Arm warmers (or arm socks) are knitted 'sleeves' worn on the arms. Usually worn by dancers to warm up their bodies before class, they also are somewhat of a fashion item, appearing in the fall. Arm warmers can also describe any glove like articles of clothing that lack finger coverings and/or were originally designed to keep wrists and lower arms warm. Today, many competition and sport bicyclists as well as distance runners/marathoners wear arm-warmers. Cyclists have adopted them for use in cold weather. Various sub-cultures, such as the punk, emo, grunge and goth scenes have also adopted arm warmers as a practical garment and as a fashion statement since the early late 1980s and early 1990s, when wearing over the wrist length sleeves with rips or holes for thumbs was common in places like NYC, London and Seattle. Arm warmers are unisex and designed for all ages.