A cuff is an extra layer of fabric at the end of your shirt sleeve. The original purpose of the cuff was to allow for a separate segment on the bottom of the shirt sleeve so that it could be replaced easily without damaging the rest of the shirt (i.e. the cuff gets dirtier faster than the rest of the shirt). Referring to the image above, you’ll see that there are many types of cuffs. Our personal favorite at SuitUpp is the French Cuff. The French Cuff is adored by many as it gives one the opportunity to show off the infamous cufflink. Since cufflinks have crossed the border and can now be worn in casual and formal events alike, the use for French Cuffs has increased.

If you’re not wearing a French Cuff, then the One Button, Angle Cut, and Two Button cuff is what you’ll likely be boasting. Generally speaking, French Cuffs are more formal than the buttoned type (not necessarily the case for all shirts). If you want to have your cuffs function both as French Cuffs and One Button Cuffs, you can get what is called a “Convertible Cuff”. To get an idea of what this is, take a look at the top right square in the image above. As you can see, this shirt cuff can serve both purposes. The challenge is that it’s usually hard to find this type of a shirt but it isn’t impossible: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Dress-Shirt-Convertible-Cuffs/dp/B000JHN8IU