White gloves: Yes or No?

[Rabbi_Pazo]

White gloves: yea or nay?

I agree with the opinion that using white gloves add a gracefulness, not only to the wearer, but the people similarly attires, This very elegant touch, is especially prevalent when gloves are made of pure Egyptian cotton (silk for ladies), but they may mot be suitable for certain ocassions. There are numerous types of design: with "ribs" or without them; with glosssy wrist buttons, eleastic band or draw strings. For Honor and Color Guards carrying flags of weapons such as rifles, swords of sabres, there are gloves fashioned with rubber "grip points" to facilitate the handling of the flags or weapons, as required.

When dressed in Formal wear, Military or Police uniform, gloves add a touch of elegance, particularly if the wearer is a member of a Color Guard or Honor Guard. On an earlier post, another member made elaborated on the protocol one should observe when using gloves. My thanks to the gentleman for his post: I encourage all readers of this read his post for reference.

As a bagpiper, I have three custom-made sets of pure white gloves with the last two joints of the finger tips cut off, in order to achieve a seal when playing the chanter of a set Great Highland Bagpipes (GHB.)

These gloves work remarkably well when plaing the bagpipes, including Piobaireachd (the Classical music of the GHB), which requires agility, graceful movements and deliberate execution of embelishments (including the now "defunct" Barlouth , a Piobaireachd embellishment movement that has thirteen grace notes (no longer used in competitions and many pipers). In other, besides offering comfort and an elegant touch, they do not restrict their use of your hands. Musically speaking, they aford you "the might of an ox and the grace of a butterfly".

In my profile you can find a photo of myself and California Governor Schwarzenegger, sharing hands, with said gloves. For a larger view, the following link: http://www.californiabagpiper.com/id64.html



Good luck!

Rabbi Dr.Raphael Pazo, Jr.
Rabbi_Pazo

[Downunder Kilt]

The only time in the last 30 or so years that I have seen a civilian male wearing white gloves to a formal event was my late father who was attending a formal occasion at his lodge.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

White gloves of kid, dog skin, or Berlin cotton, are worn with white tie, court dress, or full dress military, naval, or civil uniform. They are not removed when shaking hands, especially when shaking hands with a lady (a gentleman never places his sweaty palm in a lady's hand, or on her back when dancing).

If a gentleman is attending a dinner, he removes his gloves before going to table. If there is dancing after the dinner he is not expected to put his gloves back on, but may if he so chooses.

Okay, those are the rules. But in the real world most, if not all, gentlemen dispense with white gloves when wearing white tie. The exception would be when attending a ball on the continent, when white gloves are expected/required.

My personal take on white gloves is that I would only wear them if the invitation stipulates "White Tie-- Decorations". The wearing of medals with white tie indicate that the event is the fullest of formal events, and in the UK may also indicate the presence of a member of the Royal Family. (Although strictly speaking the presence of a royal should be mentioned in the body of the invitation.)

If the invitation merely says "White Tie", then the gloves are off, but discretely tucked into the pocket of my tails, just in case.

Gloves are never worn with civilian black tie.

[Frank McGrath]

The only time in the last 30 or so years that I have seen a civilian male wearing white gloves to a formal event was my late father who was attending a formal occasion at his lodge.

As a lodge officer, I wear white cotton gloves in lodge. When I attend lodge I am often kilted. I wear my PC as an officer, When I left my position, I just wear the argyll, without the gloves. But I keep them handy, just in case.