Cufflinks are a wonderful addition to any shirt, which also looks fantastic with suits and many outfits.
I have researched the best way to match your cufflinks to your tie, watch, what colours are best together and everything you need to know regarding wearing a pair of cufflinks. Even what to avoid, I am sure you will enjoy this article.
Do Studs(Tuxedo) Need to Match Cufflinks?
Yes, studs and cufflinks should always match. This means that if your cufflinks are silver, make sure your studs (in a tuxedo) are silver as well.
Here is how you can tell what kind of studs you should wear with your tuxedo:
If you are wearing a white shirt, this means that your tux is considered “dinner attire” and therefore all accessories should be silver. This includes cufflinks, studs, watch face, etc.
However, if you are wearing a black or a blue shirt, this means that your tux is “formal wear” and therefore any accessories you wear should be gold. This includes cufflinks, studs, watch face, etc.
Do Cufflinks Need to Match Your Watch?
Yes, cufflinks and watches should match. If you are wearing a watch with a metal band or bracelet, make sure the cufflinks you wear are also of the same metal colour (gold or silver).
Here is how you can match your watch with your cufflinks:
Match your watch to the metal of the cufflinks. This means that if you are wearing gold studs, wear a gold watch with a bracelet made of leather or cloth. However, if your studs are silver, wear a silver watch with an all-metal band or bracelet.
Match your watch’s dial colour to the colour of the cufflinks. If your cufflinks are made of rose gold, wear a rose-gold colored watch dial and bracelet. The same rule applies if you’re wearing silver studs: wear a silver watch to match the colour of the studs.
Match your watch’s band colour to that of the cufflinks when wearing patterned fabric cufflinks. If your cufflinks are patterned, make sure to match them with a watch where the band matches the colour of the textured fabric (the same goes for if you’re wearing patterned socks or shoes).
Match gold studs to a gold watch face, bracelet, and band; matching silver cufflinks with silver components of your watch.
Is It Better to Match Your Cufflinks to the Colour of Your Suit or Tie?
Technically, it’s okay to match your cufflinks with either clothing item for aesthetic purposes.
Here is how you can match your cufflinks with a tie:
Match metal or finish. This means if you are wearing silver cufflinks, wear a silver necktie and vice versa. If you’re wearing rose gold studs, match them with a rose-gold necktie instead.
Match the colour of the cufflinks to the colour of your suit or tie. For example, if you are wearing a light gray suit, wear silver cufflinks to match the colour of your suit.
Match patterned cufflinks to a patterned necktie, shirt, or pocket square for an interesting outfit contrast (but make sure it matches the colour). If you want to wear patterned cufflinks, but you don’t want to wear a patterned necktie, shirt, or pocket square, then match your watch dial to the cufflinks or tie.
How to Match Cufflinks with Shoes?
Matching your shoes to your cufflinks will help give an outfit distinction; however, make sure not to go overboard or it may look like you’re trying too hard (especially if you match your socks to your cufflinks).
Here is how you can match your cufflinks.
Like ties, matching colours of the shoe and cufflink is preferred. If you are wearing studs that are silver or gold, then wear shoes that are either silver or gold as well (if you’re wearing dark brown shoes, wear cufflinks of a darker metal colour).
If you want to wear patterned cufflinks, then match your socks or shoes to the colour of your tie. For example, if you are wearing a dark grey necktie with light blue pinstripes, wear dark calfskin shoes with light blue laces (dark brown may also work).
If you’re wearing cufflinks with a light-coloured suit, wear light or neutral shoes to match the colour of your suit. For example, if you own silver studs and a white linen suit, wear light brown derbies to complement it (so as not to draw attention away from your face).
If you’re wearing cufflinks with a dark-colored suit, wear black or dark brown shoes to match the colour of your suit. For example, if you own silver studs and a navy blue wool suit, then wear black calfskin oxfords with it.
If you’re wearing patterned cufflinks, coordinate them with your socks or shoes based on the colours in the pattern. For example, if you’re wearing patterned silver studs with a taupe linen suit, then wear brown dress socks to match (so as not to draw attention away from your face).
How to Match Cufflinks with a Suit
Check the colour of the cufflinks first; match them with the colour of your suit first if it is neutral. If your cufflinks are patterned, match them with a solid-colored tie or make sure the prints in your tie and pocket square match the colours of both the cufflinks and suit.
If your cufflinks are patterned, match them with a solid-colored tie or make sure the prints in your necktie and pocket square match the colours of both the suit and cufflinks.
Match the metal colour of your cufflinks with that of your watch. If you’re wearing silver studs, wear a silver watch, for example.
Match the colours of the studs with the colour of your shirt or necktie (if it’s dark) or with the colour of your pocket square (if it’s patterned).
If you’re wearing patterned studs, match the colours of the tie and pocket square to coordinate with each other (if they’re patterned); if not, then match them to the colour of your shirt or studs.
Match metal and colour of cufflinks with your outfit so it doesn’t look like you tried too hard. This means don’t wear patterned studs when wearing a solid tie or pocket square, for example.
What to Avoid When Matching Your Cufflinks
Matching your cufflinks to a solid shirt or tie is the safest option. If you’re going to match them with a pattern, make sure that the colours in your outfit coordinate nicely together. If you wear a white shirt and a maroon turquoise tie, avoid turquoise cufflinks because they will either clash or draw too much attention.
If you’re wearing a light-coloured suit, avoid cufflinks that are dark and flashy (unless it’s patterned). To be on the safe side, stick with metal studs in silver or gold. If you want to wear patterned cufflinks, coordinate them with your outfit based on the colours in the pattern. If you’re wearing a suit with no pattern whatsoever, choose silver or gold studs; metal cufflinks usually match well with all neutral and light-coloured suits.
If you’re wearing a patterned tie or pocket square, avoid cufflinks that clash too much with the colours in your outfit. If you have a dark-colour shirt and a mint green patterned tie, avoid red cufflinks because they will either clash or draw too much attention. Instead, wear silver studs to coordinate nicely with the colour of the tie while still matching the pattern in it.
If you’re wearing a patterned suit, avoid flashy and dark cufflinks like those in turquoise and red (too loud). To be on the safe side, stick with metal studs in silver or gold and coordinate them with your shirt or necktie accordingly. I
f you wear a white shirt under your patterned suit, don’t wear patterned cufflinks at all since the colours won’t coordinate. If you’re wearing a patterned tie or pocket square, match them with your studs; wearing solid-colored studs in this case may look too bare and boring.
If you’re wearing a neutral colour suit, choose metal studs in silver or gold and match them with any shirt or necktie. If you wear a patterned shirt or tie though, coordinate your cufflinks to it; this way, your outfit will look well-coordinated and balanced.
Avoid cufflinks that clash with your outfit like those in maroon and dark-colored ties (unless they’re patterned). To be on the safe side, stick with metal studs in silver or gold. If you wear a black shirt, avoid silver or gold studs because they don’t contrast enough to compliment it.
Instead, wear patterned cufflinks since they contrast with black and therefore, look like a nice accessory to an outfit.
If you’re wearing a patterned tie or pocket square, avoid matching it with dark-colored studs; choose metal cufflinks in silver or gold instead. If your shirt is dark as well (e.g. blue shirt and maroon tie), coordinate your cufflinks with the colour of your shirt.
If you’re wearing a dark-colored suit, avoid flashy or bright studs like those in red and turquoise (too loud). Instead, wear silver studs to coordinate nicely with the colour of your shoes and belt as well as with any light-coloured accessory you have on (e.g. tie, pocket square).
Not all cufflinks have to match your watch and studs. Keep in mind that they coordinate with your ties, neckties, shirt colour, and suit colour so they don’t look mismatched or like you tried too hard. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to get it right every time!
