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THE HISTORICAL ROECKL GLOVE ETIQUETTE GUIDE

You can deal with anything in the world if you only put on the necessary gloves. - Heinrich Heine

As early as the 14th century, the glove was an essential accessory for the woman and the gentleman, a status symbol as well as protection in everyday life. Therefore, an etiquette also developed around the glove: there were traditional rules of etiquette for wearing or not wearing gloves.

  • THE LADY...
    keeps her glove on when:
    • she greets a gentleman on the street or in the hotel lobby
    • it is so cold that it does not appear impolite even to a friend or superior
    • she wears jewellery over her glove on festive occasions
    • she goes to the table in a restaurant in a dress and hat
    • she is horse riding, skiing, playing golf or driving a car

    takes off her gloves when
    • she comes for private visits - even if she does not take off her hat
    • she eats, drinks or smokes (exception: the champagne glass and the tip of the cigarette may be held with a glove)
    • another woman takes off her glove as a greeting
  • Roeckl vinatge advertisement from around 1920
  • Roeckl vinatge advertisement from around 1920
  • THE GENTLEMAN...
    keeps the gloves on when:
    • polite removal of the glove would cause particular difficulty on the street
    • he is horse riding, skiing, playing golf or driving a car

    takes off his gloves when:
    • he goes indoors
    • the right glove is removed at every greeting, even outdoors (except for a friendly, casual handshake, sport, etc.)

THE RIGHT GLOVE - WHEN & FOR WHAT OCCASION?

In the 1930s, there was an ideal glove for every time of day and every outfit.

For example, women wore slim gloves with an elegant coat, street costume and day dress made from fine fabric or with very discreet ornamentation, casual but elegant. For an afternoon and evening dress more detailed ornaments were common.

With a city and office suit, gentleman would wear firm gloves that were not too ostentatiously decorated.  With a sports and leisure suit, sporty gloves were worn that could also be strikingly decorated with seams and slits. White glacé or fabric gloves made of fine material were worn with tailcoats.

WHAT DO YOU WEAR - WHEN - FOR WHAT - WITH WHAT?

Excerpt from the glove etiquette book of the 1930s

 

1 P.M.

4 P.M.

5 P.M.

6 P.M.

8 P.M.

From 9 P.M.

Meet for lunch: Ensemble flannel dress and checked 7/8 long paletot.

For the rendezvous in a pastry shop: quiet costume with a long, fashionable jacket, underneath a blouse in organza with a ruffled collar

For a fashion show or a tea party, an ensemble: figure-hugging dress, a straight jacket with a net collar and cuffs.

Meet in the bar, quiet sleeveless cocktail dress with cleavage and a sweeping skirt.

Narrow, long and discreet dinner dress or a theatre or concert dress, this time not black.

The big, precious evening dress

Gloves:

grey suede

Gloves:

navy suede

Gloves:

glacé, mink colour

Gloves:

sand or white, half-length

Gloves:

rosé glacé leather, long and turquoise or short

Gloves:

white with gold embroidery and possibly pearls

 

A TRADITIONALLY BEAUTIFUL GIFT

© ROECKL 2024
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