There are times when I must admit to being a disappointment to my gender; for example, my DNA is definitely lacking when it comes to the shopping gene — and don't even talk to me about showers (of the bridal or progeny variety).
But as a dyed-in-the-wool car nut, there's one thing that gets my motor racing and that's driving gear.
That's right — those of you who remain on the fence when it comes to all things motorized might just be interested to learn that driving comes with its own set of stylin' accessories.
Forget those preconceived notions you might have of backless string gloves and Snoopy-meets-Red-Baron helmets complete with goofy goggles and ear flaps, unless of course you own a vintage roadster and period costume is what turns your crank.
Whether you're a serious racer chick, or a Sunday driver whose wind-blown tresses are the bane of topless cruising, there's a whole world of stylish gear and accessories to suit your driving needs. We've highlighted just a few choice selections to let you know what you might have been missing.
Driving Shoes
Sure there are all kinds of driving flats and moccasins from Rockport to Minnetonka that will suffice for casual cruising and still look upscale and chic with a skirt, jeans or capris. But any serious driving enthusiast can tell you that there's nothing like a really good pair of genuine driving shoes, with soft, supple soles that allow easy execution of fancy footwork while heel and toe-ing through the chicanes.
Whether you're a weekend track-day enthusiast, or a die-hard F1 fan, you'll look right at home in the paddock in these trim Puma Ferrari Drift Cats. They come in a variety of colours and are emblazoned with the legendary prancing horse, pride of Maranello.
Piloti is a well known purveyor of professional racing shoes. We like these black and rose suede Prototipo touring shoes for their comfort and casual chic. They'd look just as fine with a pair of jeans as they would with a race suit.
Hand-crafted in Palermo by Francesco Liberto, Ciccio shoes are the crème de la crème of driving footwear. Some of the greatest drivers in motorsports history have appeared on the podium in Ciccio shoes: Vic Elford, Mario Andretti, Jo Siffert, Jackie Ickx and Rene Arnoux just to name a few. Each pair is a museum-quality work of art embellished with elaborate, hand-painted automotive art.
Driving Gloves
The darkly provocative movie "Drive" starring Canadian hottie Ryan Gosling has made driving gloves cool again. Gosling wears Gaspar 2204 gloves in the sleeper hit, which has attracted more attention for the company than any of the other 70-odd films in which their gloves have appeared. They're the handiwork of Dorothy Gaspar, who has a complete line of ladies driving gloves too, from traditional pigskin to fingerless gold-lamé and genuine python skin.
Simpson is a well-known manufacturer of professional racing gloves for serious competitors. OK, so maybe they don't make much of a fashion statement, but they feature silicon palms to help keep your grip secure on the wheel, and are made of fire-retardant Nomex.
But as a dyed-in-the-wool car nut, there's one thing that gets my motor racing and that's driving gear.
That's right — those of you who remain on the fence when it comes to all things motorized might just be interested to learn that driving comes with its own set of stylin' accessories.
Forget those preconceived notions you might have of backless string gloves and Snoopy-meets-Red-Baron helmets complete with goofy goggles and ear flaps, unless of course you own a vintage roadster and period costume is what turns your crank.
Whether you're a serious racer chick, or a Sunday driver whose wind-blown tresses are the bane of topless cruising, there's a whole world of stylish gear and accessories to suit your driving needs. We've highlighted just a few choice selections to let you know what you might have been missing.
Driving Shoes
Sure there are all kinds of driving flats and moccasins from Rockport to Minnetonka that will suffice for casual cruising and still look upscale and chic with a skirt, jeans or capris. But any serious driving enthusiast can tell you that there's nothing like a really good pair of genuine driving shoes, with soft, supple soles that allow easy execution of fancy footwork while heel and toe-ing through the chicanes.
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| Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com |
Whether you're a weekend track-day enthusiast, or a die-hard F1 fan, you'll look right at home in the paddock in these trim Puma Ferrari Drift Cats. They come in a variety of colours and are emblazoned with the legendary prancing horse, pride of Maranello.
Piloti is a well known purveyor of professional racing shoes. We like these black and rose suede Prototipo touring shoes for their comfort and casual chic. They'd look just as fine with a pair of jeans as they would with a race suit.
Hand-crafted in Palermo by Francesco Liberto, Ciccio shoes are the crème de la crème of driving footwear. Some of the greatest drivers in motorsports history have appeared on the podium in Ciccio shoes: Vic Elford, Mario Andretti, Jo Siffert, Jackie Ickx and Rene Arnoux just to name a few. Each pair is a museum-quality work of art embellished with elaborate, hand-painted automotive art.
Driving Gloves
The darkly provocative movie "Drive" starring Canadian hottie Ryan Gosling has made driving gloves cool again. Gosling wears Gaspar 2204 gloves in the sleeper hit, which has attracted more attention for the company than any of the other 70-odd films in which their gloves have appeared. They're the handiwork of Dorothy Gaspar, who has a complete line of ladies driving gloves too, from traditional pigskin to fingerless gold-lamé and genuine python skin.
Simpson is a well-known manufacturer of professional racing gloves for serious competitors. OK, so maybe they don't make much of a fashion statement, but they feature silicon palms to help keep your grip secure on the wheel, and are made of fire-retardant Nomex.