Getting Comfortable With Cufflinks

No matter how pricy or classy your suit and tie combo might be, it is easy to wear out the look really fast. Fortunately, an accessory here and there can add a breath of fresh air to even the most well worn of two-piece suits. Cufflinks are a particularly interesting way for you to give your suits a stylish update and a touch of personality all at a price you can afford again and again.

Cufflink Classics
Like navy sport coats and pinstriped pants, some cufflinks are so basic that you cant afford not to have them. In the cufflinks department, gold and silver take the top spot as classic pieces that every guy should own and invest in. They are relatively easy to pair because they can go with just about any shirt and suit, so long as you observe a couple of little rules when accessorizing.

A good rule of thumb when wearing gold or silver cufflinks is to match the color of the metal to the hardware on your belt or shoes, or the strap of your watch. Matched colors will make your outfit look much more coordinated overall. Different colored metals will simply look like you were in a hurry and threw wore whatever mismatched accessories happened to be available.

Cufflinks with colored stones set into them can also be a good option for your wardrobe. Just like with pants and coats, black and blue are the classic and safe colors to get because they are colors that also appear frequently on shirts and ties. You should take care to match the color of the stone to any color that appears at least once on your shirt or tie a pattern, a stripe, even a logo. This keeps the cufflinks from clashing with any colors.

Choosing Your Cufflinks
You can get cufflinks in a very wide variety of styles nowadays ranging from the conservative to the downright kooky. It is not necessary to have at least one from each category, though, as a couple of classic pairs should get you through most occasions.

The classic silver and gold type mentioned earlier falls into the classic style, which is characterized by a flat geometric shape usually a square or circle that could have a logo emblazoned on it. 3D cufflinks, which have a molded shape on top are a common variation of this style.

Another subset of the classic style is the group of cufflinks with inlaid stone. Like the typical classic cufflinks, the stones are cut into geometric shapes squares and rectangles are popular while the rest of the cufflink is basically the same.

Custom and novelty cufflinks are a clear departure from the conventional style of classic cufflinks. Common designs for novelty cufflinks are smiley faces; flags, popular especially as 4th of July approaches and team colors -often seen at baseball and basketball games. These kinds of ties should not be worn to formal events under any circumstances but they make for great, fun little touches to even the most drab and dull suit-and-tie outfit.

You do not need a lot of cufflinks; most guys typically have just two to three of the classics, and perhaps one novelty pair. But with prices as low as $10 a pop, there is really very little reason to limit yourself to just a few.