NRL cufflinks for a passionate supporter

The 2012 NRL season is just around the corner and if you are trying to think of a birthday gift for a footy fanatic friend, you might do well to find something that pays tribute to his or her favourite team.

Tacky posters and cheap supporter footballs might be an adequate present for a kid, but when you are giving to an adult a more sophisticated present is generally in order.

Fortunately a sports fan is one of the easiest people to buy for – all you have to do is find the right balance so that even though it features a football motif the item can still fit a corporate setting.

Perhaps the perfect option is a set of specially-designed silver NRL cufflinks with the full colour team logo stylishly worked into the design.

Your friend, partner or family member is bound to be impressed by the thoughtful gesture and you can bet the cufflinks will become a staple accessory whenever they put on their best business shirt.

For genuine rugby league fanatics these personalised gifts truly represent an opportunity to wear their heart on their sleeves.

Attracting clients with promotional merchandise

If 2012 is going to be the year your small business takes the next step and picks up the extra clients you need to turn hard work into tangible success, it be worth looking at your marketing operations as a crucial area of development.

It is understandable that in the early days of converting your clever idea into a money-generating opportunity, your main focus was to gather the stock, materials or equipment required to get things started.

But now it is time to invest some more attention and money into spreading the word about what you do.

If you work for yourself then there might not be enough hours in the week to take on a string of new contracts, so what you are looking to do is impress the right people rather than the most people.

It is amazing what impact some sleek and professional promotional merchandise can do to spark the interest of a prospective client.

Never underestimate the impression you can make by branding the corporate clothes you wear and accessories you carry to and from meetings.

With your business name and logo printed stylishly onto ties, money clips and even the pewter mug you keep on your work desk, you might just pique an important individual's interest or ensure that you stay at the top of their list if your services are required in the future.

Impress your Valentine by wearing a tailored tie to dinner

Have you planned something special to impress your partner for Valentine's Day next week?

While a reservation at one of the city's finest restaurants, harbour cruise, visit to the theatre or even a romantic home-cooked candlelight dinner organised well in advance, it can be easy to forget the smaller things that might make all the difference.

To turn the evening from pleasant to perfect, perhaps you should also consider dressing up for the occasion and wowing your loved one with your grand entrance.

Tell the special partner in your life to wear their favourite outfit then arrive to meet them looking your absolute best in a custom suit, elegant tailored tie and a set of personalised silver cufflinks that dazzle.

It is a move sure to be appreciated, especially if you are not usually known for your sartorial style.

To cap off the memorable gesture, why not wait until just after dessert to present a Valentine's gift such as a silk satin scarf with a unique print.

There is no better time of year to bring out your romantic side, so don't let the opportunity pass you by.

Tie-clad British sailor stands on keel of moving yacht

If ever more proof was required that wearing a suit and tie was the key to making an impression in almost any circumstances – no matter how unique or bizarre – British solo sailor Alex Thomson has pulled off the dangerous 'keel walk' for the second time in his best business attire.

Footage is currently circulating the web of Thomson standing proudly on the exposed keel of his yacht Hugo Boss as it sails deliberately on its side along the Solent in Britain.

A trustworthy skipper played a huge role in the stunt, while a steady jet-ski driver allowed Thomson to jump 'on board'.

Thomson performed the dangerous stunt in 2009 but critics often suggested the image had been digitally altered, leading the round-the-world adventurer to film his latest high-risk effort.

As immediately striking as the overall image itself is Thomson's apparent calm as he adjusts his necktie while standing perfectly upright – then leaps into the water.

If you are planning to release a video of yourself achieving something weird or wonderful, why not have a unique tie specifically tailored for the event in order to really stand out?

As a publicity stunt it might even be a good idea to have you name, initials or brand worked into the design for the world to see.

Easy and efficient online shopping

If you tire quickly of traipsing up and down the department store aisles trying to find clothes for work while a salesperson asks you about your day, then perhaps shopping online is the answer for you.

When you know exactly what you want – such as a red and blue checked tie or a mauve scarf – the best approach is usually to conduct a quick internet catalogue search to check out the possibilities.

This is a fast and efficient way of scrolling through the options and finding the perfect garment for you, without having to get in the car or spend time scouring the shelves for hours only to walk away disappointed and empty-handed.

You can even take the process one step further and have a set of tailored ties designed and created especially to match your requests.

Customising your own ties means you that you can incorporate any particular feature that takes your fancy or include images, logos, words or signatures that hold significance to you.

They might be personal purchases in the colours and patterns you prefer, or business gifts with corporate branding worked subtly into the overall theme.

Create a brand new set of ‘vintage’ style ties

For a while now all things 'retro' have become rather fashionable, with style-conscious individuals turning to a variety of interesting pieces to add a unique edge to their look.

With sartorial favourites from the past – such as nude stockings made famous by the Duchess of Cambridge and pointed shoes for men – coming full circle back to popularity, it has opened up a whole new world for shoppers to explore.

The trend even extends to business wear, with corporate types shaking up their wardrobes by mixing contemporary designs with existing pieces to create a more traditional feel to their suits, shirts and ties.

And while for some this fashion movement provides a chance to pick up some bargain buys at op-shops or second hand stores – with the intention of working the items into their existing ensembles – other people prefer to manufacture a retro appearance rather than buy the real thing.

Understandably, wearing somebody else's old tie might not be a very appealing proposition.

The simple solution is to think about what your ideal new piece would look like if you gave it a vintage twist by way of patterns or prints from a past era.

You can then take this vision and have a set of unique tailored ties created for you – a sure way to stand out at the office for all the right reasons.

Congratulate somebody special with a tailored tie

Has a colleague, close friend or family just achieved something amazing that you would like to commemorate with a special gift?

Perhaps they just landed their dream job, won a prestigious award in their industry or completed a master's degree and will be looking to join the full-time workforce.

Whatever the momentous occasion is, you may well want to mark it by doing something outside the box that shows them just how proud you are.

One great idea could be to neatly wrap a beautiful tailored tie and leave as a surprise on their desk or present to them at a celebration dinner.

Rather than simply buying an item off the rack in a department store or choosing the best piece from an online catalogue, you could go a step further and actually customise the design and colour of the tie to your desired specifications.

This means you can even have the recipient's initials embroidered subtly into the design or include any other features that make the tie unique.

As they might only choose to wear it sparingly on special occasions, this is potentially a gift that lasts many years and will be greatly treasured as a memento of a fine achievement.

A bolder look for the contemporary corporate

As you walk around the city streets during business hours this season you may notice more stripes and checks than ever before.

And while it may seem like this trend popped up out of nowhere, the reality is that businesspeople have been looking to diversify their corporate attire with increased colour and pattern for a while now.

Gone are the days where only a white or blue shirt was appropriate to wear to a job interview and ties were expected to be plain and simple.

The contemporary office worker is just as likely to attend a meeting or deliver a presentation in a shirt with striped shades of purple and a vibrant tie as they are to bring out a traditional suit.

Colour combinations and pattern-on-pattern layering is perfectly acceptable in almost all settings – a fact fashion-conscious individuals are usually keen to take advantage of.

So next time you go online shopping for a whole new corporate ensemble, remember to do your research and consider that stripes, checks and interesting tones can actually help you stand out from the crowd.

Back-to-school tie shopping for teachers

It is back-to-school week right across Australia and while kids lament the end of the summer holidays and parents fret about uniforms, stationery and packed lunches, it is also a big change of pace for thousands of teachers.

After a few months of spending extra quality time with family or enjoying an overseas trip, in late January and early February you have to switch back to work mode and prepare your first few weeks of lessons.

While it might take a small period of adjustment before you get right back into the swing of things, why not take the opportunity to start the new year off with an upgraded image and some quality additions to your work wardrobe?

Walk into the staffroom and receive instant approval of your business shirt and complementary unique tie – the school principal and your colleagues will be impressed, while students will know straight away that you are there to start teaching.

And since you are already in a shopping mode it might be a good idea to also add some new business socks, a belt and decent pens to the list.

Well-dressed staff might boost your business image

you a business owner or manager looking to find an edge over the competition?

Along with your repeat business, word of mouth, promotional materials and online marketing strategies, it might well be a good idea to consider alternative avenues that can also make a difference to how your brand is perceived.

One idea might be to use the appearance of your staff to make a professional impression that reflects positively on the company and its level of service.

This could be particularly beneficial for a bricks and mortar retail store or growing chain, where customers will gradually begin to identify with a specific work outfit, colour scheme or logo.

Rather than a situation where employees simply wear a dark pair of trousers or skirt with a collared shirt of their choice – often making the staff indistinguishable from the customers – why not create an ensemble that is both presentable and promotional?

A corporate gifts package including quality ties and scarves – that display the brand name or logo – will be appreciated by your workers, especially given that many people find choosing what to wear to work a difficult process every morning.