For The Love Of Opera Gloves

For the lovely blackeyedblonde...





In the Victorian era, it was not exactly proper, as you might imagine, for a lady just to walk up to a gentleman and tell him that she'd like to get to know him better! "Flirtation codes" were developed using a wide variety of objects. The "fan code" is the best-known, but gloves were also used as flirtation signals.

Here are some of the better-known glove signals:

• Twirling one's gloves around her fingers - We are being watched
• Holding the tips of the gloves downward - I wish to be acquainted
• Gently smoothing the gloves - I wish I were with you; I would like to talk with you
• Holding one's gloves loosely in her right hand - Be contented
• Holding one's gloves loosely in her left hand - I am satisfied
• Striking one's gloves over her hands - I am displeased
• Tossing one's gloves up gently - I am engaged
• Tapping one's chin with her gloves - I love another
• Dropping one of her gloves - Yes
• Dropping both gloves - I love you
• Turning the wrong side of one's gloves outward - I hate you

Of course, many of the above signals involved having to remove at least one glove, which was not considered proper.

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