The History of Cufflinks Ranging in style and design from extraordinarily simple to elegantly ornate, men's cufflinks have made appearances in masculine fashion for more than four centuries.1 Like many popular fashion trends, cufflinks were born out of necessity and developed into statements of personal style. Often, cufflinks have defined the status of the upper crust, separating the true gentleman from the average guy on the street. At other times, cufflinks have served as standard accessories for any well-dressed man, regardless of his status or stature. Here is how cufflinks became an important part of the history of men's fashion. The Early Years: 1600 to the Middle Ages Cufflinks were designed in the 1600s, but didn't really make their way into mainstream fashion until the 1700s. Cufflinks evolved along with the man's shirt. The origins of modern men's shirts dates back to 5000 B.C., but cufflinks weren't necessary until the 1600s, when ordinary strings or ropes traditionally used to secure the shirt wrist gave way to a more tailored fit, requiring a means for securing the wrists in a sturdy yet stylish manner.2 The Rebirth of Cufflinks: 1800 to 1900 Unfortunately, the Middle Ages stifled all forms of fashion for a time, but the following Renaissance brought a resurgence of the cufflink. As men began to accumulate wealth and status, men's shirt styles became exquisitely ornate. All parts of the shirt visible when wearing a jacket, including the neck, shirt front, and wrists, were embellished with ruffles, embroidery, and occasionally ribbons or jewels. This is when cufflinks came back into vogue. Shirts were starched heavily, and flimsy buttons simply wouldn't hold the shirt cuff in place. Cufflinks were made of substantial materials, like precious metals, to secure the cuffs at the wrist. Simultaneously, ribbons were used to hold the shirt necks in place, which became the great-grandfathers of the modern necktie.3 At this point, gold and silver cufflinks were the norm, and men did not wear the colorful gemstone links common today. Edward VII, formerly the Prince of Wales, was the first to introduce the trend of colorful gemstone cufflinks, which gave other men around the world the confidence to branch out into more interesting styles.4
1
http://thechapmagazine.co.uk/content/section_archive/cufflinks.html
2
http://www.blacktieguide.com/White_Tie/White_Tie_Other.htm
3
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archivefree/pdf?res=9E07E4DF1731E233A25753C2A96F9C946997D6CF 4
http://www.keikari.com/english/a-short-history-of-cufflinks/
The Modern Age of Cufflinks: 1900 to 2000 By the 1900s, the cufflink was a staple accessory for all middle and upper-class gentlemen. In fact, the cufflink was one of the few acceptable forms of jewelry for men, along with the classic pocket watch. The Industrial Revolution in Europe and America5 brought the means to mass produce cufflinks, which made them readily available at all price points. Wealthier men and men of status could afford the fine cufflinks embellished with gemstones and set in precious metals, while modern machinery cranked out glass versions set in stainless steel for men of less means.6 Cufflinks saw a new resurgence again in the Roaring '20s, sparred by the designs of fashion icon Coco Chanel, who championed forward-thinking male fashions.7 The next big wave of cufflinks trending came with the economic boom following World War II, when newfound wealth sparked the industry of men's fashion accessories, including cufflinks, exquisite cigar and cigarette cases, gorgeous lighters, prestigious tie pins, elaborate key chains, and ornate money clips. Cufflink styles of the 1950s were bulkier than any of their predecessors.8 Cufflinks saw another boost with the London dandies like Mick Jagger, who brought back eccentricities like frilly men's shirts and grandiose cufflinks. These trends waned significantly during the '70s hippie movement, and, unfortunately, many heirloom cufflinks were reset into earrings and other jewelry. Cufflinks again returned to mainstream male fashion in the 1980s, partially as a result of the Evelyn Waugh film "Brideshead Revisited." The trend caught fire on Wall Street, in London, and even in the German parliament, and cufflinks have never fallen out of vogue since.9 Cufflinks Today: Styles of the 2000s and Beyond Today, cufflinks aren't just fashion accessories; designer cufflinks are truly works of art. Available in a variety of materials, cufflinks allow men to express their personal style even in traditionally conservative-dress environments like the boardroom. Like the fine fellows of the 1950s, today's men can enjoy cufflinks along with other culturally acceptable accessories, like the money clip, fashionable key chain, bracelets, and necklaces. 5
http://www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution
6
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/30/garden/which-came-first-cuffs-or-cuff-links.html
7
http://www.blacktieguide.com/White_Tie/White_Tie_Other.htm
8
http://www.gentlemansgazette.com/1950s-mens-fashion-suits/
9
http://flavorwire.com/422383/celebrate-evelyn-waughs-110th-birthday-with-the-fashionablefilm-adaptation-of-brideshead-revisited
Since many fine cufflinks are passed from generation to generation as treasured family heirlooms, like watches are, it's difficult to picture cufflinks falling out of style any time in the foreseeable future. William Henry cufflinks are available in a wide array of styles, from the classic sterling silver, to the eye-catching and unique woolly-mammoth-tooth inlay, which is definitely a conversation starter. William Henry cufflinks can be inlayed with fossil corral, lapis lazuli, fossil walrus ivory, and much more. These finely crafted pieces are a far cry from the ordinary colored-glass pieces offered at department stores; these you'll treasure, for years to come, and enjoy until it's time to pass them to the next generation of sophisticated males.