In Victorian times, gloves were regarded as keepsakes, to be passed from mother to daughter. Since it was believed that the smaller the hand, the closer one was to nobility, women of the day did everything possible to fit their hands into the tiniest pairs. A variety of tricks helped, from glove stretchers to powder, to buttonhooks. Spending 45 minutes on each glove wasn’t the least bit unusual.

Matrimony and delicate gloves went hand-in-hand. If a gentleman caller bestowed a pair of gloves upon his lady friend, he was requesting her hand in marriage. Often a verse would accompany his gift. "If that from glove you take the letter "G", then glove is love and that I send to thee." The hand depicted unwavering trust and loyalty. The way you put your hands and gloves communicated your intentions to your suitor. Placing the left glove over the right meant "I welcome your attentions," while holding both gloves in your left hand indicated the gentleman should "flirt elsewhere, please." When a woman pretended to put the left glove on her right hand, the poor young man had no chance at all … this gesture declared that he annoyed her. Happy was the fellow who noticed both gloves in the lady’s right hand and touching her left arm – she was telling him that she would rendezvous later. If she pulled her glove to it’s full length between both hands, his fate was even better … her love was completely true.