gloves

It was "proper" for a woman to wear a hat and gloves for every occasion then. Even a trip to the grocery. Department stores and ladies wear establishments had display cases full of nothing but gloves.

Cotton, crochet, organdy, velvet, kid leather... the ever popular white plus assorted hues. Day wear required short or three-quarter length. Evening depended on the formality of the occasion. The most formal were opera and full length usually satin with pearl buttons. The outside temperature was never the deciding factor... the outfit dictated the glove.

There was a special drawer in my dresser dedicated to gloves.

Gloves could add punctuation to the occasion. Picture Grace Kelly in Rear Window coming into Jimmy Stewart's apartment and removing her gloves...

Today gloves are worn for function. Then, absolute fashion.