How to Use Cufflinks: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

      Cufflinks look great, but if you've never used them before, they can feel a little confusing the first time. The good news is that once you've done it once or twice, it takes less than a minute.

Here's everything you need to know.

First: Do You Have the Right Shirt?

This is the most important step, and it's worth checking before anything else.

Cufflinks only work with French cuff shirts (also called double cuff shirts). These shirts have longer cuffs that fold back on themselves, with holes on both layers but no buttons.

If your shirt has buttons on the cuff, it's a barrel cuff shirt — cufflinks won't work with it, and you don't need them.

How to tell the difference: fold the cuff back. If it doubles over and has four buttonholes with no buttons, it's a French cuff. You're ready to go.

What You'll Need

  • A French cuff dress shirt
  • A pair of cufflinks

That's it.

Step-by-Step: How to Put on Cufflinks

Step 1: Put on your shirt

Put the shirt on as normal, but leave the cuffs unfastened.

Step 2: Fold the cuff back

Take one cuff and fold it back on itself so that the two layers of fabric line up evenly. You should now see four buttonholes — two on each layer — all lined up together.

Step 3: Align the holes

Pinch the folded cuff so that all four holes are lined up in a straight line. Hold them in place with your fingers.

Step 4: Insert the cufflink

Most cufflinks have a toggle or bar on the back that rotates. Flip it so it's parallel with the main face of the cufflink — this makes it narrow enough to slide through the holes.

Push the cufflink through all four holes from the outside of the cuff inward.

Step 5: Secure it

Once the back post is through, rotate the toggle so it sits perpendicular to the post — this locks it in place and prevents it from sliding back out.

Give it a gentle tug to make sure it's secure.

Step 6: Repeat on the other cuff

Do the same on your other wrist. This one's slightly easier once you've got the hang of it.

Different Types of Cufflinks

Not all cufflinks work exactly the same way. Here are the most common types:

Toggle / Whale Back Cufflinks
The most common type. A flat bar on the back rotates to lock and unlock. This is what most people picture when they think of cufflinks — and what most of our styles use. Easy to put on and take off.

Bullet Back Cufflinks
Similar to toggle cufflinks, but the back piece is bullet-shaped. Works the same way — rotate to open, push through, rotate to close.

Fixed Back Cufflinks
These have a solid, non-moving back. They're inserted the same way but can be slightly trickier to get through the holes. Less common but still straightforward once you're used to them.

Chain Link Cufflinks
Two decorative faces connected by a short chain. Both sides go through the cuff — one face sits on the outside, one on the inside. A bit more old-fashioned, but a classic look.

How to Take Cufflinks Off

Just reverse the process.

Rotate the toggle back to the parallel position, slide the post back through the holes, and you're done. Set them somewhere safe — a small dish or a dedicated cufflink box works well — so you don't lose them.

A Few Tips

Don't force it. If the cufflink isn't going through easily, check that all four holes are properly aligned before pushing harder.

Store them properly. Cufflinks are small and easy to misplace. A small box or tray on your dresser keeps pairs together.

Match the metal to your other accessories. Silver cufflinks pair well with a silver watch or belt buckle. Gold with gold. It's a small detail, but it pulls the whole look together.

Start with classic styles. If you're new to cufflinks, a simple silver or gold design works with almost any suit or dress shirt. Once you're comfortable, you can experiment with more distinctive styles.

The Bottom Line

Cufflinks aren't complicated — they just look like they are. A French cuff shirt, a pair of cufflinks, and thirty seconds is all it takes. Once you've done it a few times, it becomes second nature.

And the result — a clean, finished look at the cuff — is one of those small details that quietly makes a real difference.

Browse our full range of cufflinks at Lygones — from clean, classic designs to more creative styles, all arriving in an elegant gift box.