Gloves have been a fashion accessory for hundreds of years. They were possibly first worn by cavemen as a protective layer when undertaking challenging tasks. By the Roman era, gloves were made of linen and silk and were used to eat meat so that hands would remain grease-free and clean. Thereafter, when archery gained popularity, leather gloves were used as essential clothing accessories. Today, they are not all that different especially given the amount of time that has transpired since that time. Once the aristocracy and gentry began wearing them, they became a fashion statement. And as Kings, Queens, Bishops and Popes put them on, they became a statement of wealth and power.
Gloves were also a feature of the movie ‘Lincoln,’ in which Abraham Lincoln complained of having to wear them, but, to please the convention (and his wife), he conceded. While he did wear the gloves the night he died, at the end of the movie he actually made a point of not wearing them, leaving them at home since he did not like them. The Shapell Manuscript Foundation has two letters in its possession, written by Lincoln, in which he used the phrase “in our hands” a few dozen times, twice vis-à-vis the Civil War. The fact that the movie showed how initially Lincoln did not wear the gloves when he went to Ford’s theater (where he met his death), seems to indicate that both in victory and his demise, he was finally able to be true to himself.
Gloves do not just have historical significance. They still remain a notable fashion accessory today. Indeed, just last week at the New York Fashion Week, Joseph Altuzarra’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection featured oversized fur gloves amongst other items. Leather gloves also found a place in The Top Trends From New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 as being “the biggest accessory for fall.” Padded gloves also had a place in Alexander Wang’s collection, with fur mittens/boxing gloves extending above the elbow.
Whether one loves them or hates them (as clearly Abraham Lincoln did), gloves have featured largely in the world of fashion over the years.
