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LadyHugs -> RE: Do you love long leather gloves? (12/9/2007 10:04:29 AM)
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Dear bebeuu, Ladies and Gentlemen;
I do have my great-great grandmother's kid leather gloves, which are 32 button length. Over the years though they have taken a toll on the overall condition and look like a 'child's' glove diameter but, in all fairness to that generation -- they were smaller in height and such. These were opera-length gloves.
Regency and or Napoleonic style gloves are what you see with the scrunched look in gloves and could be worn a bit more taunt. It was a way to accomidate the lady's 'sleeve' length and give a nice 'line' between the sleeve and arm.
The opera glove for today's standard is between 19 to 23 inches. It has an opening at the wrist where it is closed by snap or by pearl like buttons. The three lines stitched across the back of the hand is a 'type' of opera glove called a mousquetaire in French. It will sound "Musketeer" in English. It was redesigned for feminine use, being over the elbow to shoulder length. The length of the verticle slit at the wrist is usually 2 to 3 inches long, clasped by 3 to 4 pearl buttons or snaps. They were designed to be a bit wrinkled around the wearer's arm.
The mousquetaire glove as a style was introduced to America approximately around 1870s. Sarah Bernhart's avid use of gloves and huge glove collection/fetish --made it most popular. Lillian Russell was also a huge fan and wearer of gloves, especially her shoulder length gloves.
White or ivory kid skin is considered 'formal'--regardless of the color scheme of the gown. Black was considered daring and colored gloves didn't start showing until the area of 1920-to 1930s.
The 'button hook' was created so that ladies could button up their kid gloves when they got to be to tight. Being exposed to water--leather shrinks. It was also fashionable for kid leather gloves to be skin tight--especially around the hand, as to enhance the look of fem. grace. Button hooks were also handy for the style of shoe worn by women as well. Rather neat if you ask me.
For those who aren't familiar with the verticle opening at the wrist; it permitted a lady to keep her glove on while eating or doing something else, which might soil the glove--especially kid, its hard to clean. The fingers are neatly tucked under at the wrist and when finished, can pop her hand back into the palm and fingers part of the glove, button up and be about her business. Some tucked small hankies or little squares of scent as to give relief from men's cigar smoke or obnoxious odors.
Since gloves were expensive -- having gifts of gloves, which survives in some traditions in marriages --old customs; the Groom giving his gentlemen attendants gloves is a token of love and or friendship. The bride would furnish gloves to her attendants--again, a token of love and or friendship. These go to the times that men wore gloves at their wedding. Military weddings in class A uniform, the men wear gloves. And, this also is carried over into funerals for some. Burial gloves. Men and women buried would often be gloved; as well as the pallbearers.
Glove fans also include Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Gina Lokkobridida and was part of the 1950's fashion of Christian Dior. I am saw Shania Twain and Geena Davis wearing opera length gloves in the 1990s. And, Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, attended the 2004 Golden Globe Awards in black opera gloves.
I believe that the only gloves that will fit properly, would be custom made gloves by a 'Glover.'
Those who can afford a custom pair would be able to have custom kid (goat) gloves or 'horse' hide gloves, which are very soft and or lamb.
I avoid vinyl gloves, as it is stiff and doesn't breath. It is a tad bit more comfortable if wearing 'rubber/latex' but, if there is a rubber/latex allergy--forget it.
I am not all that thrilled by gloves offered for sale these days, which so many come from China and are not in a size for American women and their bone length and or diameter. They tend to roll which is awful--especially if you're wearing it at the mid-upper arm or at the 42 button length.
It is more common to find theater glove lengths as the makers do not have to accomidate people's upper arms.
But, to your original question -- I do enjoy wearing long kid and or lamb gloves, which are leather; when in formal attire. And, enjoy a slave/servant who knows how to properly glove a lady and carries her spare set properly on their person--in their wardrobe. And, I enjoy many of my vintage short gloves for every day applications outside of the house and or those newer gloves based on vintage styles.
Just some thoughts.
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
Lady Hugs
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