Opera Gloves - 16 to 21 buttons they reach all the way past the elbow to the middle or top of one's biceps, and even can go higher. length to the elbow 'Evening Gloves' - 12-14 buttons,reaches just below one's elbow.

Gloves could (and can always) be order made with more accurate sizes, by 1/4. Same for the size of the gloves, when 6 - 6 1/2 was the norm - and vintage gloves are found in these sizes- now 7-7 1/2 is quite common. Button measures are customarily taken from the bottom of the thumb seam or gusset to the top of the glove (today, it could be confusing, some shops sell gloves by length measured from the tip of fingers to the top of the glove!).The traditional lengths till 50s-60s (when most ladies were more 'petite') are nowadays often extended. The traditional way to measure a glove, as you explain, is the'buttons”, the antique French unit of glove measure which is slightly longer than one inch. You can find slight differences within the advices and recommandations you may find on the net, mainly for when to remove gloves, but the right rules actually taught in traditional finishing schools are the following :ġ) What is an evening glove/opera glove? You have explained it in a few essential words.Ĭommonly called long gloves, they are different, and one must be aware of this, when it goes to etiquette matters. I skip cabaret or fashion fancies, out of topic. These rules still prevail for most formal society balls in USA, some ceremonies in Finnish Colleges or Unversities and indeed for most debutantes worldwide. I know these rules because my parents sent me to a finishing school to learn the ways of a refined lady., and since I am used to formal etiquette and to attend debutante balls, I am well aware of what a lady has to adhere to. On the other side formal etiquette is far more regulated and asks for skills and knowledge of not always written etiquette dos and don'ts, there is no maybe or hedging for wearing formal gloves. Dear Janine Rudkins, greetings for you wonderful blog!Īs you offer us to share our own glove tips and etiquette comments, I shall go !įirst, there is a difference between wearing day time gloves and formal/evening gloves.ĭay time etiquette is rather plain for ladies: it is permissible - and most common - for a lady to shake hands with her gloves on she always removes her gloves indoor, and for eating (restaurant, or as a guest).

Nylon opera gloves