Planning to shop for some glamfashion accessories? Want to take a wedding party or dinner by storm with yourunique style statement? Looking for a suitable gift for a loved one? If yes, dogo in for some designer cufflinks.


Cufflinks - those tiny, humbleaccessories on your shirt cuff - are no longer the same. They probably never will be again. With all fashion accessories undergoing a sea change, how can thecufflink be left behind? Designer cufflinks have revolutionized the fashion industryand are all the rage now, both in case of ladies and men.


This article studies the cufflink asa fashion accessory in detail - from its origin to its evolution as a fashionstatement, and the various kinds of cufflinks available in the market today.


Origin and evolution


Who invented the cufflink? Theorigin of the cufflink dates as far back as the 17th century. It isbelieved that the English monarch King Charles II invented the crude form ofthe modern-day cufflink. The shirts that men wore in those days had frillycuffs and fronts. It was King Charles II who began using a set of ornamentalbuttons and a chain to hold the cuffs together, which later evolved into thecufflink. Today's cufflink provides the same utility, with a dash of glamour andstyle to it.


After the industrial revolution, cufflinksbegan to be mass produced, homogenous in quality. They were priced highly affordably, within the reach of the common man. The 1920s and 1930s saw many newinnovations taking place in cufflinks. A number of designs were invented duringthis period to make cufflinks more easy to use and more secure. A number ofartistic cufflink designs were introduced during these two decades, which areconsidered as collector's items today. Worthy of mention here is The CufflinkMuseum that was started in Conway, New Hampshire, in the 1990s, which showcasesover 70000 different varieties of cufflinks, collected by businessmen ClaudeJeanloz. The museum also has on display other related items such as oldadvertisements for cufflinks, photographs, and album covers featuringcelebrities wearing cufflinks.



Wearing cufflinks was a highlypopular fad in the 1960s. This trend led to several changes in the readymadegarments sector as well. Dress shirts ready with cufflinks became popular duringthis period. The fad died down, but the use of cufflinks on formal occasionsand in high-profile professions continued.


Now, cufflinks are once again makinga comeback. They are now available in a variety of materials and colours, invarious price ranges. Cufflinks are available in various kinds of materialslike gold, silver, pearl, platinum, steel, wood, plastic, among others.Cufflinks can also be studded with precious or semi-precious stones. Dependingupon the material used, the price range differs.


The original style of cufflinks -the ones with chains - is still in use, but a number of other easy-to-usestyles have been developed over time. Another style is the use of silk threads,which need to be knotted together to fasten the cufflink, popularly known as 'Monkey'sFists'. This cufflink style is used on formal occasions, but is more popular in Europe as compared to other parts of the world. Twist-off, wrap around andflip-hinge are some of the other popular styles of cufflinks. The wrap aroundstyle of cufflinks is becoming more and more popular in recent times.


Several unique designs have been introduced.There are a number of designers who have created a name for themselves in theworld of cufflinks. Simon Carter, Ravi Rattan, Ian Flaherty, Fiona Rae, Duchampand Murray Ward are some of them. These designers have succeeded inestablishing themselves the world over. With the introduction of fashionablecufflinks, the sale of the accessory has been rising gradually in the lastdecade.


 

Modern cufflink trends


Coming to the popular trends relating to cufflinks in today's times, the major one is the introduction of designer cufflinks. Exclusive, unique designs of cufflinks have been developed, including cufflinks with a humorous theme. Cufflinks with designs specific to various professions - doctors, lawyers, bankers, architects, etc. - are available. People can not only increase their style quotient with these cufflinks, but also make a statement of their individuality and career.


The demand for vintage cufflinks produced in the period from 1920 to 1970 is on the rise. The classic cufflinks, solid circular or dice-shaped, either made of pure gold or silver or plated, are still very much in demand. These are preferred for formal occasions. However, the use of trendy and 'different' cufflinks is preferred for less formal events.


As women are becoming more and more career conscious, their choice of clothing is also changing. More and more women have begun to wear business suits, formal shirts and ties. Naturally, the demand for cufflinks by women is also on the rise. However, the preference is for designs that are a bit more feminine, such as mother-of-pearl ones or crystal cufflinks with flowery designs on them.


Cufflinks have emerged not only as affordable fashion accessories conveying your own personal style, but also as great gift items for almost all occasions, for men as well as ladies.


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www.fibre2fashion.com had an exclusive one-to-one with Mr. Patrick McMurray on the subject of cufflinks. He is an entrepreneur as well as strategic planning and business alignment specialist, actively involved in market research of various fashion accessory brands. He has an active interest in the evolution of fashion over the years. Mr. McMurray expresses his views on this wonderful accessory called cufflinks:


  • Where do you see the worldwide market for cufflinks in the next 5 years?


The next five years will see an end to the whimsical style that has dominated the market since the 80s and a return to classical styles, using traditional materials like enamels. The popularity of cufflinks has risen considerably over the past two years and will continue to. The brands to watch are Vivienne Westwood, Ian Flaherty, and Veritas, as they stay focused on producing small quantities of high quality.

 

  • What are the future changes that you foresee in cufflinks?


The ball end will gradually replace swivel-end cufflinks. Ball ends are easier to manufacture and there are no moving parts to break, therefore they have increased longevity. There will be more focus on culminating colour, pattern, and texture proportionately to achieve more classical finishes.


  • What are the key elements of a good designer cufflink?


Functionality, longevity, proportions, and materials are the prerequisites of a good designer pair of cufflinks. Colour pattern and texture have to be balanced and when it comes to enamel cufflinks to achieve the best results, which can only be done by human hands.


  • According to you, what is the major role of a cufflink? Do you view it as a fashion accessory or as a functional instrument?


Talking about the role of cufflinks, Mr. McMurray states, "Cufflinks first and foremost perform a function. They were originally conceived to do so, decoration came later. Remember -one of the core principles in design is - Form follows function".


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Choosing the right cufflink


With such a wide range of cufflinks available today, selecting the right one for an occasion can be a bit of a tough job. There are certain guidelines to be followed for selecting the proper cufflink.


If the occasion is very formal or very high-brow, it would be advisable to go in for the classic look - solid gold or silver cufflinks, either circular or dice-shaped. Another good choice would be a pair of gold or silver cufflinks with the user's initials engraved on them. Cufflinks studded with precious or semi-precious stones would also suit the occasion. In such situations, it would be prudent to avoid funky cufflinks.


In case of a less formal occasion, one can be a bit more informal with the cufflinks as well. In such situations, one can choose from the classic cufflink designs or go in for designer cufflinks that reflect the personality of the wearer. Either career-related cufflinks or any designs that brings out the tone of the individual can be used.


Color co-ordination is essential when wearing cufflinks. It would create a good impression if the type of metal used in the cufflinks is of the same tone as that in the wearer's wristwatch. If the wristwatch has a leather strap, it would be a good idea to wear cufflinks in the same tone as the metal used in the wearer's ring.


In case one wishes to wear coloured cufflinks, it would be ideal to match the color with that of the wearer's shirt or his tie.


It is quite evident that this small accessory has gone full circle. It no longer remains an unnoticeable, unimportant accessory, but has evolved into a designer fashion statement, an expression of personal style and career choice. So, what are you waiting for? Link those cuffs in style!

Our special thanks to Mr. Patrick Mcmurray for sharing his views and permitting to incorporate them in this article. For more information on Cufflinks; please visit: http://www.patrickmcmurray.com/index.html


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