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 First
gloves were found in Egyptian pyramids. Primarily the gloves were available in
the shape of bags, without finger holes and only in a while something like
mittens was created. Egyptian women protected their hands during work and meals.
The custom
to eat in gloves to avoid burning and staining hands, retains in the Medieval
Ages as well. The handicraft invented special thimbles from very thin and
delicate leather for the fingers only.
Ancient men
used to hold their gloves in hands than on hands not to get bothered with
taking them off. Yet, they had to take them off in quite many situations in the
day long. Spanish Lords are not allowed wearing gloves in presence of the Pope
and the King, in churches, during funerals, during mourning and other
ceremonial events.
The
producers tried to make gloves wider to take them off faster than to cite «Ave
Maria». The one who tried to take the gloves off by teeth was blamed or even
worse was the one who greeted in gloves or tried to take something in gloves. A
great number of prohibitions made men quit wearing gloves but hold them at the
waist.
The gloves
were of symbolic significance. The special significance has the right glove.
The one should have taken it while approaching to a person of high rank or the
altar. And nowadays, if a lady takes off her glove greeting a man, it shows her
special attitude to him.
During the Middle
Ages and the Renaissance gloves were greatly welcomed. A knight would improve his
wealth and status receiving a glove of the suzerain; a bishop would be taken a
title; urban representatives were also privileged. In the name of the royal (episcopal)
glove, trade, minting coins and collecting taxes were authorized. Altogether with
the seal it certified the will of the elite. The judge made decisions only in
gloves. An embroidered glove of the red broadcloth symbolized the Sacred Roman
Empire. The knights would throw gloves to feet on the ground, and that was a
challenge; is the glove was used to beat across the face, and then this shame
could be solved only by blood fight.
The shorter
is the sleeve, the longer is the glove. The appearance of the glove depended on
the appearance of the stockings in fashion. When knitted stockings became popular
in the XVI century, the knitted gloves also were in vogue. However, the leather
gloves are still deemed to be more elegant. In the XVII-XVIII centuries both men and women
wore embroidered gloves.
It became quite
troublesome to take off gloves, and during the Great French Revolution the
gloves remained without «fingers», leaving just a wrist and the part of the
glove that covered the hand. Thus, mittens were created.
In 1807
James Winter, an Englishman, invented a machine to produce leather gloves. And
rubber gloves were licensed after.
From early
XIX century the gloves were back to the fashionable costume for men; the men's
outfit became more solid and the hand was opened. And gloves for men lost their
embroideries and decorative elements. And now, they became more appreciated for
their style, cut and quality of material. People cared of their gloves; they
were stored in special caskets, onto the stretchers.
At the turn
of the XIX-XX centuries ladies' fabric gloves are practiced, the analogue to
fishnet stockings. Gloves to match evening dresses have no fingers (over the
elbow), gloves for daily use have finger, though. In the XX century the leather
and knitted gloves are accompanied by the jersey gloves.
In their everyday
practice ladies took off their gloves unwillingly since they put fingerings and
rings there over. And snow-white linen gloves for highborn ladies reached the
elbow line.
This times the
leather of various dressing was used for men's gloves, like kidskin, suede, Sweden
or Danish leather, later followed by Lisle thread and Persian thread, and for women - laced
gloves.
For the
rich and people of high class it was bad manners to appear in the public
without gloves. Of especial fame were English gloves of Derby Company made from
good quality leather, with a big and durable fastener. During balls and
functions ladies wore white silken or kidskin gloves with the length over
elbows. While in uniform men used to wear suede gloves and if off duty - gloves
from kidskin. «Sweden»
gloves were performed in a special way. The dace of such gloves presented the
reverse side of animal skin dressed, and they resembled suede.
Black gloves
were supposed to match mourning costumes, while yellow gloves would go with the
hunting costume, and the white ones were worn to the balls. Linen gloves were practiced
among waiters as well. The gloves should be taken on only at home, as well as a
hat, and it was bad manners to do it in public.
XX century arranged
this stuff. The most fashionable women gloves were considered the ones made
from goat skin, and gloves made from pig skin for men, as for the sporty
gloves, the skin of dogs was the most appropriate. Decorations for gloves were not
so popular that time, though the squeamish customers were comfortable with
gloves with embroidery, feathers and artificial diamonds.
The last
interest to gloves was expressed approximately in the middle of the century. Such
wonderful actresses of the past, as Sarah Bernard, Vivienne Leigh, Audrey
Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe used to wear breathtaking gloves and their fans
attacked haberdasheries in the willing to resemble their idols.
It could
appear to many arguers, that our modern life has lost its romantic that for
many years mantled the story around the gloves. But this is only from the first
sight. The witnesses are those who observe
and follow the latest trends in fashion that neither collection of famous
designers did not go without such an important accessory as gloves. Majority of designers place gloves in their
collections as the key element in the show since this accessory correctly and beneficially
emphasizes the unique image created by them. Therefore, those who appreciate gloves only
for the sake of warmth should consider them from a different point.
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