Styling fingerless leather arm warmers/long gloves?

My first post :). I am wondering how versatile you ladies think long fingerless leather gloves/arm warmers would be in daily outfits. I'm going through a big style transition from quirky/cute/artsy (a la Anthropologie) to something much more clean, stark, modern and tougher (ok, tougher than frilly skirts and ruffly sheer blouses). I am also at a weight right now which pretty certainly will change in the next 3-6 months, so I don't want to invest in too many new clothing pieces, and wondering if I can make things more pleasing in my wardrobe by a pair or two of new shoes and accessories. Cue in the leather arm warmers. I am thinking about something like these:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/vi.....es/3347551
or
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/al.....veforlater

Can you imagine these in an indoor setting (I live in the PNW), combined with 3/4 sleeve fitted top? Or do they scream costume to you? My arms and wrists are always cold, so I have been looking for arm warmers to get more use out of my 3/4 sleeve tops, but I was thinking that wool arm warmers take me further down the oh-so-fuzzy-and-soft road I want to turn back from.

I'd be really grateful for your thoughts!

13 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

Hmm... I don't think they'd look right with a 3/4 sleeve. Something about these scream that they shouldn't be covered up with a top IMO. Have you tried on a pair with a 3/4 sleeve top? I think it's the length of the gloves. Have you seen any that go about halfway up your forearm.

Janet

(website)

I love fingerless gloves and have a pair I'm really enjoying so far, but they're short driving glove style:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nspiration
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-to-my-wiw

I really like the ones you've linked to, but I am not sure how to style them. I am being fairly conservative with my pairings so far even though I have a definite rock'n'roll edge to my style.

I have a vintage pair of long fingerless opera gloves inherited from my mom and grandmother, so I might play around with them to see what works in terms of silhouette and sleeve length. I have a leather jacket with 3/4-ish length sleeves, and I think that might pair well with long gloves. I think I'd need to see combinations together before forming an opinion.

ETA: I forgot to say, welcome! Good to have you here.

Diana

I don't have leather ones but I do have some long handknit fingerless gloves. Personally, I think they look best with something with wider sleeves, like a cape or a poncho or something with batwing sleeves. I like them a lot with my floral capelet, for example, or my trapeze coat with wide 3/4 sleeves. I run warm though so for me the fingerless gloves are more of an outerwear thing.

I also like them with sleeveless tops but that definitely could look slightly costumey. I don't care though, I still think it's cool.

ETA:photos

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Mann

Active Member

Thanks, guys!
Kristin - I see your point, I think I would need to have the longer gloves over the fitted sleeves, but this might look really awkward, especially with any color contrast. the ones I linked to indeed might not be the most versatile in terms of their length.
Janet, I've seen your WIW pictures with the adorable blue gloves! Maybe I'll look into short fingerless leather gloves instead or at first.
Diana - oh, good point about pairing with wider sleeves, I did not think about it. I think this indeed might look the least costume-like.

Lyrebirdgully

Hi Mann! I love long leather gloves and woollen arm warmers, and have quite a few of each (though not fingerless leather ones like the ones you have found at Nordstrom -they are absolutely awesome!)
You are going to feel cooler than cool in your on-trend leather arm-warmers.. as for wool ones, they don't have to give a "warm and fuzzy" vibe - it all depends what else you are wearing at the time. Here are some styling ideas - (the attached pic is Chanel 2011). I wear mine either at full length, or scrunched down when worn with longer sleeve lengths:
http://wendybrandes.com/blog/2.....m-warmers/
http://stylefrizz.com/img/mais.....armers.jpg
The rest are gloves, not armwarmers - but you get the idea.
http://www.thesartorialist.com.....-in-paris/

http://kingdomofstyle.typepad......r_marc.jpg

http://www.omiru.com/wp-conten.....021406.jpg

http://bootlovers.typepad.com/.....970d-800wi

http://bootlovers.typepad.com/.....970b-500wi

http://bootlovers.typepad.com/.....970d-500wi

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FaRp.....gloves.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jhGj.....ryFW07.jpg

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Oh wow Lyrebirdgully. I LOVE the links and images. And you are absolutely right - wool arm warmers don't have to be warm and fuzzy if the rest of the outfit is not. Thanks so much - this was SUPER helpful and inspiring for me!!! Thank you for sharing!

siniestra

i love the brown one more and i think it will go fab on a sleeveless peplum

stacylomman

Member

I say YES, of course... since I did them for my Fall 2012 collection...
http://www.stacylomman.com

And I wear mine all the time

Anonymous

Those are really cool (sorry about overused word). I've been wondering about wearing a shorter version, but am afraid they may be too young a look for an over 60. the ones you posted look more sophisicated.

Thanks, Joy, Siniestra and Stacylomman - I might then go ahead and give one of these a try :).

N-Marie

I love the fingerless glove look- I've been thinking about it ever since I saw this photo on pinterest...

modgrl

I love the look, I just don't really understand it!

I love these from nordie's too:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/no.....tribute=IO

For my fantasy fashion lifestyle.

I have to work a bit to justify it in my mind ("well, it would be useful for trying to manipulate buttons on my phone...")

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