Funky or Formal?

A friend of mine recently announced his engagement and a rather formal dinner party was held to celebrate the occasion. While the party was a wonderful mix of fine champagne and delicious food accompanied by a talented pianist, the invite did bring up a few problems of the sartorial kind. It simply stated black tie, which whilst appropriate for many occasions is also quite restrictive.
My friends and I wanted to acknowledge the fact that soon we would be losing one of our own, once married he would no longer be free to rampage around with us unmarried scoundrels. He was swapping late night drinks for weekends of choosing wallpaper or whatever it is married couples do…

We also wanted to avoid turning up looking like the groom-to-be’s 90-year-old great-grandfather, whilst a nice chap he is not one to ask for style tips.

Luckily I had the perfect solution…cufflinks!

At the engagement party we presented my pal with these silver drinking monkey cufflinks engraved with the date and his initials. The six of us also had matching cufflinks of our own! The plan is to wear the cufflinks to the stag party and again at the wedding in the hope that they serve as a reminder to the groom of his life before marriage (the drinking!) and also to remind him of all of the stages of his wedding, which I’m sure will be the best time of his life.

If you are attending a black tie event here are some tips to bear in mind:

• Always wear a bow tie with your dinner jacket! This is one of the few occasions where a bow tie is actually called for so make the most of it.
• Where possible opt for a double-breasted tuxedo to look more refined than wearing a single breasted.
• Always wear black shoes and make sure they are polished!
• The devil is in the detail so remember to include a pocket square in your ensemble.
• Add the finishing touches with your signature cufflinks, this is where you have the freedom to express your individual tastes. If you are a keen golfer why not choose a pair of golf ball cufflinks? Or perhaps you’re dressing to impress with these white gold onyx & diamond cuff links.

7 Wedding Day Handy Hints

cufflinks for surfers

It’s finally happened, one of my best friends is getting married.

The dress code is morning dress (black or grey) with beautifully tailored waistcoats for which we are all being measured. Several of our group don’t always manage to appear in a coordinated fashion. This list of handy hints should mean we all look like perfection.

1. Plain white shirts are preferred with just an inch of cuff appearing.

2. Cufflinks should be relevant to the groom. He enjoys rugby, red hot chillies, surfing and kept a pet tortoise for a while as a boy until it escaped into a neighbours field and munched its way through several acres of lettuce.

3. Handkerchiefs should be linen and neatly pressed. Cotton are too big and silk is cheating.

4. There is a debate about cravats or ties and we’ve opted for cravats in the agreed colour to tone in with the bridesmaids.

5. Socks should be grey or black as the yellow and red loud brigade don’t cut the mustard.

6. Black patent leather lace up shoes are the order of the day. Sorry, but slip-ons are for girls.

7.  Top Hats are essential for the photo when we throw them in the air, around the bride, for a pleasant memory for the bride’s mother, before the best man’s speech…

What’s your best wedding memory that we can print?

1786 a good year for Novelists

Our business was founded in 1786 which was a good year for a number of writers.

The 1700s was when the first European translation of One Thousand and One Nights was published, along with my favourite desert island tale, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

Still on a travel theme, Jonathan Swift published Gulliver’s Travels and the famous French writer, Voltaire, moved to England and in the late 1750s he published his work of optimist fortune, Candide.

Our forefathers were building our business in Birmingham and William Blake was penning Songs of Innocence and Experience.  Clearly knowing more than we did at that time. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was scribing his epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner whilst Mary Wollstonecraft adopted a more practical approach and focused on matters closer to home with A Vindication of the Rights of Woman which has been called one of the most original texts of the time.

For the last 225 years we have focused on originality and today boast what is probably the finest and widest cufflink collection in the World.
Not bad after two centuries.

A right royal event

We should like offer our congratulations to the Royal couple. Their lives change today in more ways than one.

Whilst you’re picnicking at St Brides, staying in the country house for a supper party or hosting an event in a tent, spare a thought for all the behind the scenes elves.

The perfect wedding needs a lot of planning from the designers creating the perfect wedding dress, organizing venue hire, outfits for bridesmaids and ushers, not forgetting the Maid of Honor. There are also the invitations, matching table decorations and often disposable cameras (probably not permitted at this event) for the guests. Places cards to ensure everyone is where they should be and behind the scenes the caterers, bakers, table layers, glass polishers, waiters and waitresses.

Enamel cufflinks created with care

The list is endless.

Did we mention the jewelers fashioning hand-made cufflinks followed by the enamellers painting the most beautiful cuff-links?

We shall crack open the drink of choice and drink a toast to the happy couple!

Wedding plans?

As there’s a big wedding on the way, there may be others in 2011.

It’s always difficult to think of a memorable gift for men. It has to be more than socks as it’s not Christmas, and a hip flask isn’t so unusual. The perfect gift for the groom, best man and ushers has to be a pair of cufflinks to commemorate the day.

Golfing gift

Something special could include your own designs, pick your favourite colours and create unique cufflinks for the day. Better still, pick sets based on the individual’s hobbies and pastimes. From golf clubs to sharks, there is a cufflink for everyone. Or one step ahead, cufflinks that show the day, engraved onto the back of each link.

In the meantime, we are delighted to see Kate joining the Royal family and our good wishes to all our clients holding the Royal Warrant who will no doubt have a busy year ahead.

Shark cufflinks for The Adventurer