The gloved one: The forgotten accessory makes a comeback

When you think of gloves do you think of:

        A) What your mother wore to do the dishes.

        B) Michael Jackson.

        C) How to keep your hands from freezing.

        D)  Making a fashion statement.

Well unless you picked D, listen up:  Gloves are not just for handwarming anymore!   While the days of the prim and proper "little white glove" may have gone the way of tea parties,  by no means have we said goodbye to the sophisciated look this accessory can provide. 

In fact, that’s a lesson First Lady Michelle Obama seemed to learn well, when, earlier this week her bright red leather gloves - worn to greet the President of China -  outshone even her Steve McQueen red gown worn to the State Dinner later that night.

And yes, its likely  Mrs. Obama did have keeping her hands warm in mind, especially with the chilly DC temperatures. But skipping the traditional dark leather glove and going for that pop of red color – set against an otherwise monochromatic navy outfit - she  turned her gloves from utilitarian hand warmers into an iconic style statement !

But Mrs. Obama certainly isn’t alone in bringing attention to the glove!  This year designers like Vera Wang and Carolina Herrera gave a nod to this accessory by introducing the long, ‘opera glove’  into their collection.

In the past  these long, elbow-and-above length gloves were relegated to stuffy embassy parties and Cinderella ball gowns.  But in today's updated version  these - and other designers - showed them in suede and leather with edgy rock-star style embossing and cut outs - and  they paired them with everything from little print dresses to faux fur vests. Some long gloves – like those by  Fatima Lopes – were fingerless and studded,  and as edgy as any rocker could want!   

That said, not every glove is right for every occasion -  or even right for every woman.  Moreover, there are a few tricks necessary to take your  look from  utilitarian hand warmer to fashion statement .  Here’s what to keep in mind.

1. Go Color! Choosing a glove in a bright color is a great way to add a pop of unexpected style to your outfit.  At the same time remember you’re going for “pop” not “explosion” –  so keep other accessory colors to a minimum or match them to your gloves.  For example, red gloves and red shoes are good combo and you might even want to add a red bag.  But red gloves, a purple handbag and green shoes …not so great. 
2. The Glove Must Fit -  As elementary as this sounds, you’d be surprised how many women destroy an otherwise fabulous look when the tips of their too-large gloves sort of flip and flop every time they move their hand.  An equally problematic look: When the glove is just too small, and doesn’t hit high enough on the wrist.  Either way, gloves, like shoes, not only come in sizes, every designer has a slightly different hand model by which their gloves are made. So try on at least several labels before you make the choice. 
3. The Glove Calendar –  Because gloves come in so many fabrics, they can be worn year-round, no matter the weather.  That said, you don’t want to don a pair of cashmere and leather gloves in July – or a pair of lace gloves in December.  The best advice: Use the fabric of your outfit as a guide. If you’re dressing winter, gloves in winter fabrics are okay; if you’re all in white linen, skip the leather and suede and opt for a pair of white fingerless lace gloves instead.
4. Rings and Things -  As chic as a glove can look,  your style status goes quickly down the drain when your gloved hand is laden in knobs and bumps on every finger. We're talking about your rings – and as gorgeous as they may look on your naked fingers, under your gloves they just look like something your dermatologist probably needs to remove.   How to do it:  If you’re going to keep your gloves on for a considerable amount of time, choose flat, band style rings with a very low profile; if you plan to remove your gloves and keep them off at least half the time,  then carry your rings in your handbag and pop them on after you take your gloves off.  If plan to keep your gloves on all night, you can wear a ring over the top – but only do it with one ring. And remember you’ll have to buy it at least two sizes larger or you’ll risk cutting off the circulation in your finger!

For a fabulous selection of online gloves available right now try: OnlyGloves.com - for the Red Leather Michelle Glove; Zappos for a pair of Shelli Segal elbow length fingerless gloves (very handy for texting!) ;and try Glovesonline.com for a pair of sexy, silk lined leather opera length gloves.; LeatherGlovesOnline.com for a completely dazzling array of leather gloves in colors you can only dream about!