The glove is a many splendored thing. All you need is glove. People are always singing the praises of the glove and I’m joining the chorus.

Gloves really are marvellous; an accessory that is actually as useful as it is attractive. And I’m not talking about the rubber kind either; a pair of bright woolly gloves can add a touch of colour to a dull winter outfit and they have the benefit of keeping your fingers toasty warm.

Everywhere I look at the moment I see people wearing gloves and I think it’s wonderful. Whether you prefer yours fingerless, full-fingered, leather, wool, mitten-style, long or short, you have to agree they’re incredibly handy.

I keep two pairs in my bag and I wear them almost every day.

Gloves have been around forever.

The first gloves were crude mittens worn by cavemen and even Homer wrote about gloves in the Odyssey, when Laertes is described as wearing gloves to avoid the brambles as he walks through his garden.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, no self-respecting woman would leave the house without a pair of gloves – which at the time were made of silk and leather, perfumed and intricately embroidered.

In the 19th century, long opera gloves became incredibly popular.

And have you noticed there is a glove for everything?

Washing and cleaning gloves, gloves for bike riding and motorcycling, gloves for sports like baseball, football, weight lifting and boxing, gloves for gardening, oven mitts for cooking, and snow gloves. You always need gloves!

So, this winter, I say embrace the glove. Get out there and buy a few pairs and take pleasure in the fact that you look fabulous and feel warm.

 

Random glove facts

  • In the 19th century, it was fashionable for women to wear opera gloves that were one size too small. This is forced their hand to rest in a half cupped position, which was perfect for greeting people. Women would spend hours trying to coax their hands down into tight gloves and would often required assistance to do so.
  • Some people have a phobia of gloves.
  • Napoleon was a great glove lover and was said to have over 240 pairs in his wardrobe. King Charles IV was also fond of gloves and was said to wear over 200 pairs in a single year.
  • As a token of love a knight would ask for his lady’s glove to wear in his helmet during tournaments or in battle.
  • The oldest gloves in existence are a pair of linen gloves found in the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamen who died in 1350 BC.
  • A maiden in Sicily wishing to be married customarily would wear red gloves.
  • During the French Revolution, anyone wearing gloves was suspected of being an aristocrat.
  • 80s English rock band The Smiths wrote the song ‘Hand in Glove’ for 60s British pop singer Sandi Shaw which saw her come back to the UK charts for the first time in two decades.