Long on style

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Think Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," the vision of elegant chic in opera gloves and a long sleeveless dress.Or think of Gwen Stefani gyrating on stage in arm-pit-length black leather gloves, radiating pure rock-girl sexuality.Now long gloves are back with a decidedly modern twist -- crawling up women's arms to meet cropped coats and jackets and chunky sweaters.Part of it is pure practicality. You can't walk out of the house in a cropped-sleeve coat and short gloves without getting frost bite on your forearms.But the new gloves are more than mere arm coverings, available in shimmery metallics, ruched velvets and even funky fingerless permutations. They range in price from about $20 for a simple knit pair at a discounter to $160 and up for the more intricate patent-leather gloves and cashmere-lined ones at boutiques. (The high-end gloves are not good for those of you who are always losing one mitten)."It's mod goes 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.' It is a little more of a modern look," said E.B. Pepper, owner of e.b. Pepper boutique in Shadyside, Pa.The boutique is selling a pair of checkerboard, patent-leather-and-leather gloves for $168 and others with bronze and silver sheen metallics with cashmere lining for $180."It's a fun way to add a touch of elegance," said Karen Peter, vice president and general manager of Saks Fifth Avenue, which has a wide selection of long gloves, including caramel-colored animal print and ruched burgundy velvet."It's a slightly exaggerated silhouette of a more refined era, when a woman wouldn't think of leaving the house without a hat and a pair of gloves."T.J. Maxx, the off-priced discounter, offers long gloves from $19.99 to $80 for Italian leather ones. The big colors are burgundy and kelly and hunter greens and navy, said Laura McDowell, spokeswoman for the company. "People love them. It is very fresh and modern. It is a sophisticated updated look."Many of the long leather gloves are for outerwear, but the fingerless ones are to be worn inside, paired with a chunky sweater for a funky look. Saks sells a pair of striped fingerless Portolano gloves for $65."They meet in the middle," Peter said. "You scrunch the gloves up a little and push the sweater up a little. They are selling well."Peter is an aficionado of long gloves and buys them both new and at vintage shops. The right pair of gloves can dress up a work outfit and take you to a cocktail party, she said. One of her favorite pairs is pale blue vintage ones worn by her grandmother.Like a big-brimmed hat, a long sleek pair of gloves requires confidence to pull off."Stylish women wear the long gloves," Pepper said. "It is not the age. It is the style."(Cristina Rouvalis can be reached at crouvalis(at)post-gazette.com)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)