Women’s Leather Gloves: Lengths, Leathers and How to Size Them

The best leather gloves for women are made in soft nappa lambskin, lined in wool for warmth and sized by measuring around the palm. Short gloves suit everyday coats; long gloves suit capes and three-quarter sleeves. Max Mara makes nappa, suede and cashmere gloves in short, mid, long and extra-long lengths, and Luxury Handbags stocks them from $380.

Key facts

• Best leather: nappa lambskin is soft, supple and close-fitting; suede is softer still but less weather-proof.
• Lining: wool linings are warmest; unlined gloves fit closest and suit long evening styles.
• Sizing: measure around your dominant hand at the knuckles, excluding the thumb. The measurement in inches is your glove size.
• Lengths: short (to the wrist), mid (over the wrist), long (up the forearm) and extra long (towards the elbow).
• Max Mara gloves: nappa lambskin styles lined in wool, suede gloves in lambskin, knitted cashmere gloves and Teddy fabric mittens on a silk base.
• The house: Max Mara was founded in 1951 by Achille Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
• Shipping: Luxury Handbags ships Max Mara to the US by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority.

Which glove length should you choose?

Glove length should follow your sleeve. The rule is simple: the shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove, so that no skin shows between the two in cold weather.

If you only buy one pair, choose short gloves in black, brown and tobacco nappa. They work under every coat sleeve and slip into a pocket. A long pair is the second pair to buy, especially if you own a cape coat; see our guide to cape coats for women.

Nappa versus suede versus cashmere: which is best?

The material decides how warm the glove is, how it fits and how it ages. Here is how the main options compare.

Nappa leather is a soft, smooth, full-grain leather, usually lambskin for gloves. It is thin and supple, so it follows the shape of the hand and lets your fingers move. It has a slight sheen, resists light rain well and gets softer with wear. It is the classic choice for leather gloves women wear every day. Max Mara’s nappa gloves are made in lambskin.

Suede is leather brushed on the flesh side to give a velvety nap. It feels wonderful and looks rich, especially in brown, grey and colour. It is less forgiving in rain and marks more easily, so it is best kept for dry days and for dressier long gloves. Max Mara’s Azzurro and Estremo long gloves are lambskin with a suede finish.

Cashmere gloves are knitted, so they stretch to fit and feel light and warm. They will not stand up to wet weather and they pill at the fingertips over time, but they are lovely for cold dry days and under a coat sleeve. Max Mara makes the Jock and Palmi long cashmere gloves in pure cashmere.

Teddy fabric mittens are the warmest of all. Max Mara makes them in the same alpaca, wool and camel hair pile fabrics as its Teddy coats, set on a silk base and lined in pure wool.

How to measure your glove size

Glove sizes are based on the circumference of your palm, measured in inches. It takes thirty seconds with a soft tape measure.

1. Use your dominant hand, which is usually slightly larger.
2. Wrap the tape around your palm at its widest point, just below the knuckles. Leave the thumb out.
3. Keep your hand flat and the fingers together, and keep the tape snug but not tight.
4. Read the measurement in inches. That number is your glove size: 7 inches is a size 7.
5. Round up to the nearest half size if you fall between two sizes.

A good leather glove should feel snug when new. Nappa stretches a little with wear, so a slightly tight glove becomes a perfect one, while a loose glove only gets looser. Check that the fingertips reach the ends without bunching, and that you can make a fist comfortably. Lined gloves need a touch more room than unlined ones. Always check the size options shown on each product page, because brands label sizes differently.

How to style leather gloves

Gloves are the easiest way to finish a winter outfit. A few combinations that always work:

• Camel coat and tobacco gloves: warm brown leather against camel wool is the classic pairing. See how to style a camel coat.
• Black coat and black gloves: the most formal, polished option for the office and evening.
• Cape and long gloves: a cape leaves the forearm exposed, so long nappa and suede gloves complete it.
• Puffer and short gloves: close-fitting nappa makes a puffer look smarter. See our guide to women’s puffer jackets.
• Colour: a bordeaux, orange and pink pair adds one note of colour to a neutral outfit.

How to care for leather gloves

Good leather gloves last many winters with very little effort.

• Take them off by the fingertips. Pull gently at each finger in turn, not at the cuff, to keep the shape.
• Dry them slowly. If they get wet, lay them flat at room temperature away from radiators. Heat makes leather stiff and brittle.
• Condition nappa. Once a season, rub in a small amount of leather conditioner and buff it off.
• Brush suede. Use a soft suede brush to lift the nap and remove dust. Treat with a protective spray before first wear.
• Wash cashmere by hand. Cool water, a wool detergent, then dry flat. Follow the care label first.
• Store flat. Keep gloves in pairs, flat in a drawer, away from direct sunlight.

Max Mara gloves picks

All of these are on Luxury Shoes . Prices are in US dollars.

1. Spalato Nappa Leather Gloves in Black

Short, close-fitting nappa lambskin gloves lined in wool, with a small metal M Monogram on the cuff. The classic everyday pair. Also in tobacco. From $470.

2. Short Nappa Leather Gloves in Tobacco

Weekend Max Mara’s wool-lined nappa gloves, cut short at the wrist and supple enough to keep on while you use your phone. Also in black and dark brown. From $390.

3. Mid-Length Nappa Leather Gloves in Dark Brown

A mid length that covers the wrist, in wool-lined nappa lambskin. A good choice under puffers and wide coat sleeves. From $420.

4. Afidee Long Lambskin Nappa Gloves in Black

Long nappa gloves that reach high up the forearm for a smooth line under short and bracelet sleeves. From $620.

5. Afidee Long Nappa Leather Gloves in Bordeaux

The same long shape in a deep bordeaux, the one colourful pair worth owning. Also in dark brown. From $620.

6. Azzurro Extra Long Suede Gloves in Brown

Extra-long gloves in soft lambskin suede, for capes, short sleeves and evening. Also in orange and pink. From $900.

7. Estremo Long Suede Gloves in Terra Cotta

Ultra-long, unlined suede-finish lambskin gloves from the runway accessories line. They fit close and reach well up the arm. From $1,110.

8. Jock Long Cashmere Gloves in Beige

Long knitted gloves in pure cashmere with ribbed cuffs that tuck neatly under coat sleeves. Comes in many colours. From $430.

9. Palmi Long Cashmere Gloves in Camel

Ribbed pure cashmere gloves from a capsule made with stylist Robert Rabensteiner. They sit smoothly along the forearm. From $380.

10. Teddy Fabric Mittens in Camel

Camel Teddy fabric on a silk base, lined in pure wool, with a removable lanyard. The warmest pair in the edit. From $450.

Where can I buy Max Mara gloves in the US?

Luxury Handbags stocks Max Mara gloves and accessories, and ships to the US by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority. Import duties are usually payable on delivery. Shop the full Max Mara collection, all women’s gloves and the wider accessories edit.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best leather gloves for women?

Short nappa lambskin gloves lined in wool are the best all-round choice. They are warm, close-fitting and supple enough to move your fingers easily. Max Mara’s Spalato and Weekend Max Mara short nappa gloves are good examples, in black, brown and tobacco.

Are Max Mara gloves real leather?

Yes. Max Mara’s leather gloves on Luxury Handbags are made in lambskin, in smooth nappa and in suede-finished nappa. The short and mid-length styles are lined in pure wool; the long Afidee and Azzurro gloves have a soft-textured lining, and the Estremo gloves are unlined.

How should leather gloves fit?

Snug, with the fingertips reaching the ends of the glove without spare leather. You should be able to make a fist without strain. Nappa softens and stretches slightly with wear, so a glove that feels a little tight at first will usually mould to your hand.

What size glove is a woman’s medium?

A women’s medium is usually a size 7 to 7.5, which matches a palm circumference of about 7 to 7.5 inches measured around the knuckles without the thumb. Check the size options listed on each Max Mara product page, as labelling can vary.

Are suede gloves warmer than leather gloves?

Not by themselves. Warmth comes mainly from the lining. A wool-lined nappa glove is warmer than an unlined suede one. Suede is softer to the touch but less resistant to rain, so keep it for dry days.

Which Max Mara gloves go with a camel coat?

Tobacco and dark brown nappa gloves are the classic match for a camel coat, because the warm brown tones sit naturally with camel. For a cape and a coat with three-quarter sleeves, choose a long pair such as the Afidee in dark brown.

Find every pair in our Max Mara hub, and read our Max Mara coats guide and women’s wool coats edit to complete the look.