THE MYSTERY OF GLOVE SIZING  -  HOW TO MEASURE YOUR HAND

     When I worked at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City, the glove counter was in the front of the store in between the two entrances.  This was a premier location.  Now you have an idea about how old I am.  I won't tell you the exact number but I will tell you that when I was a child my mother always wore spotless and snow white dress gloves when she went to church, when she went shopping, when she went to lunch with her lady friends.  For some, that must sound like the dark ages.  I loved being a child then, but I love being an adult more in today's world.  
     The clothes we wear we choose to wear when and where we want to.  It is not so rigidly dictated as it was when I was a child.  We love to wear beautiful gloves in the winter to keep us warm.  We adore dressing up for parties and weddings in fancy and fun clothes and enjoy the winter in sporty outfits when we are out in the snow.  But the mystery of what size gloves we wear still continues for many of us.
     When I worked at Saks, the ladies at the glove counter placed the customer's hand flat on the counter and using a fabric tape measure, wrapped it around the knuckles of the hand.  We use the same procedure today.  The tape should fit snugly, but not tight.  The measurement in inches determines the size you wear.  The chart below is the sizing used by Conroy Gloves.

LADIES'

MEN'S

Small:      6" - 6 1/2"

Small:          7" - 8"

Medium: 7" - 7 1/2"

Medium:     8" - 8/2"

Large:      8" - 8 1/2"

Large:        9" - 10"

XLarge:     10" - 10 1/2"

XXLarge:   11" - 11 1/2"

     Children's gloves are sized according to their age.  Finale sizes children's gloves according to the chart below.

CHILDREN'S
Small:      fits 2 - 5 year olds
Medium:  fits 6 - 9 year olds
Large:      fits 10 - 13 year olds

   After the clerk at Saks measured the lady's hand, she placed her elbow in a round padded ring so her hand was supported in an upright position.  Then it was time to try on the gloves.  However, the customer never put the gloves on.  The clerk gently placed the glove over the customer's fingers and smoothed them down until the fingers were correctly placed in the gloves.  Then the rest of the glove was eased onto the hand and beyond the wrist to wherever the glove ended.  This was necessary because the gloves before they were worn were always too snug.  But with wearing, the leather molded perfectly to the hand.  That is the same with today's fine gloves.  Do not purchase gloves too large or when they begin to naturally ease, they will not have the beautiful fit you want.
     I hope this has been helpful and interesting, too.  If you have comments or questions, feel free to send an e-mail to jj@glovesandthings.com 
      'til the next time,            
                  JJ