checkerboard and striped gloves: graphic gloves for plain clothes

graphic gloves are the accessory equivalent of a good haircut: they make everything else look more considered. a checkerboard or a stripe on the back of the hand adds just enough pattern to lift a plain coat, and in black and cream it goes with almost everything you already own.

are checkerboard and checks in style?

checks are having a big year. this summer who what wear uk reported checked prints, from gingham to plaid, taking over from polka dots in paris and london, in collections from the row, faithfull and posse, and suggested the olsens might be at the helm of the revival¹. for fall, the zoe report says fashion insiders have predicted that plaids and checked grids will be the most popular prints of the season, as seen on the miu miu, toteme and loewe runways², and coveteur’s “on the grid” trend runs through chloé, burberry and acne studios³.

are striped gloves in style?

a stripe is a classic. harper’s bazaar india noted that stripes dominated much of 2024’s runways and streetwear before polka dots came back in 2025⁴, and on a glove a stripe does the same graphic job as a check. the 2025 met gala even had a striped glove of sorts: emma chamberlain wore sheer black opera gloves trimmed with the same pinstriped fabric as her backless suit dress⁵.

how do you wear checkerboard gloves?

• with solid colours: a black, charcoal or camel coat lets the checkerboard be the only pattern.
• with an oversized coat: our 003 checkerboard gloves were shot with an oversized charcoal wool coat, which shows how a small check reads against a big, plain shape.
• with denim and a white shirt, for a weekend version.
• with other checks, only if the scale is very different, a large windowpane coat with a small checkerboard glove.
• with a black bag and black boots, to pick up the black of the check.

how do you wear striped gloves?

• against black: our 007 striped gloves were photographed with a black coat, where the cream nappa and glossy black stripes stand out sharply.
• with a ring over the glove: the same shoot has a ring worn over one glove, which makes stripes look polished.
• with navy or grey, which soften the contrast.
• with knitwear in cream or ecru, for a tonal look broken only by the stripes.

how do you wear graphic gloves with colour?

black and cream is a neutral pairing, so graphic gloves are surprisingly easy with colour. against blue, red or green, a black and cream check reads as a crisp frame for the colour rather than a second statement. our checkerboard shoot paired the gloves with pale blue, a blue tulle ruffle and a windowpane check, which is about as much colour and pattern as an outfit can carry, and it works because the gloves stay black and cream.

can you mix checks, stripes and dots?

you can, if you follow two rules. first, keep the patterns in the same colour family, black and cream with black and cream. second, change the scale, so one pattern is big and the other small. a small checkerboard glove with a wide-striped scarf works; a small check with a small stripe fights. if in doubt, let the gloves be the only pattern and keep everything else plain.

who suits graphic gloves?

anyone who dresses in solid colours and clean shapes, which is most of us in winter. if your coats are plain and your knitwear is in one or two colours, a checked or striped glove is an easy way to add pattern without changing anything else. if you already wear a lot of print, choose the one that shares your colours, black and cream with black and cream, and keep the scale different.

checkerboard or stripes?

see the 003 checkerboard gloves and the 007 striped gloves. both are one size, £120 a pair, and each product page suggests the other, because they’re two takes on the same idea.

how do you look after graphic gloves?

suede and nappa need different care. brush the black suede of a checkerboard glove in one direction and keep it dry; wipe cream nappa with a soft, dry cloth, and remember that dark coats and bags can pass colour onto pale leather in the rain, so cream gloves are happiest on dry days. more on our materials & care page.