What Type of Gloves to Wear with a Formal Gown?
Formal gloves are worn for fashion, rather than function like winter or work gloves. They made their appearance in the 17th century and are usually made from silk, satin, cotton, soft leather or lace. In fact, many women wore gloves for fashion during all times of day, not limiting their use to just formal occasions. In contrast, today, gloves designed for fashion are less and less used. However, formal gloves are still worn by some women for weddings, the opera, balls and other formal events since they can add eloquence to any gown.
Length
The rule of thumb for glove length today is that the shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove. If your dress is sleeveless or strapless, opera length (22" or 23") gloves would look best. With a shoulder cap sleeve, wear opera gloves, or elect for a slightly shorter over-the-elbow glove that is about 19 inches long. If your gown has a sleeve that is short or elbow length, a quarter-length glove that pulls up to just below the elbow (about 15") is appropriate. Finally, if you are wearing a long-sleeve gown, wristlet or gauntlet gloves to the wrist are the ideal choice.
Style
There are no rules about glove styles. Try on different pairs with the gown to see what looks best. Your gloves should never outshine your dress. For a wedding dress, satin or lace gloves are a good choice. For a ball or the opera, leather or satin works best. For a wedding, white gloves should be worn with a white dress and ivory gloves with an ivory dress. For other occasions, you can wear white or ivory gloves with different-colored gowns, as well as other colors that compliment the gown.
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