Cufflinks

[vc2000]

Gentlemen, I ask for your expertise on cufflinks from a practical side.  My Father has a bit of arthritis and struggles with small things like cufflinks.  I noticed lately he hasn't been wearing cufflinks because of this.  Or if the does he has been putting them in before he puts his shirt on - I noticed that he has a pair of needle nose pliers on his dresser.  I shudder to think what pliers would do to a pair of enamel cufflinks...  Or I imagine ever once in a while he resorts to having my Mother help him.  

He is a proud man and doesn't like to ask for help.  Are there any styles of cufflinks that are easier to close?  If so I would get him a pair for Father's Day.  Are stirrup styles any easier?  I would think the double buttons would be the most difficult and then the bar and post style. (Forgive me if I am using the wrong terms) Or any other advice?

I appreciate your input.  Forgive me in advance if this has been covered - I did a search but didn't find anything.  If so just link me over.  Again thanks.

 

[Kent Wang]

I'd imagine that silk knots would be the easiest. That may not be his style, however, considering his age.

 

[BjornH]

Silk knots? I can (well, almost.) put cuff-links on with my toes but it can take me 5 minutes to insert my silk knots as most buttonholes are too small for them. The only exceptions i've found are some British shirts such as T.M Lewin that make roomy buttonholes. Perhaps I have large knots - I've found that one pair I have is smaller and is much more easier to insert.

Too bad about your father vc - I can't imagine that barrel cuffs are any easier to manage for him it would be nice to solve this somehow.

B

 

[faustian bargain]

somebody should make one with strong magnetic closures - you'd only have to poke one 'post' through the buttonholes, then just magnetically *snap* the other cufflink on the post.

 

[Manton]

I think the swivel and post is by far the easiest to manipulate. I find that double-sided chain links are the hardest.

 

[cuffthis]

vintage snap cufflinks are the answer. Each of the 4 sides fit easily into a shirt, you put them in before putting on the shirt, and simply snap them together. They are even easier to unsnap, just put some pressure against them. Available for $30 and less per pair on Ebay. Make sure the snap is tight though, with no wobble. If not, they will unsnap on you while wearing. Also, make sure you have enough room in your french cuff to properly close the snap. Some shirt manufacturers were cutting the double cuff way to small to accomodate links of this type. The nerve of them.... Enjoy.

 

[oscarthewild]

maybe cuffthis can chime in but snap links are pretty easy. You can put both sides on using two hands before putting on the shirt and then just snap them together. Â They are double sided too. Also Baer and edit note: Cuffthis posted while I was writing.

 

[Vintage Gent]

Perhaps it's my relative inexperience with snap cufflinks, but I find them considerably more challenging than the swivel and post.

Of course, snap cufflinks are considerably more elegant.