Vintage wearers. Question about gloves and hats

[CeliaBowen]

In the 1940s / 1950s, would women have worn gloves when they were not wearing a hat?

Technical question! ]

At night, hats were not worn with full evening wear (ballgowns). But gloves WERE worn. So the answer to your question is yes, but only at night. But NB A small very chic hat could be worn to an evening cocktail party, always with goves.

In daytime, a fashionable 'lady' wore hat and gloves for all formal occasions.

Even 'ordinary' women often wore a headscarf or turban or snood (then= a sort of knitted /net bag to contain the hair), plus gloves when it was cold or when going to a formal place eg to a church or to an office.
Rules relaxed by the mid/late 1950s.

This book might be helpful:
books.google.co.uk/books?id=KrznrV3eMFQC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=hat+etiquette+women+1950s&source=bl&ots=SRPV1pu4WT&sig=4RgWgaNCqTqzZsB80-9glINCPu0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=77sNVNOsNoPhaLutgNAB&ved=0CGYQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=hat%20etiquette%20women%201950s&f=false

This article is pretty good - text only. Page 2 gives rules for evening headgear:
www.boomerinas.com/2012/08/17/how-to-wear-a-hat-rules-etiquette-for-women/

Here is excellent 1950s leaflet on gloves:
cdn2.retrowaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/1950s-Glove-Etiquette.jpg

This might perhaps be of interest, too: www.retrowaste.com/1950s/fashion-in-the-1950s/www.retrowaste.com/1950s/fashion-in-the-1950s/

Wow, thanks for the links!

I am putting together a 50s outfit (daytime) and starting to fall for the retro vintage look!
I have a pair of white gloves, but I don't have a hat. Obviously since we are not in the 1950s, I can technically do whatever I want, but I was wondering whether it would be incorrect to wear the gloves even though I don't have a hat.

Off to read your links now! Thanks

Am not an expert, but short white cotton gloves say 'summer' to me; long white gloves = formal evening. As the gloves leaflet says, however, gloves were meant to 'go with' clothing. So pale wool or leather gloves could go with (eg) black and white check smart wool jacket.

The gloves leaflet will explain all you, however. It was referred to in the final link I sent, which is a fascinating site with lots of useful info.

Have fun!

what fabulous references & links!

One question to florascotia if I may; the gloves leaflet talks about "the glove fingers should be tucked into the opening at the wrist" when you eat.

So does that mean you undo the little wrist buttons and poke your hand out of the hole, leaving the glove dangling from the wrist? What if the glove doesn't have buttons? I can't envisage this.

Traviata - that's very kind; thank you. But I am not an expert. Just generally interested in vintage costume.

Here is something from 1948. Hope it helps:
thevintagelibrarian.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/glove-etiquette.html

Ahh, having googled around a bit, I think mine are similar to these in length, but it does seem to suggest they might be more formal than I am thinking...
I agree with the cotton gloves vs long gloves, I think maybe mine are somewhere in between!

thanks florascotia - it does say that the gloves are unbuttoned and left on the arm, so that is pretty clear.

I have some later gloves, perhaps 1960s, with elastic instead of buttons; presumably the wearer removes them entirely to eat or drink whilst at the dance, until of course she goes to her sit-down dinner at which time she would remove them in any event.

such a minefield!

CeliaBowen, what is the rest of your outfit? I would love to see a picture.

Goodwood revival is next weekend...(although day tickets are sold out for this year)

traviata it may have a little something to do with Goodwood...
Will post a pic when it's all together. :)

oops, namechange fail! its the OP

Gloves were always taken off to eat, drink or smoke. But can be kept on for anything else.