Cufflink

A cufflink is used to close the cuff and is also a piece of jewelry for men. In its simplest form is called a double cufflink colorful silk knots with rubber band used (now mostly made ​​entirely of rubber). Cuff may consist of different materials, such as Glass, stone, wood, leather, metal, precious metal or combinations of the foregoing. To fasten the cuffs gag or design used on the front pages ajar backs that are folded. There are also variants with chains or wire with a rigid curved back. The fronts of the cufflinks can be configured in two or three dimensions with gems, inlay, inlays of materials or enamel decorated and.

Genesis

Although first cufflinks appeared in the 17th century, but they were in use until the end of the 18th century. Their development is closely linked with that of the man's shirt. Shirt -like garments wore men since the invention of the woven cloth in the 5th millennium BC Although cuts and style changed, the basic shape always remained the same: An open front tunic with sleeves and collar. The shirt was worn next to the skin, was washable and so protected the outerwear from contamination by bodily contact. Conversely, it also protected the skin from the rougher and heavier fabrics of the jackets and coats by covering the neck and wrists.

After the Middle Ages the visible parts of the shirt (neck, shirt front and wrists ) to a place of decorative elements, such as ruffles, collars and embroidery were. The cuffs were held together with ribbons, as well as the collar, an early precursor of the necktie. Ruffles that fell over the wrist, were worn at court and other formal occasions until the end of the 18th century, during the everyday shirt this time, the sleeves ended already in a simple band and was closed with a button or a connected pair of buttons.

In the 19th century, the ancient splendor of the nobility was replaced by the Civil efficiency of the new salaried class. Men wore from then on a very conventional wardrobe: the day a dark suit and a tuxedo or evening dress clothes. Middle of the 19th century, the modern cuff had developed. Collar, shirt front and cuffs were strengthened at this time. This was popular because of the formal nature of the clothing was underlined by the fact. However, in order to close the cuffs with a single button, they were too stiff. From the mid-19th century, therefore, anyone who came from the middle or upper class, cufflinks wore. Due to the Industrial Revolution they could be mass produced and were therefore available in every price range.

The cufflink in the 20th century

Colored cufflinks made ​​of precious stones, however, were initially worn only by very self- conscious men. This changed when the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, the end of the 19th century made ​​colorful Fabergé cufflinks popular. The cufflink developed at this time to make a fashion accessory and one of the few accepted the man's jewels.

This trend continued in the 1920s, there were so many cufflinks worn like never before. They were available in all shapes, colors and materials, both in precious stones as well as in cheaper copies from less precious stones and glass flux. Especially popular were elaborately colored enameled cufflinks in all possible geometric patterns. All this was equivalent, because Coco Chanel had made the fashion jewelry mainstream. At the same time, however, a sportier style shirt with unstarched cuffs that could be closed with simple buttons developed. Fashion-conscious men appeared during the day without cufflinks.

This changed after the Second World War, for the Lord of the 1950s adorned herself with a whole ensemble of cigarette case, lighter, tie pin, key chain, money clip, etc., which included also massive cufflinks.

The Swinging London scene of the 1960s again brought forth a new male fashion consciousness, represented by the Carnaby Street Dandy, whose outstanding representative Mick Jagger. Unusual cufflinks belonged to a creative and eccentric Mr. outfit to do so.

In the 1970s, disappeared almost entirely cufflinks. The fashion was dominated by the Woodstock generation, shirts have now been made ​​mainly with finished buttons and buttonholes. Even after the disappearance of the hippies, no one contributed more cufflinks. Many beautiful heirlooms were fashioned to ear plugs.

The late 1980s, it came back to a return to traditional values ​​, caused eg has taken the remake of the classic Evelyn Waugh of " Brideshead Head ", the influence on the youth of the 1980s. Cufflinks experienced in this time, a renaissance that continues today. Even Joschka Fischer, the former sneaker Minister, was as foreign minister Three herons and cufflinks.

Cufflinks fascinate designers due to the challenges that they pose: it leaves very little room for the design, the button should fit snugly, and if there are different motives for the four knobs of a pair are selected, they must be good correspondence. Cufflinks are now small works of art and offer the man the opportunity to wear his own art at the cuff. This enables him to express his personality in two ways expression: The very fact that a man using such an accessory that says a lot about his attention to detail and is an expression of his attitude to life. Design and quality cufflink represent the personal style and can also transmit coded messages.