how should leather gloves fit, and what does one size mean?

a glove that fits well disappears: you stop noticing it, your fingers move freely, and it keeps the cold out because there’s no air gap to warm. a glove that doesn’t fit is the one you take off, lose or leave in a drawer. here’s how leather gloves should feel, what changes as you wear them, and what one size means.

how should leather gloves fit?

closely. a well-fitting leather glove follows the shape of your hand without pinching: snug across the palm and knuckles, fingers that reach right to the ends without straining, and enough room to make a loose fist. the leather between your fingers shouldn’t pull, and the wrist should sit neatly without gaping.

• make a fist: you should be able to close your hand without the leather straining across the knuckles.
• spread your fingers: the glove should move with them rather than pulling at the base of each finger.
• check the fingertips: they should reach the ends of the glove, without empty leather past them or pressure at the tips.
• check the wrist: it should sit flat, without gaping or digging in.

should leather gloves be tight?

snug, not tight. a new pair of leather gloves can feel close at first, because leather and suede soften and give a little as you wear them, settling to the shape of your hands. what you don’t want is pressure: if the glove pinches across the knuckles, presses on the fingertips or makes your hand feel numb, it’s too small.

do leather gloves stretch?

they soften and mould rather than stretch dramatically. fine leather such as sheepskin nappa relaxes with wear, mostly across the palm and knuckles, so a pair that is slightly close at first usually feels more comfortable after a few wears. they also need help after a soaking: hestra’s advice is to dry wet dress gloves flat at room temperature and then put them on a few times to restore their natural fit¹. never stretch gloves over anything hot to speed things up.

some gloves are cut with quirks, small triangular or diamond-shaped pieces at the base of the fingers that give more room to move, though cornelia james notes that with modern fabrics and supple leather the quirk is not much used².

what does one size mean for gloves?

it means each style is made in a single size, rather than in a run of numbered sizes, so there’s nothing to choose at checkout. every wutong style is one size. one size works for gloves partly because supple leather softens and settles to the hand, but it’s still worth trying a new pair on as soon as it arrives, using the checks above.

how do you measure your glove size?

for gloves sold in numbered sizes, the traditional method is to measure around the widest part of your hand, over the knuckles and excluding the thumb, and use that measurement in inches as your size, rounding down if you fall between two³. it’s useful to know your measurement if you buy gloves from brands that size them, and a good reference point when you try on any pair.

how can you tell gloves are too small or too big?

• too small: the leather strains across the knuckles when you make a fist, your fingertips press against the ends, or the wrist digs in.
• too small: the base of each finger pulls when you spread your hand.
• too big: there’s empty leather beyond your fingertips, or the glove twists on your hand.
• too big: the palm bags when you hold something, and the wrist gapes.
• about right: snug everywhere, comfortable when you move, a little close at first.

how should long gloves fit?

the hand should fit exactly as a short glove does, close and comfortable. the arm can be fitted, as with stretch satin, or looser and worn gathered at the wrist and forearm. a long glove that’s too tight at the top will roll down; one that’s too loose will slide, unless it’s meant to be scrunched.

what if your gloves don’t fit?

try them on as soon as they arrive, indoors, with clean, dry hands and before taking them outside. if they’re not right, wutong accepts returns within 14 days of delivery for unused pairs in their original condition, with return postage paid by you unless the pair is faulty or we sent the wrong one. see delivery & returns for how it works, and if you’re unsure before you order, email contactwutongstudio@gmail.com.

how do you keep gloves fitting well?

• dry wet gloves flat at room temperature, away from radiators, and put them on a few times once dry¹.
• store them flat rather than balled up, so the fingers keep their shape.
• put them on finger by finger rather than pulling at the cuff.
• take them off by easing each fingertip, not by yanking from the wrist.