Guess what? Winter is around the corner. As a result, many people will be motivated to buy a lot of hot chocolate, watch It’s a Wonderful Life and slip on a pair of gloves . The only problem is that with the latter act, they won’t care what they look like as long as the gloves keep them warm. Of course, this is very practical in nature, but not very fashionable. Just as with any other accessory, the right pair of gloves can add to or take away from an outfit.

Gloves are a small accessory that can make you look put together or like a fool. Need an image? Think Michael Jackson. When he first flaunted an intricately designed glove on one hand, people went wild. They bought copycat gloves and walked around feeling hip and cool. However, fast forward to today and the same people wearing their Michael Jackson gloves look ridiculous, especially if they have the matching jacket. It’s a prime example of why it’s important to follow a few rules when it comes to selecting the right pair of gloves. Here are a few rules to get you started:

Rule #1 – Select a pair of gloves that are of the same material as your coat. Leather gloves go well with leather coats. Cotton gloves look smart with cotton sweaters or wraps. Get my drift?

Rule #2 – Keep it simple when it comes to gloves. Rhinestones and other baubles on gloves were fine in the 80’s, but look silly today. So don’t do it. Select gloves with patterns or other non-gem like designs if you want a little excitement.

Rule #3 – Select a pair of gloves that fit. How do you know? You know that a glove fits well if all of the fingers fully cover yours and the end of the glove falls slightly over your wrist. It should do this without a lot of tugging or pulling.

These three rules are the basic ones you should follow when it comes to gloves. So push that old Michael Jackson glove toward the back of the drawer. Wear it only when you are going to a costume party dressed up like him or at home while playing one of his old records.