OverDressed for Life

As far as I’m concerned the best gifts from Mom are found tucked away in her closet. For many years now she has been gifting me with jewelry and accessories from her own collection. These are beautiful things of quality that one cannot find today, plus they have a story.

For Valentine’s Day this year Mom gave me two pair of white leather gloves. One pair she never wore but the other she LOVED and sported often on evenings out dinner dancing. She bought them both in the 1950s at I. Magnin in San Francisco.

There was something that really spoke to her about the kid leather gloves with the bow detail (pictured). “Gloves in the evening were fashionable at the time,” Mom explains. “I preferred the shorties to the long opera gloves because they were more youthful.”  Mom also points out that opera length is appropriate only with long gowns.

Mom had two 3/4 length dresses she liked to pair with her favorite gloves – one a turquoise lace bouffant with spaghetti straps and the other a beige lace, straight and strapless with a cream under-dress.  Both were very dressy for occasions at The Palace Hotel or Mark Hopkins.

Now just to be clear, as an animal rights supporter I do not approve of buying new leather gloves. That is an accessory that we can just as well find in fabric or knit. However, vintage leather for me is OK. Some people disagree and say no leather period and I understand that.

I have quite an extensive collection of vintage gloves in white, black, navy and a wonderful gold pair in cotton, a special gift from a friend (thanks, Karen). Gloves are a useful accessory not only for warmth but also to add an extra style detail to any outfit.

Thank you, Mom, for sharing your treasures with me this Valentine’s Day. You are always my Best Valentine.