Why Did Men Stop Wearing Colorful Leather Gloves?

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While gloves worn for warmth are a common feature in menswear, especially in cold climates, you’ll probably notice that most of those gloves are pretty utilitarian with bulky, thick bodies and bland colors like black or dark gray. These gloves are a far cry from the colorful, fine gloves that were once worn in menswear, but why did men stop wearing them?

Colorful gloves were often called “day gloves” because they were worn during the day as part of regular attire, and they were distinct from formal evening gloves. You can learn more about gloves of all types in our definitive guide.

Men’s Gloves: The Definitive Guide (Evening, Driving & More)

Day gloves could be worn in cold weather, but they were also worn regularly throughout the year, regardless of temperature with unlined, more breathable options proliferating in the warmer months.

Day gloves often come in a variety of unique and interesting colors because they are meant to add visual interest to the entire ensemble. These day gloves were once so intrinsic a part of a man’s wardrobe that, in 1860, it was joked that, for a man to be fashionable, he had to wear no less than six different pairs of gloves a day.

Gentlemen in the 1930s wearing colorful gloves with their cold weather ensembles
Gentlemen in the 1930s wearing colorful gloves with their cold weather ensembles

By the Golden Age of Menswear, six different pairs of gloves in a day would have been considered excessive, but colorful day gloves remained an important menswear accessory for most of the first half of the 20th century before falling out of favor during the second half. 

Today, we will be determining why colorful day gloves lost their popularity, which took us from gloves that were fun and fab to sad and drab.

The Extinction of Class Distinction: Gloves as Class Marker

As we discussed on the Decline of Hat-wearing, Preston noted that certain types of hats were associated with certain social classes, and the same was true of gloves. Expensive gloves made from fine materials and bright colors were associated with upper classes because they could be easily damaged and were difficult to keep clean. The implication was that anyone wearing them did not have to do anything that might get their hands dirty.

The upper classes often wore expensive gloves made of high-quality materials and vibrant colors.
The upper classes often wore expensive gloves made of high-quality materials and vibrant colors.

In the 1897 play “Cyrano de Bergerac,” the main character is mocked for not wearing fine gloves that typify a nobleman, to which he replies, “I wear no gloves, so what? I had an old pair once, but when they had grown worn, I slapped some young upstart with them.”

While working men might wear heavy-duty gloves intended for labor, gentlemen of leisure remained associated with colorful day gloves into the 20th century. After World War I, however, the breakdown of traditional class structures meant that gloves weren’t as useful as class distinguishes, and day gloves were sometimes intentionally rejected as elitist.

Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, shown here wearing a pair of black leather gloves [Image Credit: Netflix]
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, shown here wearing a pair of black leather gloves [Image Credit: Netflix]

A great fictional example of this can be seen in Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, who is wealthy enough to afford colorful day gloves but prefers wearing plain black working gloves as a projection of the values of the upper classes.

Fine day gloves were once a distinguished characteristic of a gentleman, but as the definition and behavior of a gentleman changed into the 20th century, gloves were no longer mandatory.

Environmental Evolution: How the World Around Gloves Changed

The 20th century saw massive changes in how men kept warm and got around. If your main mode of transportation is riding horseback, in a carriage, or on a bus, day gloves will be an essential accessory to help keep you warm and regulate your temperature even during mild conditions. But, if you get around in a well-heated car, gloves then become dispensable.

There’s also the fact that increasingly warm environments can make modern glove-wearing uncomfortable, a problem that can be exacerbated if you happen to sweat easily or profusely.

Raphael in a laidback warm weather outfit, sans gloves
Raphael in a laidback warm weather outfit, sans gloves

We can expand these changes to the larger environmental picture by noting that, during the heyday of day gloves in the 19th and early 20th centuries, coal and dirty burning petroleum were the main energy sources. That meant smog and grime were much more common, so day gloves were also worn to protect the hands from pollutants that proliferated on many outdoor surfaces.

Because the gloves are brightly colored and the dirt can be quickly recognized, the wearer would know to remove his gloves before touching anything that would be permanently stained. And later on, the gloves could be cleaned.

As our overall environment has gotten cleaner and our methods for staying warm while on the go have become more efficient, day gloves are no longer essential for daily work and are worn less often.

From Fashion to Functionality: The Changing Role of Gloves in Menswear.

As the 20th century progressed, there was a widening gulf between functional gloves, like those intended to only keep your hands warm, and day gloves that were increasingly becoming decorative accessories. Functional gloves were dredged exclusively by how well they did their job, with little attention paid to fine detailing or elegant styling, while day gloves played an important part in outfit coordination.

In addition to functionality like warming the hands, during the Golden Age of Menswear, all clothing items were more expensive, so man built wardrobes around curated items that coordinated well and were stylish and versatile.

A catalogue of vintage leather and knit gloves [Image Credit: Vintage Dancer]
A catalog of vintage leather and knit gloves [Image Credit: Vintage Dancer]

Colorful day gloves were a favorite accessory because they could effortlessly change the look of any outfit. As fast fashion began to take over around the 1970s, clothes became cheaper and easier to acquire. Men no longer had to rely on cleverly-employed accessories like day gloves to effectively expand their wardrobes. They could just buy larger, albeit cheaper quality collections of clothes. Access to cheaper clothing changed how men interacted with their accessories because the range and diversity of clothing with which accessories had to match increased dramatically.

Gentlemen in the 1970s clad in bright clothing and accessories [Image Credit: Messy Nessy]
Gentlemen in the 1970s clad in bright clothing and accessories [Image Credit: Messy Nessy]

One approach was to buy accessories on gloves in every color imaginable to simplify matching and cultivate monochromatic looks. But, this could be expensive and could result in ownership of an inordinate number of gloves. Therefore, most men decided it would be easier to buy gloves that would go with everything and colors that were already associated with colorful work gloves – black, dark gray, and dark brown.

Changes in clothing production and an increasing emphasis on practicality turned gloves from a fashion concern to a functional concern, and the role that colorful, unique gloves had once played in menswear was supplanted by more utilitarian gloves in bland colors.

Day Gloves Become Formal and Superfluous

As the stylistic distinction between day gloves and functional gloves began to collapse during the second half of the 20th century, many men began to reject day gloves entirely as an unnecessary accessory that didn’t serve a real function, especially as a common tenant in modern menswear is disturbing away of unnecessary accessories to create a clean, minimalistic look.

Functional gloves are worn as a matter of course. If your hands are chilly, it’s worth carrying around a warm pair of gloves but day gloves were increasingly viewed as superfluous. After all, most of us just can’t hand our gloves over to our butlers when we aren’t wearing them.

Raphael wears a pair of Fort Belvedere gloves for his morning ensemble
Raphael wears a pair of Fort Belvedere gloves for his morning ensemble
Peccary Gloves Unlined in Grey with Button

Fort Belvedere

Peccary Gloves Unlined in Grey with Button

A plain white linen pocket square on a white background

Fort Belvedere

White Linen Pocket Square with Handrolled Edges made in Italy

Houndstooth Silk Bourette Bow Tie Dark Green Pearl Grey - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Houndstooth Silk Bourette Bow Tie Dark Green Pearl Grey

When day gloves were seen, they were primarily and increasingly formal and decorative settings. James Bond wears a pair in the 1985 film A View to a Kill, but only as part of a morning ensemble at the Royal Ascot Horse Races.

Because day gloves are viewed as a formal accessory that should only be worn during special occasions, their regular wear declined all the more quickly following another marked decline in popularity.

Cost and Quality Concerns: Modern Glove Production

As the former functionality of gloves changed drastically during the second half of the 20th century, production methods changed as well. Manufacturers were happy to turn up boring gloves and plain colors. They could be mass-produced cheaply, and having to design fewer variations cuts costs and reduces the need for additional overhead. This made gloves like these easy and affordable to acquire.

On the other hand, colorful gloves were caught between a rock and a hard place. To compete with mass-produced gloves and more boring colors, some glove manufacturers decided to fight fire with fire, turning out colorful gloves at extremely low prices but with similarly very low-quality standards. This contributed to the assumption that colorful gloves were cheap or tacky.

Fort Belvedere gloves are handsewn by skilled artisans
Fort Belvedere gloves are handsewn by skilled artisans
Peccary Gloves Unlined in Chamois Yellow with Button

Fort Belvedere

Peccary Gloves Unlined in Chamois Yellow with Button

Conversely, because colorful day gloves remained a favorite accessory of devotees of the classic style, a small but dedicated market sprung up to provide well-made, colorful day gloves. Because these gloves were hard to find and catered to a relatively small clientele, they were produced on a small artisanal scale with increased costs. This ironically led to the assumption that colorful gloves were overpriced and unaffordable.

Although, as Raphael notes in our post comparing $30 and $300 gloves, you certainly get what you pay for.

$30 vs. $300 Leather Gloves

Therefore, two different market approaches have given rise to different assumptions about colorful day gloves: that they’re too cheap and that they’re too expensive, and both of these assumptions contributed to their decline in menswear.

As day gloves became increasingly rare in menswear occasions, when they did appear, they would have greater individual impact on how gloves were perceived, and many of those occasions were not very flattering. Because they were once so common, day gloves are now hallmarks of a bygone age. Think of the association between gloves and the antiquated convention of dueling.

Essentially, because men in the past often wore gloves, the assumption is that modern men who wear gloves are either stuck in the past or trying to dress like it. Therefore, wearing gloves can come off as affected or costume-y.

Wearing gloves can appear overly elaborate when worn at the present time
Wearing gloves can appear overly elaborate when worn at the present time
Burgundy Red Suede Unlined Leather Mens Gloves with Button by Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Burgundy Red Suede Unlined Leather Mens Gloves with Button

Burgundy Carnation Boutonniere Life Size Lapel Flower - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Burgundy Carnation Boutonniere Life Size Lapel Flower

Burgundy Red Handcrafted Linen Pocket Square with White Handrolled X Stitch - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Burgundy Red Handcrafted Linen Pocket Square with White Handrolled X Stitch

You can also ask any child about gloves, and they’ll immediately go to talking about cartoons. In the early days of animation, cartoon characters were often drawn with gloves because it made their hands appear larger, emphasizing the actions of the characters. Gloves also allow for more rounded shapes, typical of cartoons, and they are generally easier to draw.

When gloves first appeared in cartoons, day gloves were still often worn by men, but as day glove use declined, gloves became increasingly associated with cartoons – a juvenile association that doesn’t help elevate day gloves as a refined, elegant accessory.

Gloves were also increasingly associated with fictional characters. Villains like Batman’s The Joker or Patrick Bateman in American Psycho are often depicted wearing gloves. This is because gloves are associated with those who have something to hide, like their fingerprints. 

Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho donning gloves [Image Credit: Lionsgate]
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho donning gloves [Image Credit: Lionsgate]

Moreover, caricatures of rich or snobby characters like Mr. Peanut or fops are shown on gloves to hearken back to their association with the aristocrats and the elite.

Suffice it to say, none of these associations are very flattering, so you can see how popular perceptions around gloves can partly explain why they aren’t very popular.

Gendered Gloves

Building upon the assumption that day gloves are cartoonish or snobby, we can also note that day gloves are commonly viewed as either effeminate or fussy. This is because women regularly wore day gloves into the 1980s, and many still wear them today. This contributes to the belief that day gloves are a woman’s accessory that men shouldn’t wear. This is also exacerbated by the belief that day gloves are dainty and overprotective of the hands, with the gendered stereotype that men shouldn’t care about their hands or be concerned about getting their hands dirty.

Printed gloves as worn by ladies for winter [Image Credit: The Double Take Girls]
Printed gloves as worn by ladies for winter [Image Credit: The Double Take Girls]

Obviously, this gendered stereotype is short-sighted and wrong, but this way of thinking dissuades many men from wearing day gloves for fear of being labeled “feminine” or “unmasculine.”

The Decline in Overall Glove-wearing

We’ll briefly conclude that the decline and use of day gloves also parallels a decline in the use of non-utilitarian men’s gloves. Driving gloves were once a mandatory accessory for any motorist. But, a reduced number of wooden steering wheels led to a reduction in the use of driving gloves.

Likewise, formal evening gloves have also largely disappeared. As the White Tie dress code has fallen out of favor, it’s not surprising as individual factors have led to the decline of these individual glove types.

Racing Red and Sand Driving Gloves in Lamb Nappa Leather from Fort Belvedere
Racing Red and Sand Driving Gloves in Lamb Nappa Leather from Fort Belvedere

A more general trend away from wearing gloves also occurred, and we have no intention of leaving you on a sad note as we conclude our examination of why men stopped wearing colorful day gloves. So, to brighten the mood and add some color, we’ll say that just because colorful day gloves have fallen out of favor, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have them.

Not only can modern-day gloves keep your hands warm, but they also remain the perfect accessory for adding unexpected visual interest and a dash of color to any outfit. I show you how to wear and pair gloves with overcoats and scarves in another guide.

How to Pair Overcoats with Gloves and Scarves – Gentlemen’s Winter Outfit Ideas

Though gloves that are well-made and properly sized are a great accessory year-round, day gloves are also unique and fun and can serve as a personal statement piece to define your look. Trust us, you’ll make a lasting, positive impression when people see you wearing colorful day gloves, and you’ll be one of the only gentlemen sporting this timeless look.

Kyle sports a pair of Cognac Brown Tan Men's Dress Leather Gloves with Button from Fort Belvedere for his fall ensemble
Kyle sports a pair of Cognac Brown Tan Men’s Dress Leather Gloves with Button from Fort Belvedere for his fall ensemble

Day gloves are also remarkably versatile and, while most closely associated with the classic style, they can also be seamlessly integrated into contemporary looks as well. We also think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how a pair of colorful day gloves can change the overall look of your wardrobe, helping your suits and outerwear go further and be more easily adapted to various situations.

So, while we’ve just finished explaining why men stopped wearing colorful day gloves, let’s reverse that trend together.

Do you think colorful gloves belong to a classic wardrobe, too? Let us know whether we are or we aren’t on the same camp!

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing a brown and white striped shirt with a pair of khaki pants and brown chukka boots. I’m also wearing a pair of Fort Belvedere socks and brown with blue accent stripes. Check out the Fort Belvedere shop for socks like these.

Kyle in a smart casual look
Kyle in a smart casual look
Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Light Brown and Blue Fil d'Ecosse Cotton

Fort Belvedere

Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Light Brown and Blue Fil d'Ecosse Cotton

Reader Comments

  1. You forgot the smart phones. The types of gloves like the ones sold in Fort Belvedere aren’t conducive to using touch screens.

    1. Many smartphones feature a “gloves” setting that allows users to wear gloves and operate their touchscreen phones. And if users are struggling, Fort Belvedere has several options that have been specifically designed for use with touchscreens, such as this burgundy pair :)

  2. Great article. Another one.
    I do like wearing gloves, not just because it might be cold out there, but because it is stylish…
    The only thing that prevents me from ordering some nice pairs from GG is…the effing custom duties for imports from the US to Europe ..
    Keep up the good work!

  3. The little clip of Los Angeles (as I think it is) at 3:09 was fascinating. Is that Wilshire Boulevard? I notice a Harris & Frank Store, but they were all over the city.

    Re. air pollution from coal (3:30): In the teens of the last century, my grandmother lived on the South Side of Chicago and worked at Marshall Field in the Loop. She said (according to my mother) that her fresh white cuffs would be black with soot from the air by the time that she got home every day.

    The review of fashions of the 1970s (5:00) was a fascinating little horror movie.

  4. I purchased some gloves from Fort Belvedere. They are absolutely beautiful and so comfortable. I get comments every time I wear them!

  5. Juan, don’t worry about the tariff, unless of course you are on budget. The gloves are certainly worth it, you will not regret the purchase :)

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