Here’s a thought that might, um, go viral: What if gloves came back into day-to–day fashion?
My wife remembers when her mother insisted that proper ladies wore gloves whenever they visited “the city.” That meant New York. Her mother, a Barnard grad, worked there for many years as a professional musician.
She played bass violin, which must have been cumbersome to tote around Manhattan even with bare hands. Still, gloves were fashionable. They accessorized an outfit, protected nails and skin, and served as a barrier against city grime.
Fashion changed radically in the 1960s and ’70s. The influence of ’60s Mod and the freewheeling ’70s made gloves solely a winter necessity.
Gloves were scarce during the Civil and world wars. But for a century or more they were an essential accessory for women and, to a lesser extent, for men. They were popular for both sexes for formal occasions, dancing and driving.
A call to arms (all hands on deck)
Maybe it’s time for a comeback.
At Christmas a few years ago, our daughter gave everyone some simple knit gloves with special fingertips for use on touchscreens. They’re inexpensive. They come in a variety of colors and styles, and are easy to wash and wear. Many manufacturers make winter varieties, but some, such as Coolibar, make summer models too.
Like the gloves of old, these protect the skin and prevent contact with grime. At a time when many women are sporting fancy nail styles, gloves will help protect those, too.
They’re not an impermeable barrier like the nitrile, latex and vinyl gloves used in hospitals, but they do keep your skin from touching grimy surfaces. When you do, you’re less likely to touch your face afterward. And they’re machine washable, which you can do while you’re working from home.
Just remember to clean your touchscreens, too. And you’ll still need to take them off to play that bass fiddle.