The French cuff is a feature used primarily on men's dress shirts, and is characterized by doubling back upon itself and then being secured by a separate fastener. This is in distinction from a typical dress or sports shirt that would have a cuff fastened by an integrated and unchangeable button, preventing the personalization of the presentation. French cuffs provide a unique opportunity for the wearer to suggest their own personal sense of style.
Care must be taken for when and where the French cuff is employed. In a casual setting, this feature can easily be perceived as presumptuous and inappropriate. But used in a more formal or powerful setting, French cuffs can set the man of taste apart from his peers.
Since the feature that sets the French cuff apart from the norm is the application of the individualized fastener, a few words should be directed to the fastener itself. In the U.S., the norm is the cuff link. It is essentially a piece of masculine jewelry, an opportunity to express the sensibility of the wearer, and the options available are staggering, from elegant gem stones to humorous accents. Much is communicated by the choice of what adorns the wrist of the man with the confidence to employ the French cuff as part of his personal fashion statement, just as a woman's accessories define her special vision of herself and the world. Men have precious few opportunities to express themselves this way, and even fewer as the setting becomes more powerful or formal. Earings may be entering men's fashion, but they are still frowned upon in the boardroom. The cufflink provides the perfect opportunity to separate from the crowd.
Though a bit more expensive, the French cuff is a nice detail that tells others "I'm worth it".