Baby, you can drive my car
Let’s start with a fairy tale. Once upon a time, there was a woman who had a magical wooden box, carefully stored in her wardrobe. If you had the chance to open it, you could smell a delicate perfume of musk and discover numerous treasures made of leather and silk — her collection of gloves. She had one pair for each hour of the day — long ones, short ones, pale pink to deep black, embroidered or not. They were so tight that she had to put some talc on her fingers before slipping them in.
But once she was gloved, every gesture she made was like a caress. No one could resist the fascinating power of her hands.
Too good to be true? This was the elegant woman’s daily routine before the 1930s, when gloves were a staple of the feminine wardrobe.
“Back in the days, women possessed 15 pairs of gloves and they took care of them in order to wear them as long as possible,” explains Olivier Causse of French glovemaker Maison Causse. Indeed, they were kept safe from the sun in a dedicated box; the leather was regularly nourished and, obviously, they weren’t meant to be crushed in a woman’s handbag.
“Today, gloves are considered to be more of a fashion accessory, worn for a season or two,” says Causse. “Still, we love to manufacture them the way my ancestors did for more than 120 years: made to last.”
Gloves have always been a must-have for drivers, whether holding the reins of a horse-drawn carriage or sitting behind the wheel of a modern automobile. Open on the top and made of hole-punched leather, driving gloves are designed to keep the hands dry and fresh. “People who love cars and have the chance to drive a nice one know the unique sensation of driving gloves,” says Causse. “They offer comfort and protection, and give a better grip. To grasp the wheel with gloved hands is definitely part of a luxurious driving experience.”
Even if you don’t drive an expensive racing car every day, be sure they’ll make you feel — and look — like the reincarnation of Gatsby. And after your ride, don’t forget to stash them in the glove compartment, or they may be stolen by unscrupulous passengers …
On the length of gloves, connoisseurs advise you in unison: the shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove. Indeed, gloves are basically made to extend the sleeve length. The most famous long ones are the opera gloves. Covering the elbow and usually made of silk or satin, they’re perfect for accessorizing sleeveless or shortsleeved evening gowns — and they’re sexy as hell when worn with a strapless dress. Have fun and play it like Rita Hayworth in
while you glamorously peel one off …
If you want to go further, there are even longer gloves. “The longest ones come up to the armpit and are called the 18 buttons,” explains Causse. “It refers to the number of buttons sewn along the glove, which was used as a unit of measure — 18 was the maximum possible length.” You may want to note, however, that these gloves are heavily embedded in the world and probably not suitable for the first encounter with your future mother-in-law.
You’ve probably noticed that you need to remove your rings when you wear gloves. But there’s a solution for those who really want to show off their gems: fingerless gloves. Despite their casual modern look, they actually have ancient origins. Close your eyes and imagine that you’re back in ancient Greece as a young athlete takes a break between fights. He wraps his hands with leather strips, thus wearing the oldest form of fingerless gloves. Since those times, they have been worn for ages, from the Renaissance to the 19th century.
“Fingerless gloves are among our bestsellers,” says Causse. “They’re everyday go-to gloves that women love to wear when they want to add a hint of sophistication to their look. They come in different lengths, fabrics and styles, from rock ‘n’ roll leather to the most refined lace.” The funny thing is that the fad for smartphones probably contributes to this success — because fingerless gloves are really helpful when it comes to sending text messages.