Costume is in the details. Adding a little touch like gloves can turn a drab costume into a statement costume. From the iconic gloved hands of the Supremes urging us to “stop in the name of love” to Eliza Doolittle’s transformation in “My Fair Lady” gloves have been an important part of fashion.

Color Coordinated Gloves to “Dye for”

Beyond the white glove, colored gloves are just plain fun with costumes! I dyed gloves emerald green for Little Shop of Horrors. Chiffon, Ronette, and Crystal looked stunning in emerald green sequined evening gowns with dyed-to-match gloves. Talk about glamour!

You can achieve that too with a pair of Lycra gloves, a box or bottle of Rit dye and vinegar (cotton gloves – add salt instead of vinegar and do a cold water dye bath). Create the dye bath by combining the dye with water according to the package in a pot and add quarter of a cup of vinegar. Heat this until steaming hot. Meanwhile, wash your gloves with mild detergent and rinse with warm water. Place the warm wet gloves in the dye bath and stir until the gloves are slightly darker than the desired colored. Remove the gloves and let them drip dry to allow the dye to “set”. Wash gently to remove excess dye to finish your custom glove project.

Etiquette and Gloves

Now that you are adding gloves to the costume, you should pass on etiquette tips to the actor. Edith says in her 1961 booklet, Gloves: Fashion and Etiquette:

Etiquette is always a reflection of the times. Today, it is natural to find rules of conduct relaxing in tune with more casual living. In our democratic society there are fewer differences in social status, fewer occasions to pay homage to superiors. We have only to look at certain rules of glove etiquette that belong to the past to see how manners ape the structure of the society of the times.

. . . in that early Age of Queens, a lady-in-waiting was expected to remove her gloves in the presence of the Queen, and in turn, she expected those in lower positions than her own to remove their gloves in her presence.

. . . gone also the lore of superstitions and meanings so closely associated with etiquette. At one time a slap of the glove was an insult, a glove tossed at the foot of an enemy a challenge, and the man who wished to pay homage did so by offering his glove on bended knee.

Edith’s Advice

Definite Don’ts
Don’t ever appear in public without gloves.
Don’t eat, drink, or smoke with gloves on.
Don’t play cards with gloves on.
Don’t apply makeup with gloves on.
Don’t wear jewelry over gloves, with the exception of bracelets.
Don’t make a habit of carrying your gloves ~ they should be considered an integral part of your costume.
Don’t wear short gloves to a very gala ball, court presentation or ‘White Tie’ affair at the White House or in honor of a celebrity.

Definite Do’s
Do wear gloves when you go shopping, visiting, driving; and for outdoor festivities such as garden parties, receptions.
Do wear gloves as a mark of respect in a place of worship.
Do wear gloves for formal indoor occasions: receptions, balls, and on arrival at a luncheon or dinner party.
Do keep gloves on in a receiving line.
Do keep gloves on while dancing at a formal party.
Do keep gloves on at a cocktail party until the drinks and hors d’oeuvres are passed. Then turn gloves back at the wrist or remove one glove.
Do remove gloves entirely at the dining table.
Do remove gloves after your arrival at an informal party or luncheon, leaving them with your coat.

A final do – do add gloves to your costumes and have fun with them!