It’s official. We’ve woken up in a fever dream of Noughties trends. An occurrence predicted by nobody, the renaissance of divisive 2010s style is well and truly underway. Memories of flocking to Claire’s for fishnet tights and cheap piercings, the sound of UGG boots clomping against the high streets and too much eyeliner have all started to resonate with shoppers once again. It’s almost as if no time has passed at all.
One defining sartorial factor of the Noughties movement was fingerless gloves. Coveted by punk princesses and country bumpkins alike, the abbreviated glove designs were worn not so much as a practical winter accessory, but as a fashion statement replete with attitude.
Y2K poster girls Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan, Avril Lavigne and Rihanna regularly hit the stage in the cropped hand warmers. Ricocheting across the stage under blinding lights is no chilly affair, yet that didn’t stop global pop stars from donning the grunge silhouettes to portray their personality in front of a crowd.
In the context of general pop culture, fingerless gloves carry much gravitas. The accessories became synonymous with the style of legendary figures from Karl Lagerfeld to Stevie Nicks in leather form. Madonna favoured (and still favours) sultry lace renditions, which exude banshee-like gothic romance. Knitted renditions remained reserved for heartbroken chart-toppers who embraced rockstar girlfriendcore, a presently popular TikTok fad.
The reason behind this overwhelming affinity for the fingerless glove? Speaking to M magazine in 2012, Lagerfeld noted: “It also makes the arm longer. And you know what it means in French to have a long arm? It means you are influential.” ‘Nuff said.
This legacy has been ushered into the 2020s with a helping hand from emerging artists and influencers. BRIT Rising Star Holly Humberstone is a keen wearer of fingerless gloves, incorporating the knits into her 90s-inspired garage band wardrobe. As are Bella Hadid, Iris Law, Olivia Rodrigo and Mia Regan - all embracing deconstructed designs from which their fingers coolly emerge.
Performance-based purposes aside, fingerless gloves are ideal for transitional weather. Woollen renditions offer a warming hug for the hand, while allowing use of the fingers for easy mobile phone use. No faff required.
Cosy knitted options add a pop of texture, colour and print to any everyday outfit and come in a myriad of tempting tones. From Burberry’s pear yellow and purple fingerless mittens to Pringle of Scotland’s candy pink designs and more, there’s a kitsch choice for all consumers searching for the perfect pair of fingerless gloves.
Whether steampunk panache à la Camden-based goth or colourblock kitsch per Emily In Paris floats your boat, there’s a pair of fingerless gloves for all. Discover the best fingerless gloves to wear this season and browse the edit below.
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Toast Ribbed Wool Fingerless Mittens
Available in the most charming apple green hue, Toast’s woollen finger gloves are ideal for adding a much-need tint of colour to any all-black outfit.
Buy now £45.00, Toast
Burberry Argyle Wool Mittens
Since creative director Daniel Lee’s debut for Burberry last year, we haven't been able to budge the gorgeous checks from our minds. These mittens pull back to reveal a fingerless design in radiant shades of pear and royal blue.
Buy now £320.00, Burberry
Paula Canovas del Vas Fingerless Striped Wool Gloves
Add flecks of raspberry and burgundy to your winter wardrobe with a pair of ribbed knit gloves to keep your hands toasty warm.
Buy now £74.00, Farfetch
Simone Rocha Crystal-embellished Cotton Gloves
Make way for a new category of fingerless gloves - embellished. Simone Rocha’s crystal-clad mittens are perfect for expanding your brand vocabulary and wowing fashion followers in the street.
Buy now £177.00, Farfetch
Parlor Glitter Fingerless Gloves
Fall prey to the clutch of 2010s fashion with a pair of glitter fingerless gloves in a midnight hue. Layer under a long-sleeved tee and pair with baggy jeans for the maximum Y2K effect.
Buy now £152.00, Farfetch
Pringle Of Scotland Fingerless Gloves
Take a leaf out of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie-themed book. Pringle of Scotland is renowned for its classic knit designs, and these gloves certainly don't compromise on quality or covetability.
Buy now £79.00, Farfetch
Coach Arm Warmers With Intarsia Star Graphic
Forget being starry-eyed, now you can be starry-armed. Coach’s quirky arm warmers stretch from the elbow to the hands, coolly slicing off at the fingers.
Buy now £95.00, Coach
Gucci Cashmere Fingerless Gloves
Indulge in a drastic dose of luxury. Gucci’s cashmere gloves are the best of the best, featuring a sweet pink colourway, the brand’s iconic GG logo insignia and a pink ribbed trim with contrasting stripes to top it all off.
Buy now £365.00, MyTheresa
Sinead O’Dwyer Khaki Fingerless Gloves
Olive green is a timeless tone to swathe your mitts in. Support emerging brands and treat yourself or a loved one to a pair of knit stretch cotton and nylon-blend fingerless gloves in a military colourway.
Buy now £64.00, SSENSE
Alanui Under The North Sky Fingerless Gloves
Inject some dopamine into your accessories arsenal with Alanui’s radiant gloves. Tones of cream, raspberry, blossom pink, lime and lemon harmonise to form a glorious pair of gloves to spark envy.
Buy now £108.00, Net-A-Porter
Jigsaw Wool Cashmere Mittens
Want to keep things simple? Opt for a classic black pair of fingerless gloves courtesy of Jigsaw and the brand’s quality guarantee.
Buy now £55.00, Jigsaw
(DI)VISION Grey Striped Arm Warmers
A style that wouldn’t look amiss on Avril Lavigne, Olivia Rodrigo or Holly Humberstone, black and grey stripes are all the rage. The ultimate symbol of grunge girl sentiment, the style of these monochrome gloves come celebrity-approved.
Buy now £24.00, SSENSE
