Boys' Gloves: Formalwear


Figure 1.--This Antwerp boy was photographed in 1914, just before World War I in which his country was invaded in his First Communion sailor suit. He wears kneepants with long stockings. Note the white gloves which as he is indoors, he has taken off.

Gloves were once commonly worn for formal occassions like weddings or other events in which boys dressed up like First Communion. There wee substantial differences from country to country. We note that many French boys wore white gloves for First Communion, but few German boys. Today gloves are mostly worn for cold weather as the convention of gloves for formal wear has generally died out. Formal gloves were often white, although dark gloves were also worn. The white gloves were fabric. The dark gloves were also sometimes fabric, but might also be made of leather. There was a proscribed etiqute concerning the wearing of gloves. These differed somewhat for boys and girls. A French reader tells us, "In the 20th century white gloves for children were considered a symbol of innocence and purity. Boys might wear white gloves during a procession (wedding, communion, ect.). They were to be worn outside, a polite boy was expected to take his gloves off when entering a home, in which case he would hold them in his hand. They could be worn for prayer at in church." HBC has noted Irish dancers wearing white gloves in parades as late as the early 1980s. They were once common at wedings and are still occassionally seen. Adult men might wear colored, especially grey cloth gloves. The children in the wedding party, espcially the ring bearer would wear white gloves. At modern weddings, however, the ring bearer rarely wears white gloves.

Events

Gloves were once commonly worn for formal occassions like weddings or other events in which boys dressed up like First Communion. There wee substantial differences from country to country.

Church


Dances


First Communion

We note that many French boys wore white gloves for First Communion, but few German boys.

Processions


Weddings


Chronology

Today gloves are mostly worn for cold weather as the convention of gloves for formal wear has generally died out.

Fabric and Material

Formal gloves were often white, although dark gloves were also worn. The white gloves were fabric. The dark gloves were also sometimes fabric, but might also be made of leather.

Etiquette

There was a proscribed etiqute concerning the wearing of gloves. These differed somewhat for boys and girls. Boys were to take their gloves off when entering someonmes home, rather like a hat. Girls could, however, leave their gloves on.

Country Trends

There are notable differences among the prevalence of gloves from country to country. The basic standards are quite similar, but refinements varied from country to country.

America

HBC has noted Irish dancers wearing white gloves in parades as late as the early 1980s. They were once common at wedings and are still occassionally seen. Adult men might wear colored, especially grey cloth gloves. The children in the wedding party, espcially the ring bearer would wear white gloves. At modern weddings, however, the ring bearer rarely wears white gloves. We notice an unidentified boy wearing formal white gloves for an airplane flight in 1955.

Belgium

Belgium boys in the earlu 20th century cimmonly wore white gloves to their First Communion. Trends were very similar to French trends.

England


France

A French reader tells us, "In the 20th century white gloves for children were considered a symbol of innocence and purity. Boys might wear white gloves during a procession (wedding, communion, ect.). They were to be worn outside, a polite boy was expected to take his gloves off when entering a home, in which case he would hold them in his hand. They could be worn for prayer at in church."

Germany


Italy









HBC






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Created: June 6, 2002
Last updated: 9:16 PM 2/13/2012