by Tom Klein

Created on: September 04, 2008   Last Updated: September 08, 2008

The Gift of Gloves: How May I Glove Thee? Let me Count the Ways

There are few more practical gifts than gloves, and gloves come in so many different styles and materials that gloves are one of the easiest gifts to give. Gloves, even of the finest quality, are rarely so expensive as to be beyond the average gift budget. For everyone on your list, there are men's, women's, and kids' gloves that make the ideal gifts for almost any holiday, be it Christmas, a wedding, a birthday, or a graduation. There are even romantic gloves - a gift for both her and him - that are perfect for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or just a romantic holiday weekend. Even better, for Staff Appreciation Day or Bosses Day there are gloves for secretaries and executives, and there are so many styles that it is simple to find an unusual or unique pair of gloves for a perfect gift.

In general, gloves can be categorized as:

Industrial gloves: These are heavy duty gloves used in manufacturing and construction. These often make great gifts for him if he is the handyman around the house.

White gloves: These are most often used in the hospitality and service businesses, but can also be elegant long silk gloves that make ideal gifts for her for a special holiday or romantic evening.

General purpose gloves: These are the all-arounders the gardening gloves (a nice gift for her to cover her green thumb), the heat resistant barbecue gloves (a perfect gift for him to indulge his inner outdoor cook), and general all purpose work gloves.

Fashion & formal gloves: These are especially unique gloves in unusual fabrics such as cashmere, chinchilla, satin, silk, rabbit fur, and lace. These are ideal gloves for weddings, bridesmaid outfits, or as a gift for a special baby shower or retirement party.

Seasonal gloves: These gloves are the classic winter gloves in various styles and materials, along with autumn and spring gloves for working in the garden.

Activity and sports gloves: These gloves are the driving gloves, ski gloves, special utility gloves for certain hobbies like automobile work or photography. These gloves are so well received as Father's Day or Mother's Day gifts. Imagine dad at Father's Day putting on his deerskin drivers gloves to go for a drive in the country.

No guide to gloves would be complete without mentioning the old standbys a baseball glove for junior's birthday or a pair of boxing gloves as the classic humorous executive gift. There are gloves for any style and any occasion, so for next Christmas or the next birthday, wedding, or anniversary, gloves will fit the bill perfectly like hand and glove.

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