Altering leather gloves?

[Bananafish]

I have an absolutely beautiful pair of very fine vintage 1960s Italian calfskin driving gloves that are a size 9 -- (9cm/3.5" across palm of hand taken under 4 fingers) -- and I really need an 8.5 as they're about 1/2" too long in all respects. The finger tips need to be shortened by a few cm as they extend just beyond my fingertips making them feel a tad awkward for their purpose... Driving gloves are supposed to be a very precise fitted wear (fit like a glove) so I'd really like to have them altered if at all possible. They are two-tone dark burgundy and white soft nappa leather. The craftsmanship on these gloves is impeccable and that brings me to my biggest concern, which is that I'd be really worried about ruining the beautiful craftsmanship of these gloves. I've also really no frame of reference whatsoever for the kind of costs involved in something like this, nor whether it could be done by my regular tailor. Can anyone help to answer any of these questions and concerns I have? The gloves only cost me about $100 but they are really zero cool, and I'd love to be able to wear them properly! I'll probably wear them anyway, even if they look a bit silly, but if there was a way to get them properly adjusted and fitted to my hand without costing me too much or compromising the quality of the gloves, I'd be very happy!

Thanks

 

[Harold falcon]

I had a pair of leather gloves shortened on two fingers on each hand by my alterations tailor. She did a fantastic job. Cost was about $25-$30 as I recall.

 

[Bananafish]

Wow, thanks for that... I'd be thrilled if my tailor could do the same. Here's a quick shot of the fingertips though... the two tone leather is what worries me. The stitching is perfect and I'd be really worried about messing them up. But I'll bring them in regardless and see what can be done. It sounds like yours were a painless effort. I'm just gonna let m y guy know that it's really gotta be an immaculate job right down to the matching threads, or else I wouldn't want to do it:

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by Bananafish

Wow, thanks for that... I'd be thrilled if my tailor could do the same.

Here's a quick shot of the fingertips though... the two tone leather is what worries me. The stitching is perfect and I'd be really worried about messing them up. But I'll bring them in regardless and see what can be done. It sounds like yours were a painless effort. I'm just gonna let m y guy know that it's really gotta be an immaculate job right down to the matching threads, or else I wouldn't want to do it:

That two-tone is really nice, so I understand you being cautious about it. Best to make it clear to your tailor right at the beginning that the aesthetic look is very important to you, and that if he or she can't handle it you'll take it somewhere else with no hard feelings.

You might consider taking a cheap pair of gloves to your tailor as a test run, just to see how he handles that.