Great Finds Under $100 Archives - Page 2 of 3

Fitting In

As I have pointed out many times before, our store is a great place to buy groomsmen’s gifts. Some people might find such a huge selection overwhelming. To that end, I hope that this space has been useful for those who just don’t know where to start. However, even if you’ve enjoyed the cufflinks that I’ve highlighted, you still might want to make your own choice.

In that case, one way to narrow things down would be pick cufflinks that are a certain color. These days, a lot of couples are choosing to designate theme colors for their weddings. If a couple chose red and gold as the theme colors for their wedding, these Red and Gold Murano Glass Cufflinks would be perfect for the groomsmen:

Not only would these graphic and interesting cufflinks make a great groomsmen’s gift, they would distinguish the groomsmen from all the other guys in black tie as members of the wedding party.

A Golden Opportunity to Personalize

In my previous post, I noted that wedding season is still going strong, and that I would be highlighting some groomsmen’s gifts from our store. To that end, today, I’d like to direct your attention to these Round Engraveable Cufflinks in 18 karat gold vermeil:

These gold cufflinks have a classic design that will never go out of style. They are appropriate for both formal and professional settings, so you can be sure that your groomsmen could make use of them long after the wedding. (Indeed, these cufflinks make great gifts for most any guy for that reason!) In addition, these cufflinks are engraveable. I find this feature particularly significant in that it allows for both the ease and simplicity of purchasing all of your groomsmen gifts at once, but also gives you the option to make them more personal by engraving your friends’ initials as well. These gold engravable cufflinks, as well as others we offer, are also very reasonably priced.

Tying the Knot

Since wedding season will be going strong through September, it is time for some more ideas for groomsmen’s gifts! Of course, many of the cufflinks I’ve covered here as well as the vast number available at our store would make lovely groomsmen’s gifts, but in the next few posts, I’m going to point out a few pairs that I think are particularly suitable. To start, check out these classic Gold Knot Cufflinks:

These gold finish cufflinks make such a great groomsmen’s gift, in part, because they go with everything. In other words, these cufflinks could be useful for your groomsmen long after the wedding. They’d be great for other formal occasions, or even wearing to work. Also, they’re quite reasonably priced, in the event that your wedding party is a large one, or you’re sticking to a tight budget.

Design for All

Of late, a lot of the cufflinks that I’ve showcased here have miniature renderings of real things, animals, or even functional objects. As you’ve probably guessed, I rather like these types of cufflinks, and appreciate the facile manner in which they make the perfect gift for someone who is somehow related to those objects.

However, I’m also a huge fan of good design, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t also direct your attention to some of our store’s more abstract pieces. Today, I’d like to point out these Crystal Mine Cufflinks:

The crystal detail paired with the ball shape makes these cufflinks unique, but the separate elements also make them timeless. (Such a pairing—the singular and yet always appropriate—is rare.) I can’t imagine an outfit or occasion that they wouldn’t complement.

Retooling Geek Chic

Well, I’m pretty late in terms of reviewing the new Star Trek movie, so I’ll leave that to others. As I understand it, the way that the movie cleverly elides issues of continuity so as not to be held to the storylines of previous films and television episodes is all about the fans. The sort of folks that like Star Trek and other science fiction and fantasy—myself included—are known for paying attention to detail and quickly notice if plot point contradicts something that occurred earlier in the larger plot, even if it was in a book/film that was authored by a different person, or was produced years earlier (see “Canon” in the Wookipedia).

However, this audience is not known for paying nearly as much attention to, ahem, fashion sense. Sure, there’s “geek chic,” but it operates, in part, on the premise that being an early adopter of high-end gadgets or a fan of “Lord of the Rings,” means adhering to a particular type of uniform. What if you’re a Star Trek fan who works in an office that has a dress code, or you simply don’t like pocket protectors? What to do? You can find classic elements of style that hint—not yell—your geekdom. To that effect, these Star Trek Cufflinks are perfect:

To someone uniformed, they’re just lovely cufflinks with an interesting, abstract design. To a fellow geek, they’re worth coveting.

World Sport

Growing up in a Northeast suburb, soccer was something a lot of folks played. There were “soccer moms” who weren’t so much about being a consolidated voting block as they were carting their soccer-playing children around in a minivan. I might have seen a friend or two play a game, but I didn’t watch it on television. Indeed, most people I knew didn’t watch it on television. Mia Hamm and David Beckham weren’t (in the US, anyway) yet household names. In other words, soccer was kids’ stuff.

It wasn’t until I moved to Queens, the borough that is the source of much of New York City’s worldliness, that I got a handle on how big a deal soccer… ahem, football, is to the rest of the world. My neighborhood was a diverse one, and during the World Cup, there was an impromptu parade everyday following the game, thrown together by people of the winning nation. So, when I think of soccer, I think of the first New York neighborhood I lived in as a grown-up.

What do they make you think of?

Going Green on the Daily

Today was Earth Day, but I didn’t plan a long and involved post. Why not? It certainly isn’t the case that I don’t care. I try to live in a way that minimizes my carbon footprint; indeed, I try to generally minimize anything I do that is harmful to the planet. Also, I have highlighted a number of our store’s offerings in the way of cufflinks made from recycled materials. To that end, I present yet another set today; these Recycled Bottle Top Cufflinks:

So, why not the long and lengthy post? I guess I have two reasons: First, I think that there are others on the web who do it better. Second, I look forward to the day when sustainable living is second nature to us all to the extent that we no longer need to reserve one day to remind everyone why we need to put more effort into taking care of our planet.

A Timely Gift for Cycling Commuters

I’ve started to ride my bike more. I’m not far from the big three-oh, and would like to get back into shape sooner rather than later. That, and there is going to be a fare hike in the coming months on the public transportation in my city, and I’d like to get used to riding often before that happens. We’re doing ok financially, but getting in shape and saving money just seemed too good to pass up.

Apparently, I’m not alone. While my own dear hubby doesn’t share my new pursuit, I definitely see more guys commuting than women. (Come on ladies—join me! It’s fun and cheaper than spin class!) I think if my husband did start to commute by bicycle, I’d purchase him a pair of these Bicycle Cufflinks:

They’d be a great form of encouragement for the new commuter. The detail on them is stunning, and the clean lines would compliment any business attire. They’re also priced very reasonably, to boot!

Foodie Beauty

Onions, those papery bulbs, are not the most aesthetically pleasing of plants, even if the consideration is limited to edible ones. In a beauty contest, they’d easily lose to a shiny red tomato, or a bright yellow lemon. However, if I was going to pick a pair of cufflinks for someone going to the James Beard Foundation Awards, I know that these Onion Cufflinks would be perfect:

They may not look like anything special, but onions find their way into many savory dishes in a variety of cuisines. The mirepoix, a combination of onions, carrots and celery, is the base for many French dishes. While my knowledge of French cooking is slim, I can’t recall the last time that I made a soup that didn’t start with a mirepoix, which I also often use in sauces. Onions are also key in Cajun and Creole cooking, which is based on the Holy Trinity, a combination of celery, bell peppers, and onions. I’ve only made gumbo once, but I’ve used the Trinity as a first step in a lot of meals.

It is hard to think of cooking without onions. If you know of a cook that that has a special event, I can’t imagine a more perfect pair of cufflinks.

Balanced

You told him not to worry about impressing anyone. As far as you were concerned, he didn’t have anything to prove. But he was still nervous about going to your grandmother’s 80th birthday party. After all, this grandmother was on the old money side of the family, the side that never quite approved of their Ivy-league educated, architect daughter marrying a contractor. (Nevermind that you found this pairing ideal, or at the very least, convenient when you both designed and built your dreamhouse on a small budget, and even better when you formed your own firm.) That, and the party was black-tie, and he always felt like he was impersonating someone else when he dressed up.

Despite his misgivings, he dutifully dressed for the occasion, and couldn’t have been more handsome. But then, looking down at his wrists, he realized he’d forgotten to get cufflinks for the fancy shirt he’d purchased for the occasion. No matter. Right after adjusting your hair, you gave him gave him these Blue Level Cufflinks:

They’d reminded you of him—precise, perfect, always balanced. In turn, he felt better wearing a visible reminder that you didn’t think he needed any changing.

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