Luxe Or Less Gift Guide: Cufflinks

Another year, another round-up of holiday gift ideas! From now until my year-end hiatus, I'll be highlighting one gift idea each day with stylish picks for different budgets. If you're still stumped about what to get someone, you might find your answer here in the days leading up to Christmas!

Item: Cufflinks
For: A brother, a guy friend, a significant other, a father with a sense of humour
Why cufflinks: The right cufflink can add sass, style, whimsy, and humour to even the most staid of business and formal wear ensembles. Dapper dressing on popular TV shows such as Mad Men (the camera loves close-up shots of crisp French cuffs) and Gossip Girl (think Chuck Bass) have made cufflinks even more covetable among the young and trendy.



Go luxe: I've had my eye on Wendy Brandes's sterling silver memento mori cufflinks ($1,000) for as long as I can remember, and coming from a girl who's not really into skulls, that's really saying something. The intricate shading and detail lend depth, sensuality, and a unique character to a design motif I'm otherwise rather indifferent to. If you can afford to drop the dough, these are an excellent option.



Spend less: Looking for a quirky choice that won't break the bank? Etsy has cufflinks with everything from Lego storm troopers to vintage clockwork mechanisms; most are under $60. The ones that caught my eye and won my heart are these silver-plated Transformers cufflinks ($20) from Sydney-based Fink Studio. Featuring carved Autobots and Decepticon faces, they'll appeal to the recipient's inner nerd and garner a laugh of astonished delight.