Wearing Gloves While Drinking Tea

Note: Etiquipedia does not condone the following advice regarding the vulgar and pretentious behavior described while taking tea, and this is the first time in decades of research when she has seen the subject so flippantly been advised upon! – “In taking tea a lady may retain her gloves or not, exactly as she chooses. Many buttoned gloves are a nuisance to take off and put on again, and many ladies shirk the trouble. On the other band, fastidious people dislike greasing or soiling a glove which they must continue to wear in that unsightly condition till the end of the entertainment and prefer to remove the glove before eating rich cake or bread and butter.” Oh puhleez!

Points That Make an Afternoon “At Home” Agreeable Guests and Hostess

Introductions at “At homes” must vary according to the tact and judgment of the hostess. They are never general, but if she sees two strangers standing next each other, with no acquaintance near to speak to, she should, as a general rule, make them known to each other in an informal way. She must exercise judgment, however, for the neighbors of a moment may be permanent foes. 

Nothing may be further from the desire of either than a mutual acquaintance. In such a case the hostess, in making them known to each other, has conferred anything but a favor upon either friend. People who are acquaint1ed with each other naturally converse on these occasions, and gentlemen offer to escort ladies to the tearoom without waiting for any prompting from their hostess.

Ladies move about from place to place and from one room to another, speaking to their friends. There is no formality about the entertainment, and a hostess is grateful to those of her guests who help the afternoon to go off well and amuse everybody. 

The hostess’ own hands and those of her daughters are generally so full, if it is at all a large gathering, with trying to entertain people and distribute notice impartially among all that she is delighted if her guests will relieve her of some part of her burden and not stand or sit like marble statues or like bored specimens of humanity, which is even more annoying.

In taking tea a lady may retain her gloves or not, exactly as she chooses. Many buttoned gloves are a nuisance to take off and put on again, and many ladies shirk the trouble. On the other band, fastidious people dislike greasing or soiling a glove which they must continue to wear in that unsightly condition till the end of the entertainment and prefer to remove the glove before eating rich cake or bread and butter.

People stand or sit about the room, their cups or ice plates in their hands. It is better not to remain too close to the table or buffet, as by so doing other guests are prevented from approaching, and the space becomes inconveniently crowded. As soon as the guests have finished their refreshments they should return from the tearoom to the drawing room and give place to others who may wish to follow. – The Expositor, 1896

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

Etiquette for Gloves at Tea

If one lady goes to call upon another a short afternoon visit, not one where she is staying at tea, she would not think it necessary to take off her gloves just for the purpose of shaking hands. The impulse of a younger woman coming up to a tea-table where her older hostess is pouring out teas, is to unglove before touching her hand.

Q.  Is it proper for a lady to remove her gloves before shaking hands with any one? Also what about the gentleman in this case? This is a little bet I read your paper and will see your answer when you find it convenient to reply. – “H.G.”

A.  Just regard it from the simple, common sense point of view and you can easily see that it is a question of circumstances. If one lady meets another lady walking, it would be entirely unnecessary for them both to unglove before shaking hands. If one lady goes to call upon another a short afternoon visit, not one where she is staying at tea, she would not think it necessary to take off her gloves just for the purpose of shaking hands. The impulse of a younger woman coming up to a tea-table where her older hostess is pouring out teas, is to unglove before touching her hand. 

The idea behind this is not to take with your gloved hand, the hand of your elder that is bare and busy among eatables. But no particular rule would be broken if you came in just to say a few words, meaning to depart without eating or drinking, and did not take off your glove. Women would not take off a glove to shake hands with men. Men always should, if possible, when shaking hands with women. I don't mean, again, that gloved hand may not meet gloved hand in the street, but that a man takes his glove off to touch a woman's bare hand on entering her house. 

Questions about gloves are asked often in these days, because many women are new to the wearing of evening gloves. When gloves are worn with evening dress they are not taken off at all except when eating. Then they are to be taken off entirely. They always look awkward when tucked in at the wrist. – San Bernardino Sun, 1931

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