Missing Links: Off-the-cuff Xmas Gifts for Him

Xmas is a magical time of year, where families get together and do their best to infuse themselves with as much of the Xmas spirit as they can. After all, it is the season of goodwill! Xmas is also a time for gift giving, and – unfortunately – a potentially stressful time as we try and work out exactly what type of Xmas gifts our nearest and dearest will enjoy.

So, when buying for him this Xmas – and it could be either a friend, or a loved-one - why not help him bring out his more stylish side with a pair of beautiful cufflinks? Designed for use with the delightfully decadent double-cuff shirt, cufflinks are the ultimate in Xmas gifts for men. Cufflinks can also be worn with some convertible cuffs, so the possibilities for wearing such an amazing gift have never been greater!

But what is the behind these wonderful items of male apparel? It has been claimed that the history of the humble cufflink actually goes back as far as the Middle Ages, when gentlemen would fasten their cuffs with something known as a cuff string. However, the London Gazette reportedly made the first reference to what we now universally regard as a cufflink in 1684; but it was not until the 1860s that these little gems made it into the mainstream and became affordable to the wider public.

Cufflinks are a great way to compliment his own unique sense of style. In addition to designs crafted from any number of different types of metal – whether precious or otherwise – cufflinks can also be crafted from silk knots, and it is even possible to obtain versions designed to resemble doubled-up buttons; although a cufflink or silk knot is a far more sophisticated option.

But when it comes to buying Xmas gifts, what's the best style to go for? Construction materials aside, cufflinks chosen as Xmas gifts should fit the personality of the wearer. Science fiction enthusiasts might like to wear cufflinks featuring the Daleks, those not-so-loveable characters from the long-running series Doctor Who. Dads might like to receive cufflinks advertising that they have become proud new fathers – although the bleary-eyed sleep-deprived look should be quite a giveaway – and existing dads with daughters might like to wear on their sleeve the fact that their daughters love them.

And for men who like their sport, there are cufflinks designed to declare a love of football, rugby, and even pastimes such as cricket and snooker. But that isn't all, as cufflinks can also be a great way to wish someone luck, show how fantastic it is to reach a certain age, or even for people to let the world know that they've managed to hold their own and make it through university; the number of messages that these Xmas gifts can potentially convey are almost unlimited!

The only difficulty with cufflinks is knowing how to wear the cuff as, in addition to the much-worn 'kissing' model, it is also possible to wear the cuff barrel-style. However, following the latter option forces the cuff ends to overlap one another and the incredibly stylish cufflinks might not be quite so visible to those located nearby.

However, cufflinks are actually pretty easy to put on; if the pair in question features a ball at the end of the bar, it is only necessary to push the ball through the hole, in a manner not dissimilar to fastening a cuff equipped with buttons. However, if the cufflink is designed to feature a bar end, this should be closed before pushing through the cuff; securing the link then becomes as simple as closing the bar into a horizontal position.

Most importantly however, when buying cufflinks as Xmas gifts, all that needs to be ensured is that the gift fits the personality and tastes of the recipient. After all, he is going to be wearing one of the most important and visible items of apparel in a man's wardrobe of formal attire.