Gauntlet Gloves

If you browse through fashion magazines of the 1930's and 1940's, you will be hard-pressed to find photos of ladies without gloves. Women always wore matching or coordinating gloves as accessories to their ensembles. There is something elegant, sophisticated, and even a little mysterious about a gloved woman. Whether it be for daytime or evening, gloves give that finished look to any outfit.

Yellow wool jacket collared in Persian lamb. Beneath, a black wool dress.
Note the fabulous Persian lamb gauntlets!  Marshall Field's & Company, Chicago.
Photo by Horst for Vogue, 1936.

Delightful pink sequined gauntlet gloves with matching scarf.
Gloves, bag, hat, and dress from Hattie Carnegie for
Frost Bros., San Antonio, Texas. From Vogue, 1943

Caroline Reboux millinery and the most dramatic gauntlets for an
evening on the town. Circa 1945.
Photo courtesy hprints.com

By the mid-thirties, the area over the wrist and forearm grew to an enormous funnel-shaped extension, reminiscent of the gauntlets worn by 17th Century French mousquetaires (musketeers). The flared portion of the glove, called a gauntlet, was usually made of a stiffer fabric than the hand to give it body. Gauntlets were often piped with contrasting color which accented the shape and design. Other design elements included top-stitching, buttons, and tabs. Gloves were not only made of the usual silk, lambskin, pigskin, and doeskin; but also washable chamois-suede, cotton pique, organdy, and cotton matelasse. Printed woven fabrics were also made into gloves to match a particular garment.

Crochet gauntlets, circa 1930's.

Myrna Loy wearing polka dotted gauntlet cuffs that button over
her gloves, circa 1930's.
Photo courtesy seraphicpress.com

Unusual gauntlets with red trim, circa 1930's.
Photo courtesy stardustyears.com

By 1939, the exaggerated gauntlet style had receded to minimal flare. The height of the popularity of the gauntlet glove was between 1934 - 39, but styles continued into the 1940's and even the early 1950's.

Veronica Lake looking smart in a pair of white kid gloves.
Circa 1940's. Photo courtesy weheartvintage.co
Original source & copyright: Robert Huffstutter.

Director Ivy Jordan wears a pair of color-blocked suede gauntlet gloves, a favorite with the stars of Monolithic Studios. OOAK hat and gloves are from The Couture Touch. Suit and muff are from Ashton Drake, shoes from Integrity.