.
What are French Cuffs, Convertible Cuffs, and Barrel Cuffs?
Distinguishing between the three common types of cuff on a dress shirt is quite simple upon brief visual inspection:
- French cuffs are shirt cuffs that have a “folded over” appearance, with the closure being held shut not by a button but rather a stud, a knot, or cufflinks. They will be noticeably thicker around the wrist and in some cases will be of a contrasting colour (white, generally) with the base colour of the shirt, along with the collar.
- Barrel cuffs are the most common type of cuff to be found on most dress shirts for men. They are simply held closed by one or two buttons, with no free button to be found for attaching studs or cufflinks to the shirt.
- Convertible cuffs are a trendy new middle ground between the formal french cuff and the more informal barrel cuff – allowing for the choice to be made between both options (at some sacrifice on the end of formality). Men looking to purchase convertible cuff dress shirts should inspect what may appear to be a typical barrel cuff for an unused notch or buttonhole – this should match up with a notch on the opposing end of the cuff when unbuttoned for use with cufflinks or studs.
Are French Cuffed Shirts More Formal, or Old Fashioned / Outdated?
While most men shunned the french cuffed shirt during the 1990's as being dated or perhaps too informal, the design has made a substantial rally in the last four or five years and is now a more common choice – though it still bears a somewhat formal set of connotations. Convertible cuffed dress shirts allay this concern somewhat by providing an either-or option, though they are instantly recognizable as false french cuffs due to the fact that they lack the volume and drape that the traditional variety possesses.
French cuffs have a distinct advantage in that they allow for the use of customized accessories for men who choose to wear them – cufflinks or cuff studs looking fantastic when worn with a sharply fitted designer suit or sportcoat. The additional fabric means that the cuffs will feature much more prominently from the sleeve of the jacket, adding a European finish to an already refined sartorial aesthetic.
Other Articles Related to Men's Fashion and Lifestyle by Nicholas Morine
Sartoralists considering french cuffs might also like to read up on contrast cuffs and collars on men's dress shirts, or perhaps more pragmatic advice found in articles like how to dress smart casual, or how to tie a necktie.
Nicholas Morine - Nicholas Morine Bachelor of Arts, English Language & Literature Master of Philosophy, Humanities (Candidate) Memorial University ...
