Cufflink question

[Prince Barry]

I did a subject search for this and couldn't find any threads that answered my question, so I apologise if it has been asked before.

I have just bought myself some double cuff shirts today and a pair of gold cufflinks, the proper type with the chain, not the bar.

My question is, is there an easy way of inserting the cufflinks into the cuffs apart from getting somebody else to do it for you? It took me quite a while just to get one in and I felt like having a lie down afterwards..ha ha!

[TVD]

Practice!

Before dressing, fold cuffs and pull cufflinks through the two outer layers of cuff. Then put on shirt. Insert middle and index finger between the "loose" inner cufflink end and the outer two layers of cuff through which the chain has already been pulled. One finger left and one right of the chain. Use index finger and thumb to angle this inner cufflink and insert it through the tow inner layers of cuff.

It is possible to do this with left and right hand, after some practice.

Trying to do this drunk or hung-over will result in disappointment.

[Prince Barry]

Thank you TVD. I will print out your reply and have it in front of me when I am practicing. I could have gone the easy way and just bought some of the 'bar' type but I don't feel that they are quite as 'gentlemanly'.

[Costi]

Actually, Barry, I find that chain cufflinks always add a bit to the overall circumference of the cuff which, unless the sleeve is cut to the exact length of the arm (which I am not a big fan of, preferring a more "puffed" sleeve to prevent the shirt cuff from sliding beneath the coat sleeve when bending the elbow), will result in the the cuff sliding just that extra centimeter lower on the wrist that spoils the whole look of the coat sleeve - shirt cuff - hand ensamble. I have relatively few chain cufflinks for this very reason, and I only wear them with certain shirts that have just slightly tighter cuffs and can take the extra length of the chain. Shortening the chain is one solution (which I did apply on a couple of pairs of cufflinks, taking them to a jewller's) but there is a limit which, if crossed, makes the cufflinks unusable.

[edhayes]

I have never been able to put on cuffl links with the shirt on in my life

[RWS]

Ed, Tom Drastik's instructions are precisely what I follow, usually successfully. Of course, the difficulty of doing this every time without frustration is another (if minor!) reason to marry.

[Concordia]

I put the shirt on before inserting the first oval through the inner two buttonholes. From there, it's a pretty easy thing to push it on through the outer ones.

Of course, I had years of violin lessons before I learned this technique.

[Prince Barry]

Thank you Gents for your replies. I actually found that because my wrists are quite slim, I can put them in first and then put on the shirt. That was after I had just about mastered the art of inserting them whilst wearing the shirt.