Fear of becoming one of those people

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

My parents bought me some new work clothes for my birthday, but I didn't realize until this morning that one of the shirts they bought me requires cuff links. I don't own any cuff links. I will either have to return the shirt or go out and buy cuff links and learn how to use them. In the latter case, I will become one of those people who wears cuff links. Perhaps this will change me for the better, but I'm worried that I will become one of those cuff link people. Soon I will be wearing suspenders and those little garters that hold up your socks and use a money clip instead of a beat-up wallet and wear ties and then tie clips, and maybe my money clip will match my tie clip, and then I'll stop on my commute to get my shoes shined and I'll have to have little monogrammed handkerchiefs that peek out of my shirt pocket like wary prairie dogs.
Anyways, are you ever irrationally worry that changing some physical aspect of yourself (a new haircut, new clothing, etc.) will change WHO YOU ARE, possibly for the worse?

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

Also, do CUFF LINKS = SELLING OUT?

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

No. Just don't buy anything else that you fear. Mind you, sounds like you're fearing becoming Bryan Ferry.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

Next Up: MONOCLE

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

cufflinks are great!

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

Use nuts & bolts as cufflinks, for hip, rugged look.

― diedre mousedropping (Dave225), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

ARE YOU EVER IRRATIONALLY WORRY?

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

No! Cuff links don't make you one of those people. Cuff links are simply for holding your cuffs together. If you decide to buy them, buy understated ones. Don't get any of the other accessories you describe because they will turn you into one of those people.

― beanz (beanz), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

i have shirts that require cuff links. i've never worn them. but i do like to wear ties.

― Chris 'The Nuts' V (Chris V), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

I have cuff links! I am as not one of those people as you can get!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

Ties are things I disdain because frankly I like to breathe. The occasional wearing is fine -- but no more.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Dress for the job you want, N/A, not the job you have.

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

ummm, ties are also great!

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

I have a love/hate relationship with ties.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

If getting a job in the first place doesn't turn you into one of Them, then getting cuff links won't either.

― beanz (beanz), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Use Ampallangs for cufflinks.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

My wife bought me monogrammed cufflinks! Sometimes I get up late at night and open the drawer just to look at them, shining back at me through the darkness!

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

I suppose it's too late to invoke the always-charming "Pince Nez" reference?

― diedre mousedropping (Dave225), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

My wife bought me monogrammed cufflinks! Sometimes I get up late at night and open the drawer just to look at them, shining back at me through the darkness!

Those are glowsticks, dude.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

Im also cop to owning a money clip AND occasionally having a silk handkerchief in my top pocket (though last time was for a wedding).

Are you saying that you do not want to be like me?

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

Did I mention my collection of lotions and oils?

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

guys?

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

Dress for the job you want, N/A, not the job you have.
Huk's been watching What Not To Wear.

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

Are there any cuff link equivalents to the piano key tie? That is, cuff links for people who think they are too cool for cuff links, but really they are insufferable dweebs?

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

OUTED

― Huk-L, Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:17 (twenty years ago)

French cuffs? That's OK. It's the two-tone shirt, the blue shirt with the white collar and the collar bar that you should worry about.

― Ken L (Ken L), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:17 (twenty years ago)

Why the tie hate? Ties are fun. If you honestly feel you can't breathe while wearing a tie, then, news flash: your shirt is the wrong size.

I can see wanting to avoid what I call the BusinessFop look--colar with different color from rest of shirt, suspenders that match tie, tab collars, etc. [Edit: HA! Xpost with Ken L.]

Think Lumbergh in Office Space.

But cufflinks in and of themselves are perfectly harmless. I wouldn't wear a french cuff shirt on a normal work day, but if you get a french cuff shirt as a gift, or if you have it to wear with a tuxedo, just have some modest simple cufflinks around. Or use the twisty-ties from bags of Wonder bread.

― The Mad Puffin, Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

THe shirt came with these little elastic ball things to hold the cuffs closed, and Sarah tried to convince me that I was supposed to keep them in there and wear the shirt that way.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

Mind you, sounds like you're fearing becoming Bryan Ferry.

or ZZ Top!

Clean shirt, new shoes
And I don’t know where I am goin’ to.
Silk suit, black tie,
I don’t need a reason why.
They come runnin’ just as fast as they can
Coz every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man.

Gold watch, diamond ring,
I ain’t missin’ a single thing.
And cufflinks, stick pin,
When I step out I’m gonna do you in.
They come runnin’ just as fast as they can
Coz every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man.

Top coat, top hat,
I don’t worry coz my wallet’s fat.
Black shades, white gloves,
Lookin’ sharp and lookin’ for love.
They come runnin’ just as fast as they can
Coz every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

That song makes me feel better about becoming that person!

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

An example of a sharp dressed man. And what a fine figure he is.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

use those little brad fasteners! $1.75 for a box of 100! and then you can do scrapbooking projects with the extras!

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

that's the spirit!

http://www.fannins-collectables.com/images/z_listing/zztop/sharp_dressed_man/w9576_fc-fs.jpg

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:28 (twenty years ago)

im with adam on all these thing, cufflinks, ties, clips, hats, scarves, bags, why wouldnt you want all these things?

― charltonlido (gareth), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

Dress for the job you want, N/A, not the job you have.
OK, I'm going to start wearing jeans, bad sneakers, and a WASP tour t-shirt instead of a tie every day...I would rather be a roadie than an analyst!

― 57 7th (calstars), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

i joined the gym a while ago and i was worried that i would turn into one of those gym people.

then last weekend i went and bought weights. now i really have the fear.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

BEEF-CAKE!!!!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

get one panache

― charltonlido (gareth), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

Cufflinks are great!

I am worried that I may not be able to stop being stressed and motivated and cruel and boring, after exams, that is maybe a different question.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:35 (twenty years ago)

i don't understand the cufflink worry. I mean, you could also just buy all your pants really small so you don't have to ever wear a belt.

― h0t h0t h0rsey (Carey), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:36 (twenty years ago)

this is all punk rocks fault, still!

get two CTI best of cds

― charltonlido (gareth), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

i don't see how anything that requires the purchase of new accessories can be bad.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

This most likely is all punk rock's fault.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

or indie rock -- i blame steve malkmus!!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

punk: keeping the middle classes in their place since 1977, with their sleeves billowing in the wind, and their cash concealed in tightpockets

― charltonlido (gareth), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

dude, wear the cuff links to the cubs game, you'll be styling.

and the monocle

― Jeff-PTTL (Jeff), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

my brother-in-law plainly wants me to yearn for 'the good life', plying me with gold-plated business card holders and fancy silver pens and other stuff I'd feel ridiculous carrying around. Cufflink-ready shirts would really be crossing the line tho.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

I mean, you could also just buy all your pants really small so you don't have to ever wear a belt.

I did this for like 19 years.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:51 (twenty years ago)

This thread is fabulous. It's like the secret male version of the Fashion Threads.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

unlinked cuffs are the devils playground handmaiden

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 15:03 (twenty years ago)

WaitwaitclarificationAMERICANPANTS

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

I used to (at like 16) wear cufflink shirts with cufflinks, but with the cuffs not folded back on themselves so that the sleeves were superlong and weird looking. I have no idea why I did this. I was kida an idiot.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

I use Suzy's bobby pins. the multi coloured ones look good on my one black shirt that requires links.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

my brother gave me monogrammed cuff links as a present for being his best man. i have yet to use them. i think they maybe need to be polished by this point.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:19 (twenty years ago)

DON'T BUY CUFFLINKS! It's a slippery slope, and pretty soon you'll be an accessory man. That's not a good place to be. Don't listen to these swing scene veterans, don't give up the fight, don't buy cufflinks!

― andy --, Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

i have no doubt that my brother would like to turn into one of "those people," in some fashion. probably most of my family does. but they've pretty much given up by this point.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

The shirt came with these little elastic ball things to hold the cuffs closed, and Sarah tried to convince me that I was supposed to keep them in there and wear the shirt that way.

I did this the first time I got a suit, for a wedding. I think everyone thought it was adorable, apart from a friend who bought me a proper set for my birthday. Winner!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

I've never felt more different, more alone than I do now.

Bu there's still pride. A lot of it.

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

Adam you are American now - DRESS THE PART.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

GABBA GABBA WE ACCEPT YOU WE ACCEPT YOU ONE OF US

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

xpost - would like to turn me, that should read. my brother already is one of "those people," obv.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

uh, you're the swing scene veteran andy, by your own admission!

cufflinks are fine. it seems to be difficult to find a shirt that uses them that doesn't look stupid. really the worst thing about this is that you don't want only one outfit that looks spiff, you want at least four for work so it doesn't look like you're having a dressup day. and that means laying out a bunch of money.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

http://www.astabgay.com/gayicons/qc6.jpg

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:28 (twenty years ago)

hey nick, I think my dad has some spare rotary club cufflinks, ya want em? they are HOT. I LOVE THAT ROTARY WHEEL!!

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

i'm not sure i even know what cufflinks are.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:44 (twenty years ago)

I sort of feel the same way whenever I wear one of my two Polo shirts. Something about that little polo horse insignia makes me feel like a sell-out whenever I wear it. They are comfortable shirts, but I can't buy Polo clothes any more, just because that little logo bugs me so much.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 16:48 (twenty years ago)

I don't do cufflinks. Don't rope scarves into this.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

spats

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

also, why has no one mentioned arm garters? they're going to be hott this fall.

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

I am fond of cufflinks. I eschew the matching tie and silk handkerchief in favor of the simple white linen pocket square. One can use it, wash, and throw it away without too much compunction. White collared and cuffed colored shirts and money clips I find ugly and too reminiscent of a certain kind of asshole. I wear suspenders with a three piece suit but rarely otherwise. My favorite bit of sartorial fancy, though i rarely do it, is to wear a nice boutonnière. My favorite is the short-lived but whimsical daisy.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

I bought a really nice suit this weekend that required cufflinks. I wore James Bond cufflinks a friend lent me. And you know what? DRESSING SHARP GETS YOU CHICKS.

― Actor Sizemore fails drug test with fake penis (jingleberries), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

It can't hurt!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

I like whimsical cufflinks. I bought The Bloke some Scrabble ones, like this :

ihttps://ssl.i-2000.com/scrabble-assoc/images/wg/cufflinks.gif

except with his initials on, obv

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

I like fancy things that serve a purpose of some kind, cufflinks being an exception of sorts though they are a kind of male jewelry that doesn't seem too much. Scarfs and ties help keep the carotid artery from losing too much heat as does a nice hat. Monocles have almost always been pure affectations as have spats which is why they've died out, I imagine.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:30 (twenty years ago)

If I had three arms I'd get I, L, and X cufflinks for FAPs.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:32 (twenty years ago)

Hail to Cravats!

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

these little elastic ball things to hold the cuffs closed

Like these silk knot cufflinks?

http://www.linksandties.com/images/Products/Towler/CTR056Large.jpg

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:36 (twenty years ago)

Something about that little polo horse insignia makes me feel like a sell-out whenever I wear it.

Don't you know that these have been reconstituted? You can wear them with jeans and sneakers and be good to go. I bought a blue button down pin-stripe shirt simply bc it had the horsey logo.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:44 (twenty years ago)

i'm more into izod or teh penguin, myself.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

Yes, they are better, but polo is not without a certain charm--probably doesn't translate outside of major metropolises though.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

I hate all visible branding/insignia.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

polo for me is a very specifically horrible thing, due to southern prep school education.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:51 (twenty years ago)

I would wear a polo shirt if it had a marmot on it. Or a wombat.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

how about a marmot shirt? i don't think their shirts have marmots on them, but they should.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

haha, well, someone here rather likes preppy;)

― charltonlido (gareth), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

No.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

[deleted fuckoff pictures -mod] shit wrong thread.... mods please delete that... meant to do in AARON thread :((((

― A homunculus of Darby Crash, .... created for the purposes of *EVIL* (ex machina, Tuesday, 3 May 2005 18:04 (twenty years ago)

JESUS JON

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Polo seemed to pwn Louisville when we went.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

JESUS JON

What a frightening theological prospect.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 18:15 (twenty years ago)

SORRY

― A homunculus of Darby Crash, .... created for the purposes of *EVIL* (ex machina, Tuesday, 3 May 2005 18:16 (twenty years ago)

what the fuck?

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 18:17 (twenty years ago)

I kid because I love, O Savior!

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

I think my new haircut has made me EMO. : (((

― Cathy (Cathy), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 21:22 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.