Am I the only one who does not like French cuffs?

[chewy]

French cuffs are pretentious and flashy. That can be a good thing if you're a stock broker, who's dress code is defined by pretentious attention-getting attire.

In the legal profession, for example, standing out because of your attire is a bad thing. Understated is key and elegant.

Black tie is a different story.

 

[JayJay]

I like FC shirts worn with very simple cufflinks. I do not like silk knots.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by chewy

In the legal profession, for example, standing out because of your attire is a bad thing. Understated is key and elegant.

First of all, plenty of NYC lawyers (even junior ones) wear French cuffs; perhaps a lower percentage wear them in DC, but they're far from an oddity there.

Second, I just don't think most lawyers (or other professionals, for that matter) care that much about the details of how they dress to really care if someone's wearing French cuffs.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by Brian278

I have very small wrists and I love french cuffs, to the point that I wear them with silk knots as part of my business casual work wardrobe (in clear disregard of The Rules). If the sleeve length is correct, I don't have a problem with too much material, and they look great under a suit sleeve.

+1 on all counts, especially wearing silk knots with biz casual.

 

[HomerJ]

They look great and give you an excuse to collect cool cufflinks.

 

[bowtielover]

All of my dress shirts are french cuff, I swear by them. I would judge anyone less for wearing otherwise, it is a matter of personal preference and if french cuff don't work for you then you shouldn't have to use them.

 

[crazyquik]

I love french cuffs and cufflinks but rarely wear them because of the preception of pretentiousness. Maybe when I'm older and more respected I'll be able to wear them.

 

[Philosoph]

Originally Posted by Mustapha

http://www.trendtailors.com/

Closeups of some pics that I posted in the 'watch Appreciation' thread awhile back. I knew these pics would do double duty this way.

I think these cuffs look real smart - I hope more forumers here think of adopting them. They get adoring stares everwhere. C'mon, dare to be different.

-Moose

Good stuff. Unfortunately I can't get up to Canada to buy shirts... But if I could get these kind of cuffs, I'd certainly wear them.

 

[eg1]

About half my dress shirts are FC. How else to wear the kitschy links my wife and children insist on getting me?

 

[penguin vic]

Originally Posted by chewy

French cuffs are pretentious and flashy. That can be a good thing if you're a stock broker, who's dress code is defined by pretentious attention-getting attire.

In the legal profession, for example, standing out because of your attire is a bad thing. Understated is key and elegant.

Riiiight ...

 

[sartort]

after reading this thread, it somehow got me thinking about the convertability of the french cuff. i have a couple of regular mop button cuff links lying around that came with an old shirt. anyways, it struck me that folding a french cuff back and under itslef then rolling the inside edge (closer to your body) under the outside edge would give you a barrel cuff. using one of the mop cuff links to cinch the two ends together gives me a fairly invisible barrel cuff, esp to the causual observer.

some people might think you are a douche who doesnt know how to wear french cuffs, but i bet the people that would notice are a very small percentage. the only tell tell sign, imo is the cuff is not rounded or chamfered, but rather straight across. but i have a couple of barrell cuffs that do exactly this anyways. i guess the other might be the lack of stitching at the end.

i can post a pic if you like.

 

[Philosoph]

Ive seen some cuffs called "convertible cuffs" that let you do exactly that, but without the folding back. You just change the shape of the cuff and use a MOP button link if you want a barrel.

MyTailor offers them as an option. I've never seen them in person.

 

[savilerogue]

Originally Posted by chewy

French cuffs are pretentious and flashy. That can be a good thing if you're a stock broker, who's dress code is defined by pretentious attention-getting attire. In the legal profession, for example, standing out because of your attire is a bad thing. Understated is key and elegant. Black tie is a different story.
I couldn't disagree more. I don't know whether it is due to geographical differences alone - here in the UK anyone serious in law or financial services would wear french cuffs with a business suit. If the cufflinks are subtle and there isn't too much cuff showing (up to 1/2 inch) then French cuffs are far more elegant than a single cuff IMO.

 

[m_wave]

Originally Posted by PinkPantser

I like french cuffs for shirts to be worn under a jacket. If I'm not intending to wear a jacket i'll stick with barrel cuffs. Its good to have the variety of multiple types of shirt.

I agree with this, I think FC's look very clumsy and a bit dandy without the jacket.

Certainly for formal occasions, weddings etc I would wear FC with a suit..

Very hard to find silk links in Adelaide, Australia though

 

[yfyf]

I very rarely wear FCs anymore, I think they're a little fussy and I'm sans jacket quite a lot in the office too. It's a bit of a shame since I've got a few nice cufflinks and I do like cufflinks.

FCs without even a jacket is something I'd rather not thnk about.