Suit Accessories: A Masterclass
It’s hard to beat a suit. Whether your occasion calls for timeless elegance, modern sophistication, or effortless smart-casual, a suit is the ultimate choice of menswear. But, if you really want to dress to impress, it’s all about the finishing touches – and by that we mean accessories.
But, what if you’re not sure how to accessorise properly? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. With handy tips on everything from styling a waistcoat to how to wear cufflinks, keep reading to learn from our experts at Marc Darcy…
Seal the deal with cufflinks
While they may seem solely formal, wearing cufflinks shouldn’t just be limited to special occasions. Adding more casual cufflinks to your daily wear is a great way to accessorise and give you a confidence boost for the rest of the day.
What are cufflinks?
Cufflinks are a classic men’s suit accessory, and are the perfect way to add your own style or personality to an otherwise simple but elegant outfit. But what actually are they?
Made of metal or fabric in a range of shapes and sizes, cufflinks are small items of jewellery designed to hold a men’s dress shirt cuff closed. Unlike a shirt button, which is sewn onto the shirt, cufflinks are removable – offering you more options to customise and accessorise according to your own preferences, and the type of event you’re attending.
How to wear cufflinks
So, how do you wear cufflinks? Firstly, you need to make sure you have a dress shirt that’s compatible with them. For this reason, they’re mostly worn with shirts that have French cuffs. These are double length cuffs that you fold over to create a thicker, stiffer end to your sleeve. Or, you can wear a regular dress shirt, as long as there are two holes in the cuff to accommodate the cufflink.
Once you’ve got your shirt on, putting in your cufflinks is as easy as:
- Lining up the holes in your sleeve.
- Slipping the back of the cufflink through the holes. Remember, the head (the ornate side) of your cufflink should face away from your body when your arms are at your side.
- If you have a double-sided or silk knot cufflink, this is the final step – and you can continue getting ready.
- If you have cufflinks with clasps, you will need to close the clasp to secure both your sleeves and the cufflinks in place.
Choosing your cufflinks
Want to really make a splash with your suit accessories? For men, a pair of cufflinks is a simple answer. For bold suits, we suggest wearing something in a complementary block colour, like gold or silver, to complement your outfit without clashing.
On your wedding day, a pair of sentimental or characterised cufflinks add a personal touch to your day. You could even choose a style to match with your groomsmen for a coordinated style within the wedding party…
Marc Darcy recommends: prefer to have your sleeves rolled up? Add personality to your outfit by choosing a different collar style on your Men’s Shirt. We have a great selection, including penny or grandad collars.
Styling a waistcoat
There’s something endlessly stylish about wearing a Waistcoat. This inner layer can instantly elevate a suit into something much more elegant. Or, ditching the blazer and going with just a waistcoat over your shirt allows you to feel casual, but still look refined and dressed to the nines.
But, you can still take your outfit to another level with the right suit accessories for men – and this means styling your waistcoat. The main accessories you can use when styling a waistcoat are:
- A pocket watch: this is a classic suit accessory for men, offering a practical solution when your watch simply doesn’t work with your outfit.
- A waistcoat chain: a way of getting the sartorial elegance of a pocket watch without the actual watch, this is a modern version that allows you to imitate a timeless style.
(We haven’t forgotten about ties and pocket squares, you’ll find them if you keep reading in the section below).
When styling a waistcoat with a pocket watch, all you need to do is:
- Put the watch into the pocket on your non-dominant side (i.e. if you’re right-handed, put the watch on the left, and vice versa).
- Insert the T-bar (or fob in older watches) at the end of the chain into the button hole above the pocket.
- The height of your button hole will decide how much of the chain is hanging loose.
For a waistcoat chain, you will do the same – but instead of the watch sitting in your pocket, it will be the other end of the chain.
Waistcoat chains can be in Single or Double Albert style. A Double Albert effectively makes it look like you have two chains, as you will insert the chain through a button hole and put the remainder of the chain in your other pocket. This is another way to elevate your suit, and is perfect for special occasions.
When you’ve finished styling your waistcoat, remember to always leave the bottom button undone. This may be more out of tradition than anything else, but it’s also practical: for the well-dressed gent, it allows you to move and lift your arms without disrupting your fit.
Marc Darcy recommends: don’t have any suit accessories to hand? Styling your waistcoat in a pinch can come from simply choosing a contrasting shade to the rest of your suit. This pop of colour instantly takes your look to the next level.
Adding the finishing touches
Alright, you’ve picked out your suit, but what about adding the final touches to complete your look? Perfecting each little detail can take your suit from drab to fab – so make sure you choose the right suit accessories for a man as well-dressed as you are…
Wrap up your look with ties and bows
The humble tie catches a lot of flak, but we think this is undeserved. The right tie can pull your whole outfit together, or bring a bit of personality to your day-to-day style. Patterned ties, like those in our MD Paisley Tie and Pocket Square Sets are luxurious and stylish, and allow you to customise the look of your suit. Alternatively, knitted ties are hugely popular for their relaxed-smart style.
Plus, wearing a tie means you can choose a tie clip! Designed to hold your tie in place, there are loads of styles of tie clips out there – from quirky shapes to understated slides, this is yet another opportunity to have fun with your personal style.
And who can forget the classic Bow Tie? With everyone from Matt Smith’s Doctor to James Bond rocking a dickie bow, these are a perfectly versatile suit accessory for men for every occasion.
Perfecting the pocket square
Want to go without a tie, but still project an image of elegant ease? The pocket square is the accessory for you. Tucked into the breast pocket of your blazer or waistcoat, this small but mighty suit accessory can add a pop of personality to any look.
For example, you can choose a contrasting colour to brighten up your two-piece, or coordinate with a waistcoat/tie as part of your three-piece suit for a refined, polished end result. And, when it comes to weddings, why not choose a pocket square for your groomsmen that matches the bridesmaid dresses for an extra sentimental touch?
Unsure how to properly wear a pocket square? Discover 5 Ways to Fold Your Pocket Square in our handy guide, so you can maximise this mini men’s accessory…
Marc Darcy: the home of suits and suit accessories for men
At the end of the day, fashion is also about fun! Finding the best suit accessories for men gives you the chance to get creative and express yourself through your style – and who doesn’t want that?
So, if you’re looking to make your mark on your next outing, don’t forget to pick up some Men’s Suit Accessories to go with your new Suit from Marc Darcy today!
Here are some more articles we think you’ll love… A Guide to Suits for All Occasions | A Guide to Shirt Collars | Men’s Wedding Accessories: Elevate Your Style on Your Big Day
