Tag Archives: fashion accessories

Cufflinks

How and When to Properly Wear Cufflinks

Cufflinks

Cufflinks are usually worn on a formal occasion with a formal shirt and because they come in such a wide variety of styles it is extremely easy for you to be able to express yourself and stand out at a formal event as well. Many people shy away from cufflinks because they simply don’t have any idea of how they work and may have the impression that they are too hard to work with. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mastering the cufflink is as easy as mastering the swivel post. Once you get that the rest is gravy. You will know what a swivel post is as soon as you see it. It will be on the underside of the decoration of the cufflink and will ‘swivel’ open to form what looks like the letter ‘T.’ Here is how to properly wear cufflinks:

•    Put the formal shirt on: Start by putting your formal shirt on and then lining up the cuffs. You don’t want the cuffs to overlap in the way that a button cuffed shirt does but instead you want the cuffs to be back to back.
•    Slide the cufflink in: Once the cuffs are aligned you simply slide in the cufflink and when it has gone through both cuffs you open up the swivel post of the cufflink. This will form that ‘T’ and securely hold the cuff in place.
•    Check the face: Once you have both cufflinks secure be sure that the decorative face is out as that is the part that everyone will see. If the decorative face is to the inside then you are defeating the entire purpose of the cufflink.

When should you wear cufflinks?

There is no hard and fast rule as to when you can and cannot wear cufflinks. Traditionally they are reserved for the most formal of occasions such as weddings where a tuxedo is in order and they are still the norm at these types of events today. But the popularity of these decorative pieces has opened up the world of cufflink wearing.

Many people like to wear a pair of jeans and a nice shirt that uses cufflinks for a simple night out on the town. This is great because you can really express yourself with the types of cufflinks you choose. Today cufflinks can be found in many styles which include gems and other decorative fashions. To a great extent, the type of cufflink you wear says a lot about your personality.

Others that are in a more professional environment of work, such as lawyers and stockbrokers can find themselves wearing cufflinks on a more frequent basis. These people tend to wear cufflinks to look a bit more sophisticated as opposed to trying to express themselves.

For the most part though cufflinks have hit the mainstream and there is really no time that wearing a nice pair isn’t appropriate unless you are at the beach or the pool. Because wearing them is really as easy as one, two, three, once you start wearing them you will never want to wear a shirt with buttons on the cuffs again.

Belt

How To Choose A Belt. Your Guide To Finding A Belt Online

Belt

Belts, like all fashion accessories, change in popularity and style from season to season. While there are standards in belts that never change because they are simply classic, most belts come in styles that ebb and flow in popularity. What is hot one season may be totally out a year later. Buying belts is a complicated affair that requires much more than measuring your waist.

If you are in the market for a belt, it is vital to know which type of belt best matches your style and body type. If you have a thick waist a belt that droops a little will distract from your shape. If you have a tiny waist or an hourglass figure and want to show it off, a wide or intricate belt is a must. For anyone who is heavier but needs to wear a belt, thinner is better. Check the size of the belt buckle. If you are looking to draw attention to your waist, large, unusual or ornamental belt buckles are for you. However if you are like most people and don’t want the eye drawn automatically to your waist, opt for discrete, plain belt buckles that blend in well with the outfits you wear.

Choose a belt that is in a good color for you. In fact you may even want to opt for a two tone belt with a reversible buckle. These are good choices for both men and women because of their versatility. You should have belts that are the same colors as the shoes you wear most often and for women also the same color as their favorite purses. While it is not necessary to always match belts with shoes and purses, having belts in these colors is a good indicator that they will be regularly used.

You will also want to choose the right material for your belt. If you like noisy belts that draw attention, metal ones are the way to go. If you are looking for a good strong one that will last a long time leather is the best choice. If you want a light colored one that looks summery or tropical, a web belt will fit the bill. Vinyl belts are only a good choice if you want something to be worn very infrequently and something that is cheap. Elastic belts help to create trendy looks but are often specific to a certain outfit. You can find rhinestone belts and other jewelry belts that will definitely add bling to an outfit.

If you are looking to buy a belt online, you might consider Belts.com, Old Navy, Belt Master, Overstock.comMenswallet.com or Neiman Marcus.

These sites give you a great selection of both men’s and women’s belts in a variety of prices, colors and styles. While this is a great place to start, you can also do a more specific Internet search for the exact type of belt you want. Be as descriptive as possible and in no time you will find the belt of your dreams online.  Get outfitted with a new belt, one of the best accessories ever.