Etiquette for Donning Gloves

An 1879 patent design for a new 3-button glove — “First work on the fingers, keeping the thumb outside of the glove, and the wrist of the glove turned back. When the fingers are in smoothly, put in the thumb and work the glove on very carefully, then placing the elbow on the knee, work on the hand. When this is done, smooth down the wrist and button the second button first, then the third, and so on to the end. Then smooth down the whole glove, and fasten the first button.”

A great deal depends on the first putting on of gloves. Have the hands perfectly clean, dry and cool, and never put on new gloves while the hands are warm or damp. Where a person is troubled with moist hands, it is well to powder them before trying on the gloves; but in most cases, if the hands are dry and cool, this is not needed. 

First work on the fingers, keeping the thumb outside of the glove, and the wrist of the glove turned back. When the fingers are in smoothly, put in the thumb and work the glove on very carefully, then placing the elbow on the knee, work on the hand. When this is done, smooth down the wrist and button the second button first, then the third, and so on to the end. Then smooth down the whole glove, and fasten the first button. 

Fastening the first button last when putting on a glove for the first time, makes a good deal of difference in the fit. although it may seem but a very little thing. It does not strain the part of the glove that is the easiest to strain at first, and prevents the enlarging of the button-holes, either of which is sure to take place if you begin at the first button to fasten the glove. 

When removing gloves, never commence at the tips of the fingers to pull them off, but turn back the wrist and pull off carefully, which will of course, necessitate their being wrong side out. Then turn them right side out, turn the thumb in, smooth them out lengthwise in as near as possible the shape they would be in if on the hands, and place away with a strip of white canton flannel between if the gloves are light, but if dark colored, the flannel may be omitted. 

Never roll gloves into each other in a wad, for they will never look well after. There is always some moisture in them from the hands; consequently when rolled up this moisture has no chance of drying, and must work into the gloves, making them hard and stiff, and of very little use after, as far as looks or fit are concerned.— The Boston Budget, 1888

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia