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Modern Glove Etiquette: Beyond the White Glove TestWhen primitive people introduced the concept of gloves it was solely to protect them against the weather and to avoid injury from the sharp growths in the fields and forests. Today, gloves mean so much more than simply protection against the element and are now at the forefront of fashion and etiquette. The History of Fashionable GlovesTo symbolize purity, bishops wore white gloves during Holy Sacrament and by the 12th century, they were an integral part of church tradition. Kings began to wear gloves for fighting, hawking and hunting and then the church sanctified the use of gloves during coronation ceremonies. The kings wore tasseled, bejeweled gloves to attract the ladies with their sense of luxury and fashion.Three queens brought gloves to the feminine fashion center – Catherine de Medici of France, Queen Elizabeth of England and Queen Mary of Scots. Catherine de Medici was the first queen to challenge the exclusive right kings had to wear gloves and soon gloves were a sign of luxurious royalty for queens, too. Glove Materials and LengthsIn the beginning, gloves were made of leather, silk, velvet, worsted, linen and satin with decorative cuffs, scallops, points, tassels, jewels and embroidery. Glove sizes were standardized in 1834 by Xavier Jouvin of Grenoble, France, who perfected the cutting die for gloves. The technique for measuring gloves was also started in France and until today we use designations such as 4-button and 8-button to distinguish how far the gloves extend beyond the wrist.Fashionably Wearing GlovesThere are three basics to consider when deciding the right gloves to wear to accessorize a particular outfit - the material of the gloves, the color and the length.Materials - For shaggy outfits, a smooth-surfaced leather glove is the perfect match. Clothing with a matte finish is offset nicely by a pair of shiny kidskin gloves. For city-style apparel, sueded leather and thin kidskin gloves work well. Evening wear is enhanced by doeskin gloves. Fingerless gloves are fantastic with summer fashions and sporty clothing Color - Gloves come in a rainbow of colors and you can either match or contrast the outfit you are wearing by using darker or lighter shades of the same color or colors with a similar hue. Traditional glove colors that look great with everything include black, white and beige with all the shades of cream, sand and brown. In the summer, pastel gloves are a perfect accent to a light-colored outfit. For a dramatic accent, choose gloves in eye-catching colors such as avocado, lemon yellow, bright red, purple or turquoise. Length - There are a myriad of glove lengths ranging from finger gloves and gloves that end at the wrist to gloves that go past the elbows to the shoulders, going from a 2-button length to a 20-button length. Bare shouldered fashions look incredible with 20-button plus gloves extended to the shoulder while sleeveless outfits pair well with short gloves or operate length gloves, which are 16-button over the elbow. For cap sleeves, a crush glove works well in a 10-button or 12-button crush length. Elbow sleeves coupled with elbow gloves that meet the sleeve make a dramatic fashion statement. For sleeves that fall below the elbow to the write, an 8-button or shorter glove is ideal. The Personality of GlovesDifferent types of gloves inspire their own personality. Enchanted evenings are characterized by long opera gloves while garden parties bring to mind shorter, white gloves. In the cold weather, fur-lined leather gloves offer a fashionable feeling of comfort and warmth. During travel, washable doeskin and simple black kid gloves look great with any outfit. Certain sports are characterized by their own types of gloves. For example, riding gloves are make of plain chamois or brown leather while golf gloves are a half-glove with exposed fingertips made from fine capeskin. Hunting gloves are constructed of heavy leather for durability. Every little girl should have her first pair of white gloves to celebrate special occasions and her interest in gloves is certain to extend into the teen years and beyond. Giving her gloves as gifts every year will encourage her to appreciate the elegance of this accessory.Etiquette and GlovesWe have all heard of the famous white glove test for cleanliness and in historical times, gloves made their own unique statement. A lady in waiting had to remove her gloves in the presence of the Queen and those lower in position would need to remove their gloves for her. Slapping with a glove was an insult, paying homage was done on a bent knee with the offer of a glove and tossing at glove at the foot of the enemy was a challenge. Today there is still glove etiquette to keep in mind.Gloves should never be worn when drinking, smoking, playing cards or putting on makeup. Gloves should be worn rather than carried and you should never wear rings over gloves. Short gloves should not be worn to a "white tie" event, court presentation or gala ball. Gloves mark respect when worn in a place of worship. Perfect places to wear gloves include shopping, driving, visiting, garden parties, formal indoor occasions, a receiving line and dancing at formal parties. At informal affairs, gloves should be removed upon arrival and left with the coats. Formal events require gloves that are at least 16-button, as to court presentations. For a wedding, the traditional glove color is white and gloves should remain on during the receiving line. Unless it is an informal summer wedding, long gloves are a signature accessory for brides. Collecting GlovesAs occasions and holidays pass, your glove collection will become more exciting and eclectic. Collect gloves for formal wear, sports and the weather so you always look fashionably finished when you get dressed. | |||||||||||||||
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