Binder Clips As DIY Emergency Cuff Links

@abyzmal: Well played

ANOPRAX

*Sigh*

Once again Ghettohacker returns.

Run you cheap ass down to Wallyworld and buy some emergency cuff links to keep in the car.

[IMG][i35.tinypic.com]]

Warren Atwater

what makes this a clever use vs a mcguyver tip?

This is incredibly tacky. If you own shirts with french cuffs, you had also better remember the cuff-links or you don't deserve to wear them.

mahumphrey

@Steeb2er: Guess I shouldn't talk...just yesterday I forgot a belt. Except I wasn't traveling, I was just going to work. I looked quite silly.

The binder clip doesn't actually look bad, though. Kind of cool.

Yeah, I guess I'd do it if I had to, but it really doesn't look good. At all. I'd probably use a safety pin on the inside and hope no one noticed.

forpeterssake

@Steeb2er: And you'll have a pair of silver binder clips on hand? Don't you think if you remember to bring binder clips (for whatever reason?) you'd remember your cuff links?
I dunno. I guess if you're out of the city/country you can go to a local office supply shop and pick up a couple binder clips, but still.
I must say, it does look pretty good though!

atomicrabbit

And I always carry a safety pin to formal dinners in case my glasses or my date's zipper are in need of emergency repair.

aeronaut

Tacky. If you find yourself frequently wearing cufflinks, keep your cufflinks in a tray next to wherever you keep your wallet and keys. You won't forget your wallet and keys will you?

If not, as soon as your shirts are laundered, clip the links onto the sleeve before you hang it up.

I think you lose all credibility if you wear binder clips as any part of your wardrobe.

I'd sooner just roll my sleeves up at that point than to go all white trash and use binder clips!

fritzk3

Looks cooler than I imagined although I never have gold binder clips laying around the office... only black. Black would not look as sharp.

You could also save the day should someone suddenly need a binder clip.

jarhead

@tablespork: I think he's using 4 total clips, 2 on each arm (pic 1). One clip is extended "straight" through the button hole (pic 2). The other clip "bites" the arms of the first clip and holds the whole thing in place (pic 3). Fold the arms of the second clip down (pic 4).

Steeb2er

@Gyroscope352: Ever traveled? If cuff links aren't part of your daily routine, they can easily get left behind.

I forget a belt or dress socks just about every time I hit the road.

Steeb2er

You can also make fake french cuffs by sewing two buttons together, but this looks surprisingly good.

Wit is periodically disensouled

I'm confused, some text to go with the pictures would help.

tablespork

I actually use a binder clip as my money clip. Maybe we need a whole article on the many usages of binder clips.

CassidyAeetes

I went on vacation and brought my "expensive" $60 dress shirt that required cuff links. Of course, I left the links at home and had to wear the shirt with open cuffs. I doubt I will ever forget cuff links again, but now I have a backup plan. Thanks.

lsocoee

Yeah...I'm not sure that "emergency" and "cuff links" belong in the same sentence.

akulavolk

Thank god for this tip. Now I can wear link-cuffed shirts without fear of leaving my solid gold diamond-studded cufflinks at home. Last time I forgot them, I had to change into a shirt that used a common "button", and when I ate from my jewel-encrusted caviar spoon, the other rich white men made fun of me.

How does one forget their cufflinks? Wouldn't you think, when you're getting dressed, "Geez, these sleeves seem quite breezy. Perhaps I forgot something..." lol.

I have done this, several times!

That is surprisingly attractive. Unfortunately, I tend to remember my cuff links way more often than I ever have silver binder clips near me.

This tip is up there with making an emergency raincoat out of a trash bag. It says "geeky engineer" all over it.

That being said I have found that rare-earth magnets make great collar stays, and may be strong enough to use as cufflinks (except that they would constantly stick to things).

DanYHKim

@jaxun: Yes indeed. I've not worn a French cuff since the late 1970s. One of the perks of academia, I guess. Now to go find a blog that helps me get things done. Is it just me, or is LH becoming a cross between Gizmondo and a McGuyver fansite? It's a fun read, but as as much to do with GTD as does ESPN.

DangerousLiberal

@32ndnote: Yes, the end product looks surprisingly good.

Jeffrey Bernard Yozwiak

@AmphetamineCrown: I think you just described the emo senior prom ensemble.

@jarhead: Old and scratched dented black clips, I might add.

LetMeSayThisAboutThat...

@Steeb2er: LH should have a series on improvised accessories... all made from binder clips. Of varying sizes, natch.

What about spats? Any ideas on improvising spats?

Yeah, this is what I do

Pharmacy

@32ndnote: Not always an emergency, personally I'm loving this idea.

Great idea for students, I remembered the black tie shirt but left the cufflinks, hair-clips were the best I found, luckily it wasn't a proper event.

Bobly

If you're really that desperate to use office supplies to replace cufflinks, then use brads. They're certainly more common than a silver or gold binder clip.

Not to mention that he needs two binderclips per cuff there. They'll catch on everything, especially his jacket.

The affair looks pretty informal, since he's wearing no tie and apparently no undershirt. Why not colored pipecleaners? At least they'll look "whimsical," where these binder clips look like he's trying to hide. At least with a pipecleaner there's no false attempts at propriety.

Sushiwriter

Quit being so harsh. I find the binder clip cufflinks go quite nicely with my electrical tape bowtie and tinfoil cummerbund.

AmphetamineCrown

if you are going to do this you might as well just stay home... maybe you are simply not ready for French Cuffs!

You could probably stop by at any TJ-Maxx, or equiv. (inc. Macys) and buy some there.

@DanYHKim: It would be easier to grab your caviar spoon if you could just make it come to you instead...

wardawg

That's so ghetto! Don't forget the matching tie-tack!

Rowin Andruscavage

Only if the person you're trying to impress has an office supplies fetish. Or if you need an excuse to hit your Easy Buttonâ„¢.

Even more tacky than using a stapler to do a quick hem on your pants.

Sewing two buttons together as an impromptu cufflink is a better solution. Most hotels carry a small sewing kit that includes a button or two, and usually dress shirts come with 1 or two spare buttons sewn inside - to make cufflinks, you need 4 buttons, and some thread in a complimentary color.

dragynphyre

I recently purchased what looked like a regular dress shirt in a standard package like all others I was buying to wear to work. Nowhere on the package did it say french cuffs or cufflinks required or whatever. Like a previous poster said they hadn't worn french cuffs since the 70's. I do not even own a pair of cuff links and now I have this shirt I have to go out and spend $50 or $75 on just to get 'buttons'. I would've returned it but I had laundered it before I noticed. Anyone know if this is a trend to hide the fact that they might require cuff links?

netman2670

@ DangerousLiberal I do agree. Most of it is "cool" stuff but not helping me get GTD!

After the bachelor party it's hard enough to remember that there's a wedding, let along putting on cuff links!

aeronaut

@DangerousLiberal: Funny, some folks actually LIKE french cuffs.

Max Harris

@Gyroscope352: Let's see.
When do you need cuff links?
1- Going to work/party and dressing at home.
2- Going on trip and bring a french cuff shirt.

Under #1, I dunno how you put on french cuffed shirt and not notice something missing.

Under #2, I dunno how you pack a french cuff shirt and not think, okay, cuff links.

But, assuming you wear your french cuffs for the big moments at work and on the road, I have a crazy question... What are you never without when you are on the road or at work for business... your brief case.

Do as I do, kids, and you will never have to find a gold bulldog clip... put a pair of plain black cuff links in an interior pocket of your briefcase next to you spare pair of metal stays. You will never have to improvise again.

Max Harris