Wearing tight-fitting corsets, billowing skirts, and other impractical articles of clothing sent a message to her peers that she didn’t need to concern herself with hard work of any kind. Wealthy Victorian women often had a household full of servants to complete chores and other forms of labor.

Gloves became important objects that hinted at the wearer’s wealth. Because of this, clothes and accessories worn by both Victorian men and women were carefully chosen to display a “message” about social status in the public realm. Victorians were obsessed with social status. It was during the 17 th century, however, that gloves became far more than just a simple accessory in Western society. Gloves in the Victorian Era Gloves & Social Statusīy the 1800s, gloves had long been worn for practical purposes.

It was around the 14 th century that gloves became a commonplace article of clothing for both men and women of all social classes.īrowse our collection of vintage wedding gloves Gloves made of opulent and exquisite fabric eventually became an accessory worn only by royalty or other high-ranking members of society. Texts from the Middle Ages recount Popes and other clergy members wearing gloves made of white silk and adorned with delicate pearls. As time wore on, gloves became somewhat of a symbolic item. Harsh living and working conditions meant that hand coverings crafted from animal skins and fur were an essential tools of survival and self-preservation. Early people mostly wore gloves purely for protection. When archeologists explored the tomb of Tutankhamen, they even found the remnants of a pair of gloves belonging to the ancient pharaoh. Gloves are an article of clothing that has been worn since man has been recording history. Unlike other accessories, gloves have a special history that extends far beyond just a simple fashion statement. They also allow us to reflect of certain societal aspects that are no longer the norm. More than just an accessory, gloves were a symbol of social status, customs, and traditions. But throughout most of history, gloves had a significant role in society. In the modern era, it’s hard to think of gloves as anything other than a cold-weather accessory.

Dress with opera gloves