A question I am frequently asked lately is when is it OK for a man to wear a shirt with French cuffs.

A: This traditionally dressy article of clothing was historically worn on formal occasions. The truth is, a tuxedo with any other shirt cuff doesn't look nearly as good. After a while, the French-cuffed shirt worked its way into corporate America as fashion-conscious men began to wear them with business suits.

Today, the variety is so broad that many men, especially younger fellows, are wearing them more casually. A friend gave me a light-blue striped shirt with French cuffs for Christmas, and I've worn it with a black suit and with blue jeans and a navy pinstripe velvet blazer. Be careful when you dress it down because it's a garment that demands a certain degree of consideration even in less-serious settings.