It Was Another Big Year for Opera Gloves

On this year’s red carpets, the usual assortment of jaw-dropping gowns certainly made their rounds—except now, many of them were not complete without an accompanying pair of opera gloves. Stylish stars really leaned into the long, formal—and somewhat unexpected—glove this year, pairing their dresses with styles made of patent leather, delicate lace, and even transparent tulle. As seen on stars like Rihanna, Florence Pugh, and Jodie Turner-Smith, it was undeniably the must-have accessory on step-and-repeats the world over.

The striking trend didn’t come totally out of nowhere. Hollywood A-listers first began to embrace the opera glove back in 2020, and since then, they’ve continued to proliferate on the fashion scene: Long gloves appeared on the fall 2022 runways at Proenza Schouler, Christian Dior, and Simone Rocha, among others. Over time, the accessory has begun to seem almost as commonplace as a diamond necklace or a cocktail ring.

But that’s not to say all the gloves looked the same. At the premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever back in October, Rihanna wore a sculptural Rick Owens gown punctuated with a thick pair of beige leather gloves, adding instant edge to the look. At the LACMA Gala in November, Olivia Wilde opted for high-octane color instead, pairing bright red latex gloves with her beaded Gucci gown. Other stars, meanwhile, went a bit more dainty: At a Tiffany & Co. event in June, Florence Pugh accessorized her black lace bra top and skirt by Emilia Wickstead with a sheer, barely-there black glove. 

Like a great shoe or bag, the opera glove has become an easy way to take a look from good to great. And it’s a smart investment: Matched with a classic LBD, it does all the work for the ensemble. Plus, a pair can keep your hands warm in the winter. Win-win!

Below, more of the year’s best opera glove moments.