Another silly question---french cuffs

[ForresterModern]

I guess this is a question for those who regularly wear their kilt dress outfits or anybody else with tuxedo or french cuff shirt experience far in excess of my own.

I just got a couple of rarely worn french cuffed dress shirts back from the cleaners and discovered something this time I had never seen before. Normally my shirts, including the french cuff ones, come back on a hanger with the sleeves and cuffs pressed flat all the way to the end. This time the french cuffed sleeves were folded back and re-pressed then held in place by some inexpensive (but not wholly unattractive) plastic gold tone cuff links. I am not sure what to think about this. Do I want these shirts spending the next weeks to months with the cuffs already folded and held in place (saves me the trouble of having to mess with it when the time comes to actually put them on and put my own cufflinks into place) or will it leave some lasting impression on them that I might not in the future desire (these were not inexpensive shirts either).

I ask this more in curiosity than practicality as I don't wear them often, but wish to make these "special" shirts last as long as possible looking the best they can for when I do decide to wear them. Feel free to blast me if I am being overly finicky.

jeff

[beloitpiper]

It would probably be better to un-fold and flatten them. French cuffs are supposed to be raised from the sleeves, and if they are pressed they'll just look like a regular shirt with fake cuff links.

[Bugbear]

Mine have two different lengths they can be worn to, so I would be very, very angry if they had pressed my cuffs with a fold; don't know about yours. I have a feeling that they should be left un-folded, and you will probably have to take the links out to put the shirt on anyway.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'd ditch the plastic cuff links just in case they might cause some sort of staining. Unless the cuffs are pressed back and creased, I wouldn't worry about it-- and even if they were creased the only harm would be a slightly increased wear factor. You will probably wear out the collar before you wear out the cuffs, creased or not.

My very best evening dress shirts, which have detachable collars, have barrel cuffs not french cuffs, and no one seems to notice. My less formal evening dress shirts have attached, fold over collars, and french cuffs. I always fold them back and press them down before wearing.

With either style of shirt understated, plain gold, cuff links are always your safest bet. A gentleman should never look "flashy".

[Carolina Kiltman]

I have always liked the look of French Cuffs (goes back to the fact that my Father always wore them). I even ordered them for my Navy Uniforms (they were an acceptable option) I never had them come back from the laundry pressed back. After I got married, I never sent my shirts out again, and my bride asked how they should be ironed, and I told her flat.

Yes, I would remove the plastic links just as a safety measure.

[Highlander31]

With either style of shirt understated, plain gold, cuff links are always your safest bet. A gentleman should never look "flashy".

I concur. A gentleman dresses with style not fashion.

[Buckskin]

I've had them come back from the cleaners both ways. Personally, I prefer when they fold them back and press them down. Saves a little time for me.

[Kilted Surveyor]

As I only wear french cuffed shirts, the cuffs should come from the cleaners ironed flat. The process and the temperature at which they iron shirts are not good for the cuffs. I do not iron my cuffs when I wear them, either. I prefer the look that the cuffs have with a gentle roll in them.

[walkerk]

Folding and pressing the cuff will needlessly hasten the eventual fraying of the material at the crease. Best that you speak with your cleaners as to why they are providing this "service." When the fraying becomes noticeable, you can extend the life of the shirt by having your tailor turn the cuffs.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

French cuffs (or double cuffs as they are also sometimes referred to) were invented so that when soiled they could be folded over to present a clean appearance. This was, of course, back in the days when a shirt might see more than a "few days" service before it went to the laundry. As at the "first" wear of the cuffs they were folded inside the sleeve, folding them back might give the impression that you weren't wearing a fresh shirt unless, of course, the cuffs were ironed back. Nowadays I doubt anyone would notice, or even understand, the significance of an un-ironed French cuff.