Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Name This Designer!


Here at CuffLinks.com we like to help you out with as many ways to keep your look as fresh and up to date as possible. So with the help of our facebook team, we have a contest for the blog readers!



To visit our facebook page click here and tell us which designer you think the posted cufflinks are from. Be the first person to identify the designer and I will send you a coupon code for $5 off so you can add this pair, or any other on CuffLinks.com, to your collection.

To use CuffLinks.com as a resource click here.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Timepiece 101

While you may know the best watch designers, do you know how they tick?

The best way to pick out a watch is to first understand its functionality and what components go into a good watch. Names can only get you so far, so let's take a dive into what lies behind the name of the watch you wear on your wrist.

Case


The case is the chassis of a watch. Sometimes they are made with stainless steel, other times titanium.

Crystal


This is the face of the timepiece, the glass disk that keeps the hand and dial safe from the elements. Crystals don't have to be made of crystal, they are often acrylic, mineral glass or sapphire. Sapphire is a great element in a watch because of its ability to resist scratching. Acrylic is most prone to little scratches, but it is also the easiest to buff. So it all boils down to what you prefer more.

Dial


The dial is the actual face of the watch, the canvas for the numbers and minute markers.

Crown

The crown is the small turning knob used to set the time, date and any other changing feature. Some crowns screw down when not in use, and others are designed to be pushed in.

Crown Guard


Designed in most sports watches, this part does just what it sounds like. Protecting the crown from damage due to the physical activity, which the watch was designed for.

Bezel


The bezel of a watch can be fixed or rotatable depending on the design. Scuba divers often use an adjustable bezel to keep track of the amount of time they have been submerged by aligning the minute hand with the 00 on the bezel before descending.

Lugs


The lugs in a watch secure the straps or bracelet of the watch that wrap around your wrist to the ticking clock.

Caseback


This is the back of the watch that rests on your wrist. This is the piece that is usually removed in order to access the internal parts of the watch. Some designers use a clear back for the people who like to tinker and know how things operate.

Hour Markers


Bet you can guess this one! They are the dashes, dots or other various symbols used to indicate the hours that are not numbered.

Hands


While most of us learned what these puppies were back in the 1st grade, it is one of the most crucial pieces of a watch. Hands point to the minute and hour, allowing you to read your watch. Some feature a second hand for the man who needs to know exactly what time it is!

Date Windows


High quality watches almost always offer the date. It usually hangs out in the 3 o'clock position. The crown adjusts this function.

Cyclops


With watches that feature a date, a bubble that magnifies the numbers is often included to make the date more legible.

Bracelet


A bracelet wraps around your wrist to keep the time available at a moments notice. Bracelets tend to stick with durable metals like titanium and steel. The other option to a bracelet is a Strap.

A strap is most commonly made out of leather, but in the case of a sports watch or an underwater watch, rubber is often used.

And last, but most certainly not least, the Buckle or Clasp


This piece is crucial in keeping your watch snug. This is the hardware that connects the two straps or ends of the bracelet. The most common buckle is called a Tang. The tang is similar to a belt where a pin slides through a notch to the other side. There is also the deployant, which folds the buckle attached to both sides of the strap and snaps back into place. On a bracelet, the buckle is referred to as a clasp.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Newest Techie Addition

The newest techie addition to the cufflinks family has just arrived!


With the ability to run a small country through our phones in this day and age, why not show off your sophisticated, techie side with the Smart Phone Cufflinks! Drawing inspiration from the i-Phenomenon, cufflinks feature all of your favorite web apps on the face of one of the most beloved electronics in production.

The 3G S proved to be a hot ticket with more than 1 million sold in the first weekend alone. Grab its twin for your cuff. Complete with a silver plated setting and a bullet back, this pair will travel with you throughout your day in style.

Here is your chance to win a free pair. Become a fan of CuffLinks.com on Facebook and tell us about your favorite application. We will pick a winner at random and send you our newest product, The Smart Phone Cufflinks, for free! Is that an iPhone on your cuff? Why yes, yes it is...

To shop techie cufflinks click here.

To become a fan of CuffLinks.com on facebook and enter to win a free pair of Smart Phone Cufflinks click here.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Skinny on Jackets

A coat is a coat is a coat right? Wrong!


So how do you distinguish between the 3 big coats of a mans wardrobe, the blazer, sport coat and suit jacket?


A blazer usually means a blue jacket with gold buttons like the one above. Blazers are also often double breasted.


The sport coat origins began with a robust material, like tweed with some added fur, but today a sport coat has flaps, often with an extra flapped ticket pocket, and looks like a softer construction of a suit jacket.


Suit jackets are made of higher quality materials like worsted wool and are smooth to the touch.

However, with the thousands of designers our fashion industry offers, many who follow the beat of their own drum, suit jackets, blazers and sport coats can be something out of the ordinary, so these are merely guidelines.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Coordination Tips


Having a closet full of designer clothes doesn't mean much if you can't coordinate them. It is important for a man to know how to combine different elements of fashion, like fabrics, colors and patterns, to create a knock out ensemble. The definitive guide for style has come up with some handy tips and key rules to take into consideration when getting dressed for the day.

Wear color wisely
Many men stick to a neutral color palette under the assumption that they can’t go wrong with a closet full of black, brown, blue, and white. A wardrobe devoid of color, however, can be drab. Throwing in a few splashes of color here and there can really pick up even the most basic outfit and make you seem incredibly fashion-forward. For men, less is best when it comes to color, so begin slowly. Use color as an accessory or only wear one boldly hued garment at a time. And of course, make sure you know which colors are best (and worst) suited to your skin tone.

Be pattern savvy
In order to avoid looking like you’ve just escaped from a psychiatric hospital, learning how to select coordinating patterns for your ensembles is crucial. It does take a bit of effort to memorize the definitions of the most common patterns, but doing so will help you achieve a unique look because you’ll be able to break free of the safe, solid-colors-only style rut that too many men find themselves in. There are approximately 10 popular patterns of which you should be aware of, including houndstooth, herringbone, windowpane checks, sharkskin, barley corn, and pinstripe. Along with being able to recognize these common patterns, you should also know what they pair well with and when to wear them: The window pane check, for example, is a simple pattern of plain squares that is commonly found on dress shirts and should be teamed with a coordinating blazer that complements an accent color in the shirt.

Learn how to mix prints
Though you may eventually decide you can live without incorporating houndstooth into your wardrobe, you’ll still be faced with the dilemma of how to combine a patterned shirt with a printed tie. As long as you follow four basic rules, you minimize your chances of ruining otherwise perfectly good ensembles. First, make sure that the dominant color in your shirt appears in the accents on your tie. Second, when wearing a checked shirt with a checked tie, keep the print on your body smaller than the one around your neck. Whether or not you’re wearing checks, you’ll want to vary the weights between the patterns as donning two garments with prints of the same size is visually overwhelming. Finally, when in doubt about how to combine prints, just remember that a small print next to a larger one will quickly create an elegant ensemble. If your tie has a small print, for instance, your shirt should have a larger one.

Match your shoes with your pants
Wearing the wrong pair of shoes can destroy your entire look -- even if you happen to be dressed to the nines in a bespoke suit. When selecting shoes, you need to take both their color and style into consideration in order to determine if they will complement your outfit. For navy suits or dress pants, try black, camel, tan, or oxblood-hued shoes. With gray, opt for black, oxblood or camel-colored footwear. Common styles of footwear you’ll want to brush up on include loafers, oxfords, dress boots, and monk-strap shoes. Finally, details such as whether or not your shoes have wing tips, cap toes, laces, or broguing should be kept in mind when you’re searching for the right shoe for a particular pair of pants.

Master layering
There are two major benefits of layering: it enables you to dress for variable weather conditions so that you’re always comfortable, and it lets you display your fantastic sense of style. The most important rule for layering is that every piece you’re wearing should be able to stand on its own as well as with your ensemble as a whole. Another important guideline to follow is that thinner garments should be worn closer to your body for added warmth and to create a sleek, pulled-together appearance. Furthermore, when wearing multiple layers, don’t be afraid to play around and have some fun with your style. In fact, layering is one of the best ways to sneak color into your wardrobe and mix the high with the low for a thoroughly individual look.

For a more detailed guide to style, check out the Ask Men's Style Bible or Esquire's Big Black Book.

Cufflinks are an easy way to vamp up your look without much effort. A sophisticated pair of cufflinks has the ability to add more class than any other accessory.

To shop cufflinks click here.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

How the American Man Really Spends His Day


Here are the results from the latest American Time Use Survey (2007) put out by The Department of Labor. Ross Crooks, from the staff at Esquire, has combed through the results and simplified the findings for you.

Enjoy!

Sleeping (Running Total: 8:31:00)

Working (Running Total: 13:02:00)

Leisure & Sports Activities (Running Total: 18:31:00)

Household Activities (Running Total: 19:57:00)

Caring for & Helping Others (Running Total: 20:27:00)

Education (Running Total: 20:51:36)

Organizational & Civic Activities (Running Total: 21:08:24)

Telephone Calls, Mail, & E-mail (Running Total: 21:16:12)

Purchasing Goods & Services (Running Total: 21:54:00)

Eating & Drinking (Running Total: 23:10:00)

Personal Care (Running Total: 23:47:12)

Other Activities (Running Total: 24:00)

So spend some of those 12 minutes at CuffLinks.com, browsing our selection of more than 3,000 products and 25 designers. Find that perfect pair of cufflinks to wear while you are putting in those long 4 hours at the office!

To shop New Arrivals click here.

Resources: www.Esquire.com

Monday, June 22, 2009

Shop the Details

Look for the little things to tell you what you just bought is made with quality and won't just fall apart the minute you get it home.

Here are some sure-fire indicators that you have a top of the line design.


A shirt collar is a precarious thing, and a little laundry shrinkage can distort the lie of its tips. But if you flip over the collar and see a textured weave — called a Panama weave, and a staple of Kiton shirts like this one — that means it better resists shrinking and twisting.
Cotton shirt ($495) by Kiton.

An alternative to heavier, more common Goodyear construction, Blake construction entails interior stitching that holds the sole directly to the uppers. (You can make out the white stitching inside the above shoe.) It makes for a lighter-weight shoe.
Leather shoes ($625) by Moreschi.


The seemingly redundant loop of thread that protrudes from the thin end of your tie — you can make it out in the above photo — is kind of like the end of its spinal cord. When your tie has one, it's better able to suffer the ignominies of a day round your neck while still retaining its shape.
Silk tie ($135) by Canali.



Cufflinks made of .925 sterling silver and genuine gemstones, like this Scott Kay pair, are designs to keep an eye out for. Looking closely at the post attached to the fixed backing, you will notice that it is curved and flat. The curve allows the cufflinks to follow the shape of your wrist and the flat post ensures that this accessory won't twist out of position. Not only is a fixed back one of the easiest to secure, but it also assures this pair will stay attached all day long.

To shop the largest selection of cufflinks in the world click here.

Friday, June 19, 2009

This Day in History: June 19, 1885


On this day in 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor as a symbol of Franco-American friendship.

A mere nine years late, the 300-foot statue was a gift from the people of France, who had been the Patriots’ primary foreign ally in the War for Independence, to those of United States as a celebration of the Declaration of Independence’s centenary in 1876.

Lady Liberty was designed by Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc and Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the statue that was originally named "Liberty Enlightening the World."

After completion, the statue was disassembled into 350 different sections and shipped to the United States in 214 crates. Another year later, on October 28, 1886, the statues reconstruction was completed and the dedication ceremony commenced, led by then President Grover Cleveland.


The statue’s pedestal bears the words of poet Emma Lazarus, written in 1883:
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

When the Ellis Island immigration center opened its doors on an island in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty in 1892, Lazarus’ words welcomed the 12 million immigrants who passed by “Lady Liberty” after trying trans-Atlantic journeys on their way to becoming Americans.

Celebrate the history of our country and its allies with a pair of Statue of Liberty Cufflinks!


Or grab a pair of cufflinks featuring your favorite team who plays America's Pastime!


Shop every team in our MLB Section!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Last Minute Father's Day Gifts!

Father's Day is this Sunday June 21!!

I am sure you have been thinking of what to get Dad, but have unintentionally put off actually going to get it. Well let CuffLinks.com help you out.

Check out our entire selection of over 3,000 products from more than 25 designers to get your pops something he will truly love for Father's Day.


Scott Kay Cufflinks are perfect for Dad. Every pair is handcrafted with the quality used back in Dad's day! He will appreciate the new focal point he has added to his ensemble and will turn more heads than a 5-car pile up!


Scott Kay Cuffwear leaves no stone unturned. Every millimeter, from front to back, is hand engraved and designed to perfection. Engineered with a fixed backing and straight post to ensure that your cufflinks stay put. Pops will appreciate a gift that was this well thought out, unlike many of your childhood schemes!


Show him how much you care with a piece of art for his cuff.

Today only, with a purchase of $150 or more receive $10 Next Day Air!
Use Coupon Code nextdaypa at check out and get your order tomorrow by 10:30 am guaranteed!

To shop Cufflinks click here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Black Label for Fathers Day!

Here are some black label designs your pops can have some fun with this Father's Day.

For the Traveling Dad


Give the couture gift of Black Label Samsonite for the Dad who has more frequent flier miles than anyone else you know.


Their new line X'Lite will quicken the pace for every jet setter. X'Lite utilizes revolutionary CURV technology - a super strong, super light fabric with a luxurious finish.

For the Suit and Tie Dad



Ralph Lauren's Black Label is sharp, sleek and sophisticated for the modern office man. Team up with your siblings and pitch in to get Dad a power suit he can wear with pride!

For the Perfectionist Dad

Some like it hot... and we have just the collection for them! Ike Behar, established in excellence, has pushed his quality for fine dress shirts to extend to his new accessory line of dress links.


The Black Label Line from Ike Behar is the perfect Father's Day gift. Not only are they sure to fit your pop's cuff, but they are full of style and design, giving him a pair that he will enjoy for years to come.


Shop the Ike Behar Black Label this Father's Day, an easy way to make Dad proud! Give dear 'ol Dad what he really wants this Sunday.

To shop CuffLinks.com New Arrivals click here.