When it comes to cufflinks, you probably tend to stick with popular designers such as Ravi Ratan, CLM New York and Ed Hardy. These are some of the most recognizable names in cufflink. But the fact is, there are plenty of other talented cufflink designers as well. Sometimes, you have to step out of the box when it comes to style and try something new so that you don’t get stuck in a fashion rut. Keeping up with current cufflink fashion trends is essential, but it’s also important to venture off the trendy path once and a while. If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box designer of luxury cufflinks with a unique creative flair, then try Tateossian on for size. Tateossian cufflinks seamlessly combine high-end designs with edgy designs that keep them at the forefront of trendsetting and originality.

Take these Tateossian Interlock Black Cufflinks for example. The design is so unusual and intricate, that you won’t find another pair like them anywhere else. Tateossian likes pushing the limit when it comes to cufflinks, and many other designers appreciate their bold and edgy design style. So if you are looking for a new pair of cufflinks that are unlike anything else you have in your cufflink collection, take some time to browse our selection of Tateossian cufflinks. You will find a variety of exciting and original designs to choose from, which will help you buck the same old cufflink fashion trend of break out of the style box.

As far as cufflink material goes, silver and gold are the most popular materials. But the beauty of cufflinks is that they can be made out of almost anything these days. In fact, there are even cufflinks that are made from recycled materials, which is good for the earth and for fashion. But one of the most durable and attractive cufflink materials is enamel. The combination of powdered glass and high levels of heat create this glass-like material that we call “enamel.” With a smooth enamel surface, enamel cufflinks shine from across the room and gleam in the sunlight.

Because enamel is so smooth and flawless, many high-end cufflink designers use it to create upscale cufflink designs. But you don’t have to be an upscale guy in order to wear enamel cufflinks. The only thing you have to be is “smooth.” Enamel Cufflinks are perfect for any guy who’s a smooth talker and takes pride in his appearance. However, it’s a rule of thumb that every guy should own a pair of Enamel Cufflinks. Lucky for you, we have a wide selection of Enamel Cufflinks available. You’ll find such elegant designs and styles as these Black Enamel Labyrinth Cufflinks, which offer urban flavor combined with a classic black and silver look. Enamel Cufflinks are often finished with a smooth and glossy coating, to help preserve the shine and protect them from all-weather elements. So you can be sure that your Enamel Cufflinks will keep you looking and feeling “smooth” for years to come.

1. Style Icon Number 1: Tom Waits

Known for his raspy, deep voice, which has been described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding “like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car,” Tom Waits is an iconic singer, actor, and composer. He always plays these seedy, shady characters in films such as “Down By Law” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” but is also known for his immense cult following:

Tom Waits, Photo by Henry Dlitz

Tom has been a trend setter for years, especially for Brooklyn Hipsters, with his cigarettes, whiskey, old beaten hats, and worn suit jackets. He is experimental in both his music and his fashion choices. Waits recorded Small Change (1976), which is more lyrically cynical and pessimistic than his previous albums, l with many songs such as “The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King)” and “Bad Liver and a Broken Heart (In Lowell)”.

Tom Waits, Photo by Adrian Boot

Tateossian Interlock Black Cufflinks

In response to the heavy drinking that ensued while making the album Small Change, Waits said that he “tried to resolve a few things as far as this cocktail lounge, maudlin, crying-in-your-beer image that I have. There ain’t nothin’ funny about a drunk [...] I was really starting to believe that there was something amusing and wonderfully American about being a drunk. I ended up telling myself to cut that shit out.”

Tom Waits, Photo by Danny Clinch

Tateossian Gear Gunmetal Cufflinks

Style Icon Number 2: Al Pachino

Al is best known for his horrifying role in Scarface as Tony Montana and Micheal Corleone in The Godfather Trilogy. He showed a much softer side in Frankie and Johnny, alongside his former co-star in Scarface, the beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer. Throughout the years, we’ve seen Pacino evolve as an actor, taking on the best of roles and giving it his all. Trained as a Method Actor, under the guidance of the famed Lee Strasberg, Pacino developed a passionate intensity in just about every role he played.

Photo of a younger Al Pacino

Cuban Cigar Cufflinks

A native New Yorker, Pacino dropped out of school at 17, and took on a series of mundane jobs in order to pay for his acting classes. At the Actor’s Studio, Pacino studied method acting, which is a phrase that loosely refers to a family of techniques by which actors try to create in themselves the thoughts and emotions of their characters in an effort to develop lifelike performances.

Al Pacino, playing Tony Montana, in Scarface

Brown Cigar Cufflinks

Director Francis Ford Coppola took a risk in casting the relatively unknown Pacino in The Godfather, yet Pacino’s acting earned him an Academy Award Nomination, which he boycotted because of his anger at being labeled a “Supporting Actor.”

Al Pachino (Michael Corleone)

So “Say hello to my little friend…” with these Pistol Cufflinks:

Pistol Cufflinks

Throughout all of his films, the man has a certain simple, yet poignant style that we all secretly admire. Women love him and men want to be him. He has played those dominant character types that men around the world wanted to imitate, and they loyally re-played their favorite scenes on VCRs at home, reenacting many famous lines and scenes.

Michael Corleone, and his transformation

The fascination with the mafia/mob world had become exponential after Pacino’s performances. He brought the underworld and grime of Mafia life out in the open, added a touch of sophistication and swagger; namely he glamorized the life of a mobster- something no one else could do.

Tateossian Red Ice Cube Cufflinks

Al Pacino in NYC (1992) Photograph by Herb Ritts

Stay tuned folks for more icons..

GQ magazine recently featured some invaluable resources for men in regards to fashion. Calling it their “Fall Report,” they have carefully selected the hottest trends, accessories, and looks for the modern man of 2010. We have a picked out a few that we especially love. First up, the Three Piece Suit:

Three Piece Suit, Design by Simon Spurr

What’s great about the three piece suit is the added touch of class, found in a single element: the vest. Yes, these suits may cost a bit more than the standard two piece suit, but like GQ mentions in their feature, “it keeps you looking sharp when you remove your jacket.” And these Black Dial Cufflinks are some basic, inexpensive accessories that could bring the look full circle:

Black Dial Cufflinks

The next look we love is the Small, Lightweight Turtleneck. Turtlenecks are great for the fall/winter season for obvious reasons (they keep you warm…if we have to spell it out for you), but they go great under suit and sport jackets. Plus they are a warm substitute for that stifling collared shirt. Make sure the turtleneck you choose isn’t too chunky, but fine-gauge and fits high around the neck, like this one:

Lightweight Turtleneck, as featured in GQ, design by Gucci

The man bag and sunglasses don’t hurt the look either: we especially love the extra finishing touches that really bring together an ensemble, like a stunning pair of Silk Knot Cufflinks:

Camo Time Silk Knot Cufflinks

The next little accessory that is not to be shunned, is the Plaid Necktie. No, we’re not talking about Paul Bunyan plaid here, and we don’t expect you to go on a wood chopping rampage in your overalls…but really plaid is back this season and may be here for the long run. These new plaid ties have a slimmer cut,  a smaller tie knot, and are unlined to give a “draping effect.”

H&M Necktie

Black Watch Plaid Cufflinks

David Hart & Co. Neck Tie, $130

And lastly, for this week’s style update, we want to mention once again, our love of TWEED. (And please don’t substitute out the “T” and think we’re talking about something else…but you can if you want…) For those of you who follow this blog, you might remember a post focused on texture, one of which was tweed. Well GQ has also exhibited their love of tweed and it’s storming runways around the world:

Tweed Suit, by Billy Reid

Amber Quilted Cufflinks

And to quote Jim Moore on this subject, he says that “[tweed] looks good over and under everything. It’s got that mannish personality to it, where it stands up well to an elegant shirt and tie, or looks good with a fisherman’s sweater.” And Mr. Moore, we completely agree.

]]> http://www.cufflinksman-blog.com/cufflinks-by-color/trend-report-four-basic-essentials/feed/ 0 http://www.cufflinksman-blog.com/cufflinks-by-color/black-cufflinks/ http://www.cufflinksman-blog.com/cufflinks-by-color/black-cufflinks/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:23:29 +0000 Alyssa S. http://www.cufflinksman-blog.com/?p=100 Black is a mystic color which absorbs all other colors without reflecting any, it entices strong emotions which can be overwhelming at some point, it is often related to power and authority as we see today in most of the greatest business men outfits. The use of the color black in outfits can often make [...]

Black is a mystic color which absorbs all other colors without reflecting any, it entices strong emotions which can be overwhelming at some point, it is often related to power and authority as we see today in most of the greatest business men outfits.

The use of the color black in outfits can often make the person who wears it look thinner, classy and very elegant. Black cufflinks give the feeling of perspective and depth especially when it is combined with bright colors creating an aggressive color scheme which always grabs attention in a positive way. The use of the color black in cuff links is meant to balance the contrast of other colors which may be combined with it resulting in an elegant mixture that is why it is perceived as a symbol of prestige.

Facts about the color black:

• In Chinese culture the color black is associated with winter, water and north. This association corresponds to their beliefs about the five elements, the seasons and directions. The five elements are water, wood, earth, fire and wind, this concept varies from among different beliefs, others say that the five elements are earth, air, water, fire and spirit.

• Black implies weight, when people compare two identical objects, one white and the other black, they often deduce that the black one is heavier than the white one; interestingly enough when a person wears this color people perceive a thinner figure which is the opposite perception.

• The color black is associated with sophistication and elegance. Limousines, tuxedos, Judge’s robes are all typically black. In social events and important meetings, black, is an unspoken standard which is why these events are referred to as “black tie events”

• Black is a silent and uncharted color which reflects power, wealth and sophistication. Black is said to produce a real sensation even if the color implies a total absence of light which is at the same time different from the lack of all sensation.

Great examples of elegant black cufflinks are:

Silver and Black Compass Cuff Links: These are perfect to brake away from the routine and are most certainly unique.

Black Enamel Labyrinth Cuff Links: Those who have mysterious lives will love the unique design and exquisite finish of these silver and black cuff links.

Stunning Circular CZ Diamond Black Cufflinks: These are absolutely one of the most elegant cuff link designs you will find, with carefully placed stones and black enamel these high end cufflinks are perfect for professionals and business people.