The "Boring" Winter Accessory That Can Make Any Outfit Look Luxe

Anyone who lives in a cold climate has likely rolled out of bed on a frigid winter day and felt an overwhelming sense of either excitement or dread. Those first few weeks of cold weather can qualify as exciting because you finally get to wear that chunky sweater without sweating, and you can pull your beloved lug-sole boots out of storage. On the other hand, there comes the point mid-winter when even the most fashionable people can fall into a winter-dressing slump—the oversized puffer coats, excessive layering, and lack of sunlight past 5 p.m. begin to get to you. In those moments, you need to have an arsenal of accessories to bring back some of the excitement around winter dressing. What's better for that purpose than a pair of leather gloves? 

Hear me out on this: While most think of this as a staple that's just for maintaining warmth, it's actually the easy way to elevate any winter outfit. And to prove that point, I've done extensive image research to show how leather gloves are not only trending, but through styling, they've surpassed being a "boring" staple and moved into being a statement accessory. Keep reading to see how to style leather gloves to add a luxurious twist to all your winter outfits.

Leather gloves on the runways:

First things first, we have to acknowledge the fact that leather gloves were all over the F/W 23 and S/S 24 runways. From couture collections (see: Alaïa and Lanvin) to ready-to-wear collections (e.g., Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Erdem, Tod's, and Jil Sander), there was no shortage of leather gloves on the runway this season. And while it may seem a little obvious that gloves would come back in style for winter, the focus wasn't necessarily on utility but on fashion. Full gowns were styled with longline leather gowns, and leather separates were paired with contrasting gloves, proving that this small accessory can make a big statement.

But it isn't just the runways where we've seen leather gloves styled in new and exciting ways. We have seen the fashion set embrace this accessory too. Across the board, the embrace of this staple is all about giving it a signature twist. Think adding colorful contrasting gloves to create visual interest or making outfits that aren't winter friendly warmer. It's less about wearing this staple straightforwardly and rather about getting creative with it. 

So to get you pumped up about this accessory, we've rounded up a few outfit ideas that show how to style it in a new way and broken down the formulas to re-create the looks yourself. Plus, we've shopped out some of the best leather gloves on the market. This single accessory will do the trick if you're trying to beat back winter blues or add something extra to your winter looks. 

Leather gloves on the fashion set:

What you'll need: colorful sweater + belt + wrap skirt + ankle boots + leather gloves

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What you'll need: faux fur + jeans + tights + tote bag + leather gloves

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What you'll need: sweater + bright blazer + jeans + boots + leather gloves 

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What you'll need: maxi sweaterdress + chunky chain necklace + leather gloves + shoulder bag

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What you'll need: V-neck sweater + full skirt + pumps + structured bag + leather gloves 

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What you'll need: sweaterdress + leather trench coat + belt bag + knee-high boots + leather gloves 

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What you'll need: Maxi camel coat + white turtleneck + pointed knee-high boots + handbag + leather gloves 

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What you'll need: bright wool coat + polo knit dress + platform boots + shoulder bag + leather gloves 

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What you'll need: long scarf + oversize sweater + pleated skirt + socks + pointed heels + leather gloves

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What you'll need: Tweed jacket + tank top + stirrup leggings + pumps + leather gloves

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What you'll need: Monochrome black coat + turtleneck + trousers + black ankle boots + clutch bag + red leather gloves

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What you'll need: Sunglasses + clip-on earrings + tweed coat + leather gloves + quilted handbag + snow boots

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What you'll need: Sculptural earrings + blazer dress + over-the-knee boots + woven bag + leather gloves

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What you'll need: Long leather coat + pinstripe blazer + oversize button-down + tie + mini skirt + tights + wedges + leather gloves

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What you'll need: leather blazer + printed turtleneck + denim shorts + knee-high suede boots + leather gloves 

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What you'll need: Wool coat + t-shirt + cardigan + leather gloves + trousers + loafers + tote bag

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What you'll need: Oversize sunglasses + clip-on earrings + white wrap coat + leather gloves + clutch bag + knee-high boots

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What you'll need: Black coat + scarf + beige sweater dress + beige bag + leather gloves + riding boots

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What you'll need: Gray coat + black turtleneck dress + leather gloves + silver bangles + over-the-knee boots

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What you'll need: furry hat + sunglasses + long black coat + contrasting leather gloves + shoulder bag

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What you'll need: Oversize sunglasses + clip-on earrings + olive coat + matching scarf + leather gloves + tan handbag

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What you'll need: Stretchy headband + sunglasses + earrings + shearling coat + turtleneck + jeans + leather gloves + handbag

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What you'll need: Oversize leather blazer + scoop neck tank + belt + pencil skirt + tights + slingbacks + leather gloves 

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This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.