excuses to wear cuff links?

January 3, 2007 11:11 AM

Excuse to wear cuff links?

I really love wearing cuff links. But I'm wearing suits at work much less often now. Does anyone have suggestions for less formal cuff link situations? Like the hipster bar down the street going to dinner, whatever...
GQ says it's not cool but I don't really care what they think. I have a Banana Republic shirt that is less formal yet has French cuffs that I feel comfortable wearing out without a jacket. So I'm looking for ideas, maybe there are some cool old 1970s big collar shirts with French cuffs? Maybe some funny oversize cuff links that I could wear?
Thanks!

posted by hokie409 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (15 answers total)

If you're after something that looks slightly less flashy or dressed up than metal, jewellery-style cuff links, you could always try a pair of silk knot style links. Some in a colour similar to your shirt would look quite unobtrusive but still let you cut a dash at your hipster bar.
posted by greycap at 11:19 AM on January 3, 2007

Maybe some funny oversize cuff links that I could wear?

Cufflinks World has some cool, less-formal designs.
posted by amyms at 11:21 AM on January 3, 2007

H+M sells inexpensive, stylish but lowkey french-cuffed shirts that I've worn to wine bars and in similar casual situations. If you feel confident in what you're wearing, it doesn't really matter.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:30 AM on January 3, 2007

First things first. French cuff shirts are not out of style ala GQ if done correctly. This means leave your two tone (white collar, blue stripe shirts --- aka the gordon gekko type) shirts home.

The key here is discretion in both the shirt and links. If you are going casual, use cuff links that match the shirt colour. Don't bring out those god awful silver and gold cufflinks all the aspiring players on wall street usually dismiss by the time they hit thirty. Check out Tiffany's or Brooks Brothers (if your in the USA) or Selfridges, Harvey Nicks (in the UK). Understated quality is the best. Avoid like the plague "bling bling" cufflinks from the likes of Boss etc...They get stale fast.

In regards to the silk knot style links. They are a no go for one simple reason. Shirt makers started including them with their French Cuff shirts and their reputation has suffered without a doubt. Any dolt at a Mens Warehouse buying off the rack can get some silk knot cuffs these days. They look cheap.

Shop around. Take a trip into any major city and find the more exclusive stores. Look around. Cuff Links shouldn't cost as much as a gold watch, but timeless quality more than makes up for the extra price you might incur.
posted by Funmonkey1 at 11:34 AM on January 3, 2007

I've seen a number of nice shirts merchandised lately as almost-cuff-linked. That is, the cuff link is put through the first two button holes on the outside but only one on the inside, so you have one cuff hanging kind of open. I've even picked up some shirts from DDC Lab that were cuffed that way on the rack. Kind of a more casual way to get away with the cuff links.


Remember its not about what you wear, its how you wear it. Sport it with confidence and you'll be setting the style in your office.
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:41 AM on January 3, 2007

Please don't wear comedy cuff links. Cuff links are so sexy done right. Wear a plain dark shirt that fits perfectly, no tie, and a pair of sleek understated cuff links. Like these or these or these.

If you're funny, be funny, don't look it.

Or what funmonkey1 said.
posted by crabintheocean at 12:00 PM on January 3, 2007

I agree with GQ on business casual though - it's not a business casual look. Business casual (ugh) is about looking professional without the suit and tie. The cuff links without a tie look is a little bit disreputable and sleazy - in a good way!
posted by crabintheocean at 12:05 PM on January 3, 2007

You never need an excuse to look good.

Remember its not about what you wear, its how you wear it. Sport it with confidence and you'll be setting the style in your office.

Amen.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 12:35 PM on January 3, 2007

Yep, like your approach to magazines that try and tell you what is cool to wear....bizarre really in this liberal fundamentalist world of anything goes that actually most people are in chains through having to follow somebody else's rules of clothing. Weird!

Be free - Wear what you like, when you like - God created you free to enjoy all that is good for you :-)

Enjoy.
posted by pettins at 12:50 PM on January 3, 2007

I just asked the lady across the hall who does alterations and she told me that she charges $5 to change a shirt to be cuff link compatible instead of the regular buttons.
posted by ODiV at 3:19 PM on January 3, 2007

cufflinks are hot. wear them. forget the novelty ones, though- wear cool ones. jackets are optional.
posted by twistofrhyme at 3:53 PM on January 3, 2007

Move to Australia. Cuff links are de rigueur here. It's difficult to find a dress shirt that doesn't have french cuffs.

What I've noticed, is that people don't wear them like they are "wearing" cuff links, you know? They are just the way that their cuff is held together. So I think half of successfully not looking like a nob when wearing french cuff shirts is to not make a big deal about it, don't keep tugging at them in a non-challant manner, and do let the cuffs get curled and out of sorts. When you draw attention to the shirt (and, seriously, we're talking about french cuff shirts here more than the actually cuff links), you look pretentious.

It's very common here to have a nice patterned french cuffed shirt worn un-tucked with the collar open (no tee shirts worn here) and cuff links. Very much the weekend bar/club look. So just do that and tell everyone you are an Aussie (just say 'Oy' and 'Fair Dinkum' a lot).

I will say, however, that fashion here is more based on a dare, it seems. "If you find it in your closet, it goes with anything else you own" kind of thing. So YMMV.
posted by qwip at 4:43 PM on January 3, 2007

'bizarre really in this liberal fundamentalist world of anything goes that actually most people are in chains through having to follow somebody else's rules of clothing.

Right. People are in chains. Or maybe they enjoy thinking about how they dress. If you don't, that's fine, but it doesn't make you liberated.
posted by crabintheocean at 5:51 PM on January 3, 2007

I think each individual can adopt something that isn't necessarily in style as a personal style. I love cuff-links, and I think you should wear them as often as possible. You don't have to be a sheep as long as you don't go the whole Tom-Jones-9-yards.

I have a friend who always wears white cotton dress shirts. It's his moniker, and I love him for it.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:11 PM on January 3, 2007

"Or maybe they enjoy thinking about how they dress. If you don't, that's fine, but it doesn't make you liberated."

Yes, you are right. My comment relates to the type of behaviour where some people appear to religiously follow some fashion rules (my analogy with oppression/chains) compared to the totally valid activity of enjoying the creative process of thinking about how they dress, without feeling constrained in any way.

Key point is the freedom to choose and NOT to be constrained by rules (as per the original posters reference to a magazine).

PS. Apologies for the de-rail here, but hopefully as the post is a few days old this has not got in the way.
posted by pettins at 1:15 PM on January 7, 2007