Portofino - James Bond Cuffs

[Orgetorix]

Hemingway Jones: This thread is a discussion of "James Bond" Portofino style cuffs carried over from Latest Project: Mycustomtailor Suit!

and James Bond cuffs.

Ugh...have you worn them before? I got a shirt with Bond cuffs, and hated it. Hated, hated, hated. The cuffs kept flapping around and catching on my suit sleeves.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Well, my order for the same style suit that HJ initially posted about is on its way. I'll let you know about it when it comes in.

I can't wait to see and hear all about it.

Orgetorix, do you have some detailed photos of these Bond cuffs?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

what on earth is a james bond cuff?

bk

 

[Hemingway Jones]

what on earth is a james bond cuff?

bk

Magnoli mentions them on his site for his shirt to go along with the Goldfinger suit, but I still don't know exactly what they are. They sort of look like some sort of French cuff hybrid,[huh] though the picture is not so detailed to tell for certain.

 

[jake_fink]

what on earth is a james bond cuff?

bk

I believe Mr C. is wearing one in this photo:

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Magnoli mentions them on his site for his shirt to go along with the Goldfinger suit, but I still don't know exactly what they are. They sort of look like some sort of French cuff hybrid,[huh] though the picture is not so detailed to tell for certain.

like a singe layer french cuff with rounded corners? I seem to remember this kind of cuff from that movie . . .

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I believe Mr C. is wearing one in this photo:

that would be a james bond cup, surely?

bk

[anyone play cricket here?]

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Here's a link to the photo on his site. This shows what it looks like, but not how it works, which is what I am wondering. I would also like to know what the point of it is; is there a benefit to these or is it all about the look?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

so I guess they're stitched like that or held by velcro or somthing?

bk

 

[Orgetorix]

In this picture, the one on the left is the Bond cuff, also called a turnback or portofino cuff by various shirtmakers.

Here's a very rough diagram of one laid flat (dotted line is the fold):

 

[Orgetorix]

The problem is that there's nothing to keep the top, folded-over bit from flapping around and catching on things (except maybe a lot of starch). I considered trying to turn mine into a french-cuff shirt, but ended up just throwing it away. Mine was from P. Diddy's Sean John line of clothing. Bought with a gift certificate, thankfully, so I didn't waste any money.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

weird.

I can see how it'd catch on the jacket cuff . . .

bk

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I could see how that would catch on one's suit cuff.

So, this is pure artifice? There is no special clasp or reason for the turn-back, except aesthetics?

 

[Orgetorix]

None that I know of, beside novelty and aesthetics. Perfectly useless, annoying thing, in my book.

Another view:

 

[Tomasso]

the Bond cuff, also called a turnback or portofino cuff by various shirtmakers.

I've mostly heard it referred to as a cocktail cuff by shirtmakers.

 

[Jovan]

I'd like to have that cuff done on a future shirt. Not exactly worried about it catching on a jacket sleeve. All kinds of annoyances come with dressing up anyways, like lining up buttonholes exactly to fasten cuff links, etc. Basically, I'd learn to deal with it.

 

[Orgetorix]

But at least once you put your cufflinks in, they stay in. Every time I extended my arms, that damned sleeve would pop out of my jacket's arms and get caught. I suppose a jacket with a higher armhole might have lessened the problem, but those cuffs still aren't worth the hassle. Not for me, anway.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I'd like to have that cuff done on a future shirt. Not exactly worried about it catching on a jacket sleeve. All kinds of annoyances come with dressing up anyways, like lining up buttonholes exactly to fasten cuff links, etc. Basically, I'd learn to deal with it.

Why? What is it that you like about it? -I'm curious.

 

[Indy Magnoli]

I've done many shirts with this feature on them and my customers keep coming back for more, so someone likes them. I've never worn them myself, so I'm not speaking from personal experience.

As they relate to Bond, the story goes that they are a smart alternative to French cuffs and that Bond didn't like messing with cufflinks. According to Fleming, Bond was a minimilist and didn't like fussing with unnecessary fasteners.... hence his preference to wear slip-on Chelsea boots as apposed to lacers.

Kind regards,
Indy

 

[Jovan]

Why? What is it that you like about it? -I'm curious.

It looks really smart to me, and has that slightly formal air like double cuffs but the convenience of button cuffs. Hard to explain, I just really like the way they look.