Sebastian was recently nominated for a very impressive award. This meant we spent an afternoon in a windowless New York discount store known for its amazing suits, prowling through the racks. Sebastian tirelessly slipped from one suit into another, endured a tape measure attack from a crochety old man and stomached style advice from a guy who did not look equipped to give it. Finally, with suit in hand, we found a dapper shirt with French cuffs and a sharp-looking tie and went home for a fashion show.
But did you know all shirts with French cuffs require cuff links? Neither did we, and now we were in a real jam. It was past business hours on a Sunday night, and let’s be honest: there’s something about cuff links that’s a little, um, ostentatious and cheesy. They make me think of greasy high rollers. But we had no choice but to make our own. I was afraid I was mucking up Sebastian’s cool, sleek look, giving him a homemade embarrassment. But people, the man I am going to marry is so much cooler than that. He wanted homemade cuff links. We’re talking about the guy who put paperclip laser bolts on his glasses in high school and was still considered a hottie. He’s an original. And that is one of the reasons why he is such a badass dude. Oh, did I mention he won? And I have to say, the cuff links didn’t look half-bad.
Button Cuff Links
thin, bendable wire from a hardware store, or a paperclip could work in a pinch
fabric scraps
two buttons that you like — this is the decorative part and it will show
wire cutters
scissors
fabric glue
First, thread the button with a length of wire about 4 inches long. Then twist the wire once or twice to secure the button in place.
Next, glue your fabric scraps to wire. Once the glue has dried, use your wire cutters to trim each side of the fabric-covered wire to about one inch in length. Use your scissors to trim down the width of the fabric.
Dive the wire ends through the button holes on your cuff and bend back the wire legs. This adds kind of a cool shot of color, don’t you think?
