|
 Although firstly it was only a male accessory, now many women also wear it. Cufflinks
mean the style and elegance that might emphasize your individuality even when
you wear the classic costume. Therefore, you should choose this accessory
correctly, matching the tone to the rest of the details.
At the end of the XVII century, the revolution occurred in men's fashion. Renaissance
decorative cuffs gave way to more comfortable ones that were tied by laces.
This innovation decreased unnecessary soiling, because now sleeves do not
«dive» into glasses of wine and dishes with soup during the meal. However, it
was very difficult to lace cuffs alone, so a new style has become a symbol of
high social status.
A bit later they were replaced with precious buttons that provided much greater
space for fantasy than laces. This precious attachment is named cuff button. At
the time of King George (1738-1820) fashion industry experimented with these
buttons: they were made of precious metals, adorned with precious stones or even
made fully from the crystals. But the most fashionable feature of that time were
cuff buttons with miniature pictures made on the underside of the glass or
quartz. Only the elite could afford such unusual things, and ordinary citizens
did not enjoy the old cufflinks.
Everything changed after the industrial revolution in the 60's of the XIX
century. After the process of galvanizing precious metals was invented, steel
cufflinks had been made of cheaper raw materials, covered with a thin layer of
gold or silver. Already in 1882, George Krements invented the machine that
produced buttons and cufflinks for mass use. Based on the cartridge of the
civil war holder, the machine helped to reduce the price of cufflinks so that
they could be sold without limitations.
At the beginning of XX century cufflinks were the best gift. For example, when
the Russian Empress Maria Feodorovna had to present a beautiful, unusual and
solid thing, she ordered cufflinks shaped like cicadas from Faberge. Many
jewelry Houses produced this enhancement: Cartier, Tiffany, Montblanc, Korloff,
but only Boyer went further and in 1924 invented a new type of attachment, the rolling
button, which is used so far.
In 1970 the buttons on the shirt replaced the cufflinks and they became almost
forgotten for some time. But after 20 years, in the beginning of 90-th, many men
began to return to cufflinks, as the real jewelry art of business and evening
styles. At the same time women's cufflinks fashion began to arise, and now it
is one of the most fashionable accessories among the elite. However, excessive
attempt to show the cufflinks (by elongated shirtsleeves or shortening jacket
sleeve), is moveton in modern society.
Wearing cufflinks is allowed only with double-cuffed shirt (it is sometimes
called «France»). It is not recommended to wear cufflinks with clothing with both
buttons and cufflinks slots. An evening version of this accessory can be worn
at night white shirt with a single cuff without buttons. Incidentally, the
evening dressing allows a freer style, but the combination with other elements
is no less important.
Cufflinks should match with other accessories in tone, and the watches and
scarf-pin are in the first positions to compare. It is categorically forbidden
to wear a silver watches bracelet with gold cufflinks, and vice versa. It is
also better not to wear too bright or unusual cufflinks to the classic watches
or timer. Recently cufflinks with the owner's initials or monogram manufacturer
were also included in vogue. There is great demand on the accessories in
the«vintage» style and ones including ornaments for the wristband.
Do not forget that purchasing cheap jewelry to an expensive business suit is
still moveton, also you should be cautious when buying expensive cufflinks for
cheap classics. At least that will cause a surprise because as well as in the
XVII century, now cufflinks remain to be an indicator of the man status.
Bolotova Lelya
|
