Why do shirts have two buttons on their cuffs?

Origins and evolution

Shirts, as we know them today, began to become popular in the 19th century, when they went from being an undergarment to a visible part of men's attire.

On the other hand, the first known wristwatch was created in 1810 by a man named Abraham Louis Breguet , a jeweler and watchmaker, who created a wristwatch for Napoleon's sister named Carolina Murat . However, in 1904 the first men's wristwatch was created, in other words, these types of watches began to be sold. In the early 1900s, the shirt was a garment used, I would say, only by high society or very wealthy people. These people wanted to wear a shirt but they also wanted to show off their watches. So, an English couturier thought about it and said, "Now what I can do is create a shirt, but with two buttons on the hand where the watch goes." And so it was.

In their earliest versions, shirts had stiff cuffs, often with cufflinks or single button closures. However, as fashion became more functional and accessible, modifications were introduced to make them more comfortable and adaptable.

In the early 20th century, manufacturers began including two buttons on the cuffs to allow for a more personalized fit. This was in response to the increasing mass production of clothing, where a standard design had to accommodate people with different wrist sizes.

Practical reasons

1. Flexible Fit : Not all men have the same wrist measurement, and the two buttons allow the shirt to fit different wearers better without the need for additional alterations.
2. Comfort and mobility : A looser cuff allows for easier movement and allows for the use of watches or accessories without the fabric being too tight.
3. Aesthetics and formality : In some cases, a tighter button gives a neater, more fitted appearance, while a looser button can make the shirt look more relaxed.

Modern variations and trends

Although most shirts today feature this double-button system on the cuffs, there are variations such as French cuffs (for cufflinks), rounded cuffs or cuffs with straight edges. Some brands have experimented with designs without buttons or with magnetic closures, but the two-button system remains the most practical and widespread.

In short, the inclusion of two buttons on the cuffs is the result of the evolution of men's fashion and the need to make shirts more functional for different types of users and to show off that new technology that was the watch.