Have you ever wondered where and when gloves appeared, why they are called that way, and what kind of gloves exist in the world? In Russian, this word comes from the word “finger”, which in Old Russian means “finger”. The first mittens with compartments for the fingers called finger. The history of gloves begins in Egypt, the cradle of civilization. In ancient Rome, gloves were used not for protection from the cold, but for food, so as not to get your hands dirty, and, of course, as part of military equipment. Later in medieval Europe, gloves became an indispensable element of knightly uniforms and a sign of belonging to higher circles. Gradually, they became a kind of symbol of knightly prowess, glory and honor. Remember, when summoning a fight or duel, the opponent was thrown a glove. In the 19th century, gloves were an obligatory attribute of a ball gown, of thin white leather they complemented the black tailcoat for men, and long lace - decorated the outfit of ladies. Nowadays, gloves are also a necessary item of clothing. They save from the cold on the street, complement the women's suit, are used to protect hands during work.
Mitts
The first fingerless gloves were used exclusively for work, they were convenient, as they did not constrain movements, and the fingertips did not lose their sensitivity. What are fingerless gloves called? There are several names. For example, in France they were called mitts, they had only jumpers between the fingers, or did not have them at all and were held on the hand due to the plasticity of the material from which they were made. Such models have been known as a fashionable women's accessory since the 18th century. As a rule, they were worn with a dress, so they performed more aesthetic than utilitarian function. Indeed, women's fingerless gloves, from which thin fingers peeked out, looked very moving, sweet and exciting. And in the workers' quarters, on the streets and squares of flower girls, street vendors still used mittens for convenience in work.
Glovelettes - that's what fingerless gloves are called in America
In America, fingerless gloves are known as glovelettes. They came into fashion thanks to various informal youth associations, which in the mid-20th century were trendsetters among young people, defying the tastes and preferences of a moderate and respectable bourgeois milieu in everything. “Hobo” is what fingerless gloves are called, referring us to the style of poor neighborhoods and slums. Glovelettes differ from the mitts in shape. They have fingers, only they are cut off from the middle and open the upper part of the phalanges. This form was very convenient for motorists and motorcyclists, so glovelettes became popular primarily among bikers, cyclists and motorists. They were made of thin genuine leather and decorated with numerous rivets and straps, as well as slots for ventilation.
From informal environments, fingerless gloves hit the stage with the advent of rock. Musicians willingly used them to create defiant stage costumes. With sharp metal spikes, made of black rough leather, long to the elbows or short on the strap, glovelettes were part of the shocking images created by the musicians on stage. So, the popularity of fingerless gloves has grown. From the music scene, they migrated to the catwalks and became a fashionable addition to a tracksuit, urban winter outfit and evening gown.
Fingerless lace gloves, long to the elbow, are one of the most elegant and stylish accessories for a woman's formal gown. They are decorated with rhinestones and natural stones. Glovelettes and mitts are the name for fingerless gloves that stand out as a bright and attractive addition to a fur jacket, vest or warm thick knitted sweater. They are worn in sets with woolen scarves and round hats. The design of such gloves can be the most diverse, as evidenced by the latest news of the season.