French Cuff vs Barrel Cuff: What's the Difference and When to Wear Each

Cuffs are the smallest part of a shirt and one of the most noticeable. They peek from beneath your jacket, frame your watch and say something about how much attention you pay to detail.

Barrel cuffs

The standard cuff, closed with one or two buttons. A single-button barrel cuff is the everyday default; a two-button version is slightly more formal and lets you tighten the cuff for a cleaner line at the wrist. Barrel cuffs suit office wear, casual dressing and anywhere a shirt needs to be practical.

French cuffs (double cuffs)

A French cuff is folded back on itself and fastened with cufflinks rather than a button. It's more formal and a little dressier, and it's the natural choice with a suit for weddings, evening events and senior business settings.

How to wear French cuffs correctly

• Fold the cuff back so the edges meet, then slide the link through all four holes
• Keep the decorative face of the cufflink outward
• Wear them with a jacket — French cuffs without one look unfinished
• Keep cufflinks simple for business: silver, gunmetal or understated enamel

Which should you choose?

If you wear a suit most days, a few French-cuff shirts add variety and polish. If your dress code is smart-casual or you move around a lot, barrel cuffs are quicker and more comfortable. Most wardrobes work best with both: mostly barrel, with two or three French cuff shirts for occasions.

A good cuff does two things: it stays put, and it shows just enough at the edge of your jacket.