Vintage leather opera gloves

Cinnamon · 3rd November 2007, 23:12

I recently bought a pair of unworn vintage wihte kid skin full length opera gloves, but I'm a little puzzled about them.

I've posted the pics and as you'll see, they're somewhat tiny.

I know the old fashioned gloves had to be stretched wet and that there was a special button tool, but other than that, help!!

I'd love to be able to wear them as they'd be so tight and cover my whole arm!

Does anybody know the procedure of putting these on?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...S0000003-1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/S0000004.jpg

Elegant · 4th November 2007, 08:41

1. Generally, people in 19th/ early 20th century were slimmer and shorter, because they ate less. Tightly laced corsets compressed the stomach and didn't allow a person to eat too much. People were also more prone to illnesses, which had a greater effect on the bodies- even the ordinary flu could be lethal.
2. Gloves come in different sizes, so you might have bought ones that were designed for very petite hands :). As for stretching- I don't know what it was really like, but glove stretchers were probably used. Tight fit was necessary- and, often, the gloves had to be cut apart in order to take them off!

Nigel · 4th November 2007, 10:22

I cant help you, maybe somebody like Dr shoe who understands how leather works might be able to help?

just looking around the shops this year it is pleasing to see ladies gloves being made longer and longer.

I think it is a good fasion trend at the moment.

best of luck getting them to fit!

Cinnamon · 4th November 2007, 18:25

I've had a look and they're marked with a "6" which would be 1/2 a size too small :(

I'd like to think that I pretty much fit the "vintage" figure being 5'1 and having an 18" waist when tightly laced.