In addition to keeping your hands warm, gloves also help to elevate your cool-weather outfits. While there are certainly cheaper choices on the market that accomplish these tasks (with varying levels of success), it should be no surprise that we recommend gloves from Fort Belvedere! Read on to discover why we’re proud of our gloves, and why we think you’ll love them, too.
What Makes Fort Belvedere Gloves So Special?
Many have asked us, “Why are Fort Belvedere gloves so expensive?” There’s a number of different reasons, but it all starts with the leather, and we use what we believe is the best glove leather available on the market today. We started from family tanneries in Germany and Italy, which both have more than 100 years of tanning experience. Top-notch leather, best leather, top grain leather are all phrases you’ll hear from other brands but often they don’t back up what it usually means.
Fortunately, we’re different. So, what doest best glove leather mean? First of all, it has to be really flexible so you can easily move your fingers. It has to be also durable so you can enjoy your gloves for years to come. And last but not the least, it has to be really thin so it looks elegant and not bulky when you wear your gloves. And that, are the big differences between high-end gloves and lower end men’s dress gloves.
Gloves For Every Occasion
Of course, like so often in menswear, there’s not just one thing that is best for any occasion and any person. So it depends on what you want to do with your gloves. If you look at driving gloves, for example, it’s paramount that the leather is supremely thin that you can really feel the steering wheel. Also, you want the leather to be very soft so it’s not distracting from your driving experience.
On the other hand, a pair of gloves that you wear with a tweed coat or a pair of gloves that you use shoveling snow should probably be a little thicker and lined, of course, so you stay warm.
Materials Used in Fort Belvedere Gloves
Lamb Nappa Leather
The rawhides of raw lamb Nappa leather come from Ethiopia because the climate there allows for the fine leather to be very durable and very thin. And then we have it tanned at a family tannery in Italy that specializes in nothing but lamb leathers.
Touch Screen Sensitive
We had some customers who asked, “Can you make a touchscreen glove so I can touch my navigation system in my car?” And we obliged. So, if you don’t actually have a touchscreen glove that is screen sensitive, you have various options. One, you can use some fabric that is touchscreen-sensitive or specific leather and material and it looks odd; and it’s not worthy of a Fort Belvedere dress glove.
We also experimented with a different option where you could add a touchscreen solution to the finished leather in the fingertip area. The problem was it would work on some gloves but not reliably on others and we never wanted to sell them as touchscreen gloves.
So, the best solution to this problem was to actually add the touchscreen capability in form of a chemical during the tanning and dyeing process so every single piece of the leather is touchscreen sensitive. And no, it does not rely on heat transfer. You can just use the glove to make the screen work. Pretty impressive, right?
The downside of this touchscreen leather is that it’s not as soft as the original lamb Nappa leather. It’s noticeably stiffer, it has a slight shine into it, and it’s just a trade-off. Because of that, we have both versions. Some are touchscreen gloves, others are not so you can pick whatever works for you.
Personally, I have both the regular lamb Nappa and the touchscreen so I can pick and choose depending on the occasion. For our regular, non-touchscreen lamb Nappa gloves that are dressed gloves and not the driving gloves, we used the exact same leather as for our driving gloves.
Water-Resistant
We’re also treating it in a way that makes it a little more water-resistant, and also stain-resistant and therefore it should last you longer and it would work well during rainy weather or when it’s cold outside and there are dirt and moisture.
These are not rubber gloves and they’re not 100% waterproof, but they are pretty water-resistant. The great thing is this treatment does not impact the softness or the suppleness of the leather at all.
The beauty of lamb Nappa is that it’s really soft, really stretchy, and really thin so it truly feels like a second skin especially when it’s an unlined glove
Suede Leather
It is a fantastic leather that is very matte, and it really works on both casual outfits or if you want a slightly different look. For example, if you like suede shoes, you probably also like suede gloves.
The general hide or leather skin has typically a smooth side on one side and a sueded side on the other side. We could just turn the leather upside down and show the sueded side on the outside however we decided to also sand this smooth side so there’s going to be a leather with two sueded sides.
Why do we do that? Well, if you have a smooth side on the inside, you can feel the sweat and you’re much more prone to stick to the glove versus if you have a sueded inside, you don’t have that and you also have a nice sueded outside. So, it’s an extra step that we believe makes for better gloves particularly when you have an unlined pair of gloves.
While it’s very difficult to find a pair of suede gloves, especially for men these days, we offer them in a few different colors because we believe in the classic gentleman’s style.
Peccary Leather
Undoubtedly, the king of all leathers is peccary leather. It is expensive but if you want the best of the best, it’s definitely worth it. Peccary leather is derived from Pecari Tajacu animal and it’s a part of the Javelinas family and some people say it’s also among the pigs, but it’s a wild animal that is typically found in South America or specifically, Peru.
The skins we used for our Fort Belvedere leather gloves are harvested under strict CITES regulations. Because the animals are wild, every skin will have individual scuffs and marks, which are the true hallmark of the genuine product. They’re not a defect.
Genuine peccary is defined by its characteristic three-pong pores and the creases which are different from a regular, much-less expensive skin leather for example which are not nearly as soft and as flexible.
So why exactly is peccary the king of all leathers?
Well, first of all, it’s extremely supple but at the same time, it’s extremely durable. What does that mean? It will likely never rip and while the seams may break, you can resew then and the peccary leather itself should be good for 30, 40, 50, or even more decades to come. I would even go far to say that under normal use case scenarios for leather dress gloves, you cannot destroy peccary leather.
Also, the nice part about it, it will develop a patina and it absorbs certain oils, which is typical for an aniline-dyed leather with an open pore structure which is would all Fort Belvedere gloves are. So, over time as you use them, oils absorbent would get darker, a little shinier but it’s part of the beauty of a natural product.
Cheaper gloves on the other hand are top coated with color and they would not absorb anything. They will look the same but they will be stiffer and they won’t be as flexible and it’s just not joyful to wear them.
Our HydroPeccary Leather
We didn’t just want to offer regular peccary leather but we want to take a step up and create a water-resistant as well as stain-resistant peccary leather that still has an open pore structure that would give you a patina. And because of that, we developed the first what we call HydroPeccary Leather which was extremely water-resistant and the water would pour straight off.
Unfortunately, the chemicals used in that process are no longer considered to be environment friendly and because we also want to protect our planet, we decided to switch the formula to leather that is still water-resistant, not as much originally, but it is less harmful to the environment.
The result is super soft and supple peccary leather that is somewhat water-resistant which is perfectly adequate for everyday use. Of course, because there are hand stitches, they would never be waterproof 100% anyway, but we have a relatively high stitch density so for normal wear, these gloves are really nice.
While this peccary leather is tough, I don’t want you to soak them in water for hours overnight. Even though frankly, I’ve done it once. I lost them in a driveway and I found them three days later completely soaked through the Minnesota winter. I took them back inside, I air dried them and initially, they were quite stiff but once I wore them, they got softer again.
It’s important to remember that if any part of your leather glove gets really wet, ideally, you soak the entire glove even though it sounds counterproductive, and then you air dry it without artificial heat sources such as a hairdryer or a radiator because that heat is just too much versus air drying it slowly will lead to a glove that dries evenly without any water stains.
If you just have a very small wet spot and you let it dry, you will likely see water stains and that can happen at any type of leather product no matter if it’s a shoe or your glove or your leather jacket. So, make it all wet and let it dry naturally and you’ll have a beautiful product. And don’t be afraid it’s stiff at first but it will soften again.
Features of Fort Belvedere Gloves
1. Button Closure
Well, it’s traditional button closure which is a feature you typically see in gloves from the 1920s and 1930s and we brought it back because it just looks cleaner and it also keeps your wrist warmer.
Because of that, all our gloves feature those buttons except the driving gloves which have adjustable snap buttons because there, you want the exact fit for comfort when you drive.
2. Stitching Quality
First of all, it’s a very high stitch density and we have all hand sewing and we have hand sewing combined with machine sewing. So, what’s the difference between hand sewn and machine sewn? Well, hand-sewn takes a lot longer and therefore costs a lot more.
It also has a different look because the machine sewn glove is basically sewn inside out so you don’t see any cut edges versus a hand-sewn glove which is sewn in the right way and you can see cut edges. Typically, hand-sewn gloves are a bit more casual than a machine sewn glove which is more formal.
All of our Fort Belvedere dress gloves have points which are these lines at the back of your hand. Traditionally, they’re three because that looks very harmonious. And most of them are machine sewn for other gloves, at Fort Belvedere, we very intricately hand-sewn them and decorate them so they are a little wider and just look better.
3. Contrasting Details
Fort Belvedere gloves offer contrasting details. Typically, the piping, the buttons, and the quirks are held in Fort Belvedere green, sometimes we choose different contrast stitching which is those in red and black for example, or on those blue and brown gloves. In those cases, you may choose slightly different colors so it looks all harmonious but it’s definitely the looks that you get with a regular run of the mill pair of men’s gloves.
4. Linings
Another reason that Fort Belvedere gloves are special is their lining and the fact that we offer them unlined. Most people pick gloves that are lined because they only wear them when it gets really cold outside and they want to protect their hands.
For men interested in their style, they don’t just look at the practical functionality of a pair of gloves but also the way they look. And ideally, you want something that literally fits like a glove that’s very tight in your hand, it’s like a second skin and it’s not too bulky. You can only achieve that look by using a thinner lining that is still relatively warm.
Cashmere Lining
Traditionally, for menswear, you can find polyester lining which is an option for cheaper gloves and so we didn’t even consider it for Fort Belvedere ones. You can only go with silk which has the advantage of very thin and smooth but it’s also not very insulating. Wool or wool blends are typically a little rougher but are warm and it’s a natural material. Alpaca is warmer than regular wool because the fibers are hollow and it insulates better because of it but it also wasn’t that soft.
So, we went with an oatmeal-colored cashmere which is very close to the skin color of some people and it doesn’t leave any fibers when you take out your hand that is contrasting or just off-putting. Also, it is extremely soft so the glove is comfortable and it’s reasonably warm and so all of our gloves are lined in oatmeal-colored cashmere.
Unlined Gloves
Of course, that’s only true for the actual lined ones. Unlined gloves can be really nice if you live in a milder climate or for the transitioning seasons because, without the lining, there’s less bulk so the glove looks more elegant.
So, for example, a driving glove should also be unlined and you can also have unlined peccary gloves or unlined lamb Nappa gloves and unlined suede gloves.
If you choose to go with the lined glove, bear in mind that the lining, they’ll likely wear out before the leather wears out and it can always be exchanged. Especially for peccary gloves, you can probably exchange the lining 10 times or even more before the glove will have to be replaced.
5. Quirks
Another reason why Fort Belvedere gloves are special is the use of quirks which are the little areas in between the fingers. You’ll typically find those in higher-end or bespoke gloves and not in the regular run of the mill gloves.
The idea is that you have little triangles between your fingers, which means there’s more material and it increases the range of movement for your finger with less resistance, therefore improving your comfort. Moreover, it’s a great opportunity to add a little contrasting element that people won’t see; it just flashes in certain situations when you move your hands or do something with your fingers and people can tell it’s a special glove but it’s not showy at all, it’s just a little sign of true quality craftsmanship.
6. Wide Range of Colors
The biggest advantage of Fort Belvedere gloves is the range of colors that they come in. Most gloves out there today that you can buy for men are either black, brown, or cognac. That’s pretty much it. Historically, an elegant man would not have worn a pair of black dress gloves in public during the day because there are so many other great colors that work better with your outfit.
The first that comes to mind is a great color and we have a variety of colors of gray that we offer — darker grays and lighter grays. Then, we also have shades of blue such as petrol blue, for example, or a chamois yellow which is just rich nice yellow that provides a contrast to most of your outfits.
Personally, one of my favorite glove colors is burgundy because it’s very versatile, it can be paired with your shoes but it still works well with a pair of black shoes or a pair of brown shoes. We also have different shades of green, orange, black with red contrast stitching and contrast leather elements, or brown with blue.
There are also lighter tans, darker browns–there’s something for truly everybody out there and the range of glove colors is not something you will find from other glove makers, typically.
7. Better Sizing Options
On top of the higher quality leather with higher quality craftsmanship, and a larger range of colors, Fort Belvedere gloves come in many different sizes, too! We have everything from 7.5 sizes up to 10 so you get the exact fit that is right for you.
Cheaper gloves usually come in small, medium, and large so we really want the best look and fit for you so you can enjoy your gloves and look your best.
What Models Do We Offer?
Peccary Gloves
Basically, we have peccary gloves that are lined and unlined in gray, in chamois yellow, in black and red, and brown and blue.
Lamb Nappa Gloves
In lamb Nappa, we have the soft original lamb Nappa in many different colors. We have touchscreen gloves in burgundy, green, blue, and brown with contrasting elements so you have touchscreen capability if you don’t want that, and you want something really soft, you can just get the regular kinds.
Driving Gloves
For driving gloves, we have the touchscreen gloves and regular ones as well and then we have lamb suede gloves in an unlined version which is really nice in the skin and I love it for transitional periods.
Suede Gloves
You can also get a lined suede glove. Keep in mind, though, that suede by definition is more prone to pick up dirt because it has that roughed-up surface that just is really open in pores and so if you work in dirty environments especially with fluids, maybe suede is not your best trend.
Evening Gloves
If you also have evening gloves in white leather which are reserved for Black Tie and White Tie events, because classic men’s evening wear is defined by the colors black and white. White are the gloves that most men would wear and not black. As you can imagine the best option for evening gloves are thin leather, unlined gloves because they give you the most elegant look.
We decided to do those in our thinnest leather which is the lamb Nappa. We also experimented with suede leather for evening gloves because it has a nice texture and can provide a great look. However, the problem is that it can leave little fuzz on your black garments and while you can brush it out, it’s not something you want to think about when you are in an evening event or a gala.
Of course, we also offer them with button closure and while they are increasingly difficult to find these days, we offer them in a full range of sizes for elegant classic gentlemen who would like to dress up for Black Tie and White Tie events.
On the other hand, driving gloves, you can find them in places like Amazon, but I promise you the gloves that we offer are different in a sense that they really have soft supple leather that makes you feel that road through your steering wheel and on top of that, we were inspired by the ‘30s and have handwoven pattern arrows on the back. We also have hole perforations in the glove so any sweat that you might produce will dissipate more quickly.
Which Fort Belvedere Gloves Are Right For You?
Frankly, I don’t know and it depends on the situation and the occasion that you’re in. For example, if you want gloves that you can wear for everyday business wear that you can wear with suits, with casual combinations, and overcoats, I think the first thing to check out is probably the Lamb Nappa range.
When it’s colder outside, definitely get them lined because that way, they’re just much warmer. If you live in a climate with much milder winters, you can definitely go with unlined versions.
If you wear sport coat combinations or something that’s a bit more casual, I think peccary gloves can also be a great companion, either lined or unlined. Just for everyday normal wear, I think peccary is really nice because it’s a little more casual than the lamb Nappa texture and they’re super soft and just unusual.
I also like to wear suede gloves, especially unlined ones, because they’re not so shiny and they’re a little bit different, and they just make me feel special. Of course, if you want a little touchscreen functionality, always get those.
If you live in a rainy climate I suggest you get either the lamb Nappa gloves or the peccary gloves because they have that water-resistant treatment. If you live in colder climates, definitely get the lined gloves but bear in mind that these are not gloves made for Arctic exhibitions, they’re dress gloves that are supposed to be warmer so ultimately, the main goal is to have something that looks really, really good, and to keep you warm. It’s not a ski glove.
Of course, for special events such as evening events, get the unlined gloves from Fort Belvedere, and even if you wear a morning coat or something, just having a pair of gloves can really change the entire look, and it’s something that I like personally.
Still hoping for unlined hydropeccary gloves – would be perfect when it’s around 10c and raining.
Alright- my next pair of gloves will be from you. I was shocked when I initially saw the prices. As I thought about the colors and back story of how the gloves were put together I warmed to the line. Watching this video synched the deal. With Covid virtually every event where I would have the occasion to dress is on hold or cancelled for this year. I hope we will be beyond this epidemic – that will be reason enough to splurge on a new suit with matching gloves.
I read about how burgundy pairs well with black and brown leather but I wear coffee color, tan and black shoes and one of my watches has a black leather strap, what colors work with these?