# \[Poll for guys\] Do you have an opinion on shirts with French cuffs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 13, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920 "2010-04-13T03:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/41 "2010-04-13T18:52:10Z")
I generally like them, and if you can find me a shirt with double cuffs and no pockets on the chest then I’m pretty much sold. However… they look f\*cking stupid without a jacket. Double cuffs and cufflinks but no jacket is as grating as black socks with shorts. pdts ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/42 "2010-04-14T00:20:41Z")
If I’m being forced to wear formal clothing- I might as well wear cuff links. I have some nice pairs my father left me. I also spent several years searching for a pair of eye cuff links for a friend who’s a fan of A Clockwork Orange. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/43 "2010-04-14T01:23:46Z")
I used to wear them to work (waiting), and I quite liked them. I had a few different antique links from my Grandpa and I just loved the style, the shine, and the heft of having that Art Deco period bling at your wrists. I also bought a nice modern pair of cufflinks that were sort of barbell like, and they were really sturdy, but seemed to weigh down my cuffs into the dreck as I cleared dishes. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/44 "2010-04-14T01:35:38Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > My favorite formal shits are those with “single linked” cuffs - not French, 'cause they don’t fold over - but no buttons either. They don’t get in the way as much when hauling gear or playing various reed doubles. French cuffs tend to hang up on your coat sleeves at such times, giving you the air of a small boy or the Nutty Professor. Ah, I see, I guess I have never wore french cuffs then, I didn’t realize they fold over on themselves… but the "single linked’ cuffs I wore all the time… standard tuxedo shirt or dress shirt. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/45 "2010-04-14T04:45:01Z")
I honestly didn’t know these existed. I though cuff links were just things you put over the buttons. > [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > Have you ever considered putting them on prior to putting the shirt on, while you still have two hands? Do your hands not fit through the cuff or something? I dunno about these cuffs I’ve apparently never heard of, but I do think that, if you can get your hand through barrel cuff when it’s button, that means the cuff is too big. The whole point is to keep my had from sliding back up the sleeve. I kinda expected this to be even more enforced in these more formal things, where I’d expect you’d get things measured to fit you exactly. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/46 "2010-04-14T10:01:22Z")
I live in the land of hippies and casual wear. I don’t think cufflinks even exist here. I’ve never had a reason to wear them, so no I don’t wear them. Also, the poll needed an option for “what are French cuffs?” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/47 "2010-04-14T10:41:56Z")
I had to look them up, but put down “actively dislike”. I like my clothes to be as simple and basic as possible; anything beyond that is an irritation. I don’t even like wearing long sleeves unless it’s cold. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/48 "2010-04-14T12:24:20Z")
French cuffs render any shirt _arrogant_. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/49 "2010-04-14T13:18:40Z")
I have one such shirt and I wear it on occasion but not with any regularity. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/50 "2010-04-14T14:34:01Z")
IANAGuy, but FinanceBro bought one without realizing it had French cuffs, Mom gave him some steel links Dad was able to get on and off by himself, FinanceBro now has three shirts with French cuffs (one white, two dark) and two sets of links he can get on and off without problems. The second set of links are leather: one leather button, with a strip of leather threaded through the button “hole” that’s in the button’s back and then knotted. If he wants to make them look fancy, for example for a wedding, he upgrades the links. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/51 "2010-04-14T14:39:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > My wife is slowly but surely trying to ramp up my wardrobe, so I have no doubt a French-cuffed shirt or three are in my future. I’ve worn them before. Cufflinks are cool, but they are also a pain. There are Hawaiian shirts with French cuffs?!? 😃 I wear them with my tux, and don’t like them at all. Hard to get the cuff links in, especially when the shirt is starched. My primary reason for wearing a tux has always been playing music, and the cuffs interfere with guitar-playing and moving gear. I guess if I could afford tailor-made shirts they might get in the way less. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/52 "2010-04-14T15:18:20Z")
[QUOTE=Khaki Campbell] French cuffs render any shirt _arrogant_. [/QUOTE] Especially when they’re white and the rest of the shirt is not white. Anyone wearing a blue shirt with white collar and cuffs is instantly and irrevocably branded by me as an arrogant asshole. More often than not, this is proven to be true as soon as they open their mouth. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/53 "2010-04-14T15:25:51Z")
I went through a phase of wearing French-cuffed shirts when I first moved to London, but that ended quite some time ago. I wasn’t really enthused about amassing a collection of cuff links and so preferred [silk knots](http://www.hawesandcurtis.com/mens-accessories-silk-knots_196.html). ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/54 "2010-04-14T15:28:33Z")
I used to know a guy who liked to wear them with his v-neck sweaters. ::chuckles:: I’d forgotten about him. What a dwad! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/55 "2010-04-14T15:37:41Z")
I don’t mind French cuffs. I hate conspicuous cufflinks. I wear no jewelry, no rings, no wristwatch, no tie pins, etc. I’ll wear French cuffs only if I have those nearly invisible little white cufflinks that blend into the shirt. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/56 "2010-04-14T15:49:05Z")
The last “certain occasion” I wore French cuffs for was in 1990; it was also the last time I wore my tux. I was getting married. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/57 "2010-04-14T15:57:30Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I’m sure I read this rule somewhere in my childhood, but have never been able to find it since. If so, you were reading the words of someone who is essentially clueless. French cuffs have never been exclusive to the nighttime, or even particularly associated with it (though they are basically standard on tuxedo shirts). ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/58 "2010-04-15T13:30:31Z")
I think this is really interesting. None of these attitudes seem to prevail in England, where both men and women routinely wear single or double cuffed shirts with cufflinks. My favourite pair of cufflinks have one of the Mr Men on them. Can’t remember which one - maybe Mr Perfect ;). Though for work, I usually wear silk knots (for those of you who only don’t wear them because of the alleged noise of the link on the desk - try the fabric links). The nicest cufflinks in the house belong to my partner, though, and are beautiful Art Deco silver and mother-of-pearl, very subtle and classy. The thing about people in two-tone shirts being twats, though - that goes double here. I wouldn’t wear one, even if given it as a gift, because I don’t want people to think I’m a jumped-up incompetent wideboy. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/59 "2010-04-15T13:39:59Z")
French cuffs would be ideal for me - my arms are much too long for conventional shirt sizing. Wear a shirt with a, say, 36" length and fold the cuff down and it would be about right. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920/60 "2010-04-15T15:21:19Z")
I have a shirt that I received a gift that’s rather nice, and I needed something to wear to the hospital, but I discovered the problem with French cuffs while I was there. There’s no good way to roll up the sleeves, and as somebody else mentioned, if they fit well, you can’t really just pull them up very far. So I guess no more French cuffs for me, although I did like the look of them. Question: are you just not supposed to wear a watch with French cuffs? Or do you have to wear a rather slim one and kind of peak at the side of it through the cuff? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-guys-do-you-have-an-opinion-on-shirts-with-french-cuffs/535920.md?page=4)