Actress Thomasin Mckenzie stepped onto the red carpet of the premiere of her film, The Testament of Ann Lee, in a white embroidered and embellished Rodarte gown featuring a tulle bust trim and a coordinating choker necklace. The look, however, was contrasted by a pair of black velvet opera gloves, which added an unexpected contrast, gave a nod to the past, and got me thinking: are opera gloves the easiest way elevate any outfit? The answer is an absolute yes.
I've been spotting opera gloves' consistent red carpet appearances as of late: Rihanna in a black leather pair to contract her full pastel purple look for the Gotham Awards, Tessa Thompson in a white pair to add an additional feminine touch to her aquamarine sequined Balenciaga dress at the Francis Fund Gala in Doha, Chriselle Lim with gold embellished details that perfectly matched her gown, and Rachel Sennott heading to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in a head full of rollers, a mini corset dress, and black opera gloves that added a bit of sophistication .
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Though they've made a resurgence recently, opera gloves have been around for centuries. Queen Elizabeth I was arguably the trendsetter and the fashion girl of the 16th century. She would wear short gloves heavily embellished in gold as a symbol of status and, in turn, popularized the concept of gloves as evening wear. In the Victorian Era, having small, dainty, pale hands was intrinsically connected to whether or not you were considered beautiful—so women would literally wear a glove size too small to make their hands appear tinier than they were. By 1865, a fashion girl wouldn't have been caught dead in a pair of short gloves—it would've been embarrassing. Now, the typical opera glove is between 19 and 23 inches long.
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Prada's Spring/Summer 2026 collection affirmed that opera gloves are way more than just a practical solution to cold weather. Presented in leather and satin iterations in both neutral colors and spring pastels, this collection made a case for opera gloves as an accessory just for the sake of accessorizing—and doing so in the most dramatic way possible.
Other designers incorporated the accessory into their Spring/Summer 2026 collections, too: Luar with mesh opera gloves to add to the overall edge of the show and garments, Simone Rocha with silver sequined fingerless opera gloves to add shine to the girly coquette aesthetic that the brand is known for, and Balenciaga with a white leather pair to contrast an otherwise monochrome look.
Luar Spring/Summer 2026
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Simone Rocha Spring/Summer 2026
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Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2026
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All of these examples prove that opera gloves are versatile enough to be dressed up or down, and are an easy way to elevate any look—all while also serving as a nod to fashion history. If I've convinced you that you need a pair in your life, find our favorite options to shop below.
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