The earliest records show that France’s love affair with glove-making began many hundreds of years ago. Back in 1070, in the rocky scrublands of limestone plateaus, and aridly etched valleys in Southern Massif Central — where the noble Roquefort began using lambskin to create a soft and delicate pair of gloves.
The town of Millau, located on the river Tarn, a community that is even older than the Roman civilization, became the very first centre of glove-making in France. Millau became famous for its glove-making industry during the Middle Ages, and soared to its heights of popularity during the 20th century. The city manufactured and sold nearly five million pairs of gloves each year.
The French ceremonies and noble hierarchy also began embracing the trend of gloves. The first appearances marked on Frenchmen’s outfits were as gauntlets for knights. Later, ceremonial gloves for cardinals and bishops, and then, exquisitely crafted pairs for kings and members of the court.
Women fascinated by gloves…
However, it wasn’t until the 16th century, with the arrival of Catherine de Medici, that gloves became a prominent symbol of feminine fashion. Until her arrival, women flaunted a style that was modestly restraining. While men wore extravagant fashions, jewels, laces, frills, and ruffles.
Catherine is credited for starting the trend of perfumed gloves that brimmed with an evocative fragrance that charmed and enticed the suitor with its overwhelming power.
How to wear them
French women adore highlighting the delicate grace of their hands with elegant and elaborately designed gloves. Like French femme, you can also play up your most attractive feature, and draw attention to your finely sculpted fingers, with a wide range of glove fabrics and styles.
In the 1900s, gloves became an indispensable wardrobe staple for all style-savvy French women from all social classes. Soon, traders and merchants began providing the market with a wide variety of fabrics to create gloves. Such as baby goatskin, lambskin, doeskin, Mexican boar skin, chamois, sheep, suede, reindeer, calf, snakeskin, and sheep.
French women add a minimalist touch of gloves to any and every outfit in the winter, fall, and beginning of spring. Be it a pencil dress for work, an elegant maxi dress for a fancy luncheon, or a glamorous haute couture number paired against satin gloves for a star-studded fundraiser.
In the Winter
Match your gloves to your coat, your purse, or your shoes. They can also be worn under the coat as an accent to your overall outfit.
In the Fall
Match your gloves to either your purse or your outfit.
In the Spring
Match your gloves to your outfit.
In the Summer
You can wear them in the summer if you’re meeting royalty or European nobles. Match your gloves to your hat. My college professor was from a French noble family, and she wore gloves in the summer.
Where to find the finest gloves
The town of Millau soon lost its significance in glove-making. Lavabre Cadet, a glovemaker who founded his business back in 1946, still remains as the best and only artisan glovemaker in Millau. Lavabre Cadet creates gloves with the same traditional practices that have been rampant in Millau since the Middle Ages. By measuring in quarter sizes to create a most sensational pair that literally “comme une pair de gants”, French for “fits like a glove.”
Today, gloves may have lost their significance as an everyday staple. But they still retain a lot of beauty and glamour in haute couture as a symbol of grace and elegance. They allow women to channel an aura of sophistication that commands attention. A British brand worn by royalty “Cornelia James”, French brands such as Maison Fabre, Agnelle, Causse-Gantier, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Lavabre Cadet, continue to entice us with artsy and delicate varieties of exquisite gloves.
Gloves are an integral part of the Parisian style. As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen this trend evolve over the years yet maintain its charm whenever worn. Those looking to boost their confidence and self-esteem in the most unique way using accessories, can embrace gloves, in all their glory. In addition, take my style expert guidelines and see how you can incorporate this trend in more ways than one. After all, luxury living is related to going outside your comfort zone. Likewise, experimenting with trends that not only work for you, but are also renowned for obvious reasons.
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So, has this article given a whole new perspective about the eminent importance of gloves? Be sure to share your thoughts with me in the comments below.