Thursday, September 11, 2008

Product Review: J.Crew Opera Gloves

Solid Leather Opera Gloves
Click here for product page
Item 98621
Regular: $130.00

"Thanks!" to Hexicon who guest blogged about J.Crew's Opera Gloves. The following is her review:

"I've always loved gloves. I love their elegance (they cover my "man hands") and their practicality (my hands get cold!) and all the little rules of etiquette that go along with them (a lady must never touch food with a gloved hand, thus the buttoned opening). I wore opera-length gloves to both :-) of my weddings. And who can forget the subtly steamy scene in Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence" in which Newland unbuttons Ellen's glove and kisses her wrist? In the 80s, my high school best friend and I scrounged thrift stores for hats and gloves so that we could look like Catherine Deneuve in "The Hunger," but in our pearls and pillboxes I'm afraid that we probably looked more like First Ladies in training.

My friend died recently, and when I saw these gloves the reminded me so much of her that I knew I had to have them. I also hoped that they might be put to practical use, as the bracelet-length sleeves on last year's Agnes coat leave my wrists a little cold. My review is mixed--I will keep them for sentimental reasons but they're not as easy to wear as I'd hoped they'd be.

The leather is lovely--meltingly soft and tender. The lack of lining is traditional--there's another scene in Edith Wharton in which the women are powdering their arms so that they can smooth on their opera gloves. (Likewise, the wrist-length gloves I found on my trip to Florence are unlined). But, because the J.Crew gloves are both long and unlined, they not easy to slip on and off.

Ordinarily, the fit on gloves should be very snug (hence the cliche). My hands are large for the size of my frame but my forearms are slender. The size small was snug on my hands but not in the arm. Of course, if they'd been any smaller they would be even more difficult to get on.

Because these were a less than rational purchase, I didn't do any comparison shopping before I bought, but I noticed that Nordstrom has lined and unlined long leather gloves for around $150.

I had hoped that I could wear these gloves on a daily basis this winter with my Agnes coat, but they're too complicated to be an everyday item. I will save them for special occasions--such as the opera :-)
"

"Thanks!" again to Hexicon for her great review.

Have your thoughts on the glove changed since the "Love It Or Leave It: J.Crew Opera Gloves" post? Do you think you would purchase these gloves if they were to go on sale? And if you already have, please let us know what you think! :)

41 comments:

  1. Uh--leave it. TOTALLY impractical and not worth the $. I can appreciate the look like the model is wearing but it would NEVER happen for me. Plus, I need gloves for warmth and I feel they can still be fashionable...that is not these. Sorry.

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  2. hexicon--- LOVE your review...... I have never worn opera length gloves, but want to get a pair as I have a couple of capes and fur stoles that leave my arms cold..... what color did you get?

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  3. I may have ordered them if they come in an off-white/snow color, as I have a J Crew coat with 3/4 sleeve and I am constantly cold.

    They should probably have come lined with silk to ease the putting on/off. I have lots of gloves which I got from Italy (Sermoneta) and at the minimum they are lined with silk, not unlined.

    Off topic. I got 5 boxes of J Crew purchases yesterday. As others had predicted, the leopard cotton blouse's print scale is too small, it's really too busy. Any review on the leopard simone coat in terms of size/fit?

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  4. Fantastic review Hexicon, I loved it!

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  5. anon @ 11:27: Don't keep me in suspense! What did you get in those FIVE boxes? Please do tell. :)

    Waiting for one of my own today...leopard cotton blouse. Argh.

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  6. Hexicon, thanks for your review. I was seriously considering getting these gloves but have decided not to because they are so difficult to get on and off easily. I too would want them to go with my winter coat and if they can't be put on easily then they are a pass for me. I will look for some lined gloves instead.
    I'm glad you're still happy you purchased them, though! I hope you enjoy them.

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  7. D'oh! I forgot to say that I got the black. The icy mint has a great early 60s aesthetic but I wanted Audrey Hepburn black.

    And thanks for the kind words!

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  8. Hexicon,
    Great review. I totally get buying something for sentimental reasons - or keeping something. I have a pair of faux emerald earrings that a little student of mine several years ago gave to me, and I cherish them because they're from him :-)

    Just how difficult are the gloves to get on and off? I have a couple of jackets that end just below my elbows, and need gloves for them. Maybe I'll take a look at Nordstrom's lined gloves...

    Oh, and I agree: Audrey Hepburn was divine. You know who else's style I like? Carla Bruni.

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  9. I'm not a glove person, except for practicality reasons, but I thought your review was beautiful.

    You captured the imagination with your references to movies and your experiences with your friend.

    I'm so sorry you lost your dear friend, but I hope in some way the gloves will still bring back the bittersweet memories of her.

    Bravo.

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  10. Anon @ 12:10:

    5 boxes worth -

    1) Duplicate order of the orange herringbone skirt and cashmere flora dress that was inventory canceled (this set is going back, but keeping both pieces from the previous order)

    2) perfect patent leather pumps in peacock. The patent leather is softer than the Juliet, but the toe is too pointy, and the peacock blue doesn't match the jackets I had, so going back

    3) fleur peeptoe in orange. Love it, but too big, so going for a size 7 instead

    4) replacement size 10 of the giverny dress (FS). Love it. 8 was too tight. It's strange with J Crew dress, with some styles I have to do a 4, but with this one I ended up with a 10, which is a little loose, but at least I can breathe!

    5) leopard cotton blouse. Not my style. I placed an order for the simone leopard coat. I saw it at a retail but didn't try it on. I liked the larger scale print.

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  11. I should be getting my leopard simone coat tomorrow. I did ask for measurements before ordering and compared it to the measurements that I also got from JCrew of my other jackets and it appears to run true to size.

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  12. great review! my first impression of these gloves were not favorable. I like gloves, but not opera length. But, these do seem more appealing to me after reading the review. With 3/4 sleeve and short sleeved jackets and sweaters, this is looking like a good option. I'd probably look around for a cheaper pair, though, or wait to see if these go on sale or come in additional colors.

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  13. anon with the five boxes (I'm envious :-)):
    I've never come across another company, either, where I am so all over the place in sizes. It's one of the reasons I despise final sale - I can't order something I might like, because who knows how it will fit? I don't think measurements are a tell-all, because they don't dictate how something will fall or drape, for example. And I can't stand being restricted across the shoulders, either... so I feel your pain regarding the Giverny dress.

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  14. OT: Remember the recent post about the ruffle floral Astrid not as pictured? Well, JCrew just changed the online picture! Yeah!

    I still prefer it with the ruffled cuffs but it is still very cute without them. I am still hesitant to order it b/c of the color being more orange than red and also the 2 or 3 posts about the ruffles being really flat. ( Also, maybe not worth the high price tag!!!) Were people able to fluff them up?

    Julie

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  15. They fluff up- I used a hairdryer on low heat.

    I can't believe J.Crew would misadvertise like that.

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  16. It's also red, with a hint of orange. Julie, I think it's a safe bet. Give it a try, if not, just return it!

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  17. OT: Ruffle floral Astrid...the zoom picture is still incorrect...shows the ruffles on the cuffs still....it is just like the rest of the JCrew website...only partially correct:)

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  18. What a delicate and beautiful piece of writing!

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  19. Hexicon, I loved your review...while these gloves are not for me, I appreciate reading a lovely piece of writing :) - thank you!

    OT: I went ahead and bought the Velvet Ecole and Dream Tie Cardi and opened a JCrew card (yes, go ahead and pelt me with eggs!) for the 20% discount, but interestingly, the 20% discount went back to 10%. I showed the gal who helped me the sign and she asked a manager to fix the discount, but I thought I would mention it for anyone who was considering the card...

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  20. La Belle Helene -

    Actually I felt a little guilty with the paper waste. 2 of the boxes were from 2 previous waitlisted order, but I wish they would have combine shipped them.

    I asked for the measurements for the giverny, because for form fitting dresses (rosette silk, yellow daisy) I seem to need an 10. The CSR talked me into an 8, but noted on the order that I can return even though it's FS.

    Anon @2:20 PM - I hope I didn't order the wrong size for the leopard simone then. They told me a 6 will have a 39" bust, which sounded like it will fit. Guess I should have tried it on at the retail.

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  21. Hexicon-
    what a sweet story, I truly enjoyed reading it. I felt so sad at passing of your friend, but her memory is living through your words. I never wore long gloves before, but I think I will now, and everytime I put them on, I will think of your story.

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  22. OT: I'm thinking of ordering either the cashmere pullover hoodie or the cashmere zip up hoodie. Any suggestions?

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  23. Hexicon: Thanks again for a great review!

    Heather: I agree with you that they do seem more appealing to me now reading the review. :) I also like the idea of pairing them with a 3/4 sleeve jacket. :)

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  24. The Simone Snow Leopard is sized so you can wear a sweater under it....a size 10 has the actual garment chest measurement of 41 inches...I can't stand things tight so I got my usual size figuring in my bust with a padded bra and camisole and then sweater...

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  25. Hexicon, what a nice review! I love the color of these gloves, but think they don't really fit the model all that well in the picture accompanying the post. The look a little like Playtex dishwashing gloves! Do they come in sizes? My grandmother always had stacks of thin, tight leather gloves that looked so nice on....

    I just posted a review of the Annette in cotton lawn animal print if anyone is interested. I gave it a thumbs down.

    40 is the New Black

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  26. I'm not interested in opera length gloves but cannot sleep, so I decided to read the post. I loved reading Hexicon's post and almost feel like I just started to read a novel and want to know more about the characters. It stirs up thoughts of my best friend, who is not deceased, we just lost contact.

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  27. hexicon: I agree, your review is fantastic. I wore long gloves with my gowns in a couple of beauty pageants that I was in when I was younger and felt so incredibly feminine and beautiful in them. :)

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  28. The J Crew site is not working for me right now - anyone else? Shocking :( I bet they're "fixing" it some more!! grrr

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  29. I received the "be back soon" message for the website too.

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  30. Doesn't work for me either. I hope they are loading more sales or new merchandise... I guess they never think that people at the West Coast will actually try to shop at 9PM???

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  31. molly - thanks for the review on the 2 leopard blouses. I didn't like the cotton lawn version either, but I don't mind the harlow style, so if the simone coat doesn't work out I may have to try the leopard harlow.

    I think the snow-leopard and leopard and two different print designs.

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  32. molly 6:21pm
    You hit the nail on the head--PLAYTEX gloves:)

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  33. Hexicon

    As I was reading your review, it occurred to me that it was not so much about these gloves at all, but a tribute to your dear friend.

    Your musings about The Age of Innocence are right on target--I do remember how sexy that moment is with Olenska and Archer, as he touches her hand under her glove...wow! The end of that book took my breath away--he can't bear to catch a glimpse of her older self standing in her window, so he can continue to remember her as she was when he loved her.

    I think buying these opera gloves as a way to remember your friend is very, very moving, and your review really touched me. Thanks.

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  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  35. Thanks again for the kind words, especially Tigs--that is just the kind of praise an aspiring author wants to hear. I have been struggling so much with getting a professional journal article to my editor and I needed a little break from that kind of writing.

    (Actually, I did write an essay about my friend and submitted it to the NYT "Modern Love" column. Alas, it was not selected for publication. Maybe if I had a blog of my own I'd post it. Hmm, personal blog, likely source of much future procrastination . . . . )

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  36. P.S. Anon at 4:50, I have both styles of hoodies and definitely recommend the zip-front, because it's much more versatile for layering.

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  37. You should write more, hexicon. I thought your review/memoir was lovely.

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  38. I would buy these. I could wear them to holiday parties with a black cocktail dress!

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  39. For those that are trying to save a little coin, check out TJ Maxx. I've seen gloves of this kind this week for around 50-60 dollars.

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Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

And now back to J.Crew! :)