Kate Middleton took a rare fashion risk on the BAFTAs red carpet this weekend, accessorizing her Alexander McQueen gown with opera gloves.
Those gloves, it turns out, were designed by royal glove supplier Cornelia James—who was known as the "Queen’s favorite glove maker." Cornelia James was granted the Royal Warrant in 1979, meaning it was a brand with royal approval. Queen Elizabeth first wore Cornelia James gloves in 1947, when she wore the designer for her going away outfit following her marriage to Prince Philip.
"She looked terrific," Peter James, the son of the late Cornelia James, said of Kate to the Daily Mail. "So stylish. Wonderful to see her wearing gloves—especially Cornelia James ones. Perhaps she will follow in the fashion of the late Queen, who always wore gloves in public."
More From Veranda
Kate appeared to be wearing the Melissa Velvet Opera Glove, which retail for just $218. "Opera gloves are transformative; they have enormous leverage," Genevieve James, creative director at Cornelia James and the late designer's daughter, told People. "They turn any event into an occasion and a dress into a statement."
"Imagine Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's without the gloves—it's just another little black dress. With the gloves, it becomes iconic and emblematic of our age—always relevant, always contemporary," she added.
Royals have long worn gloves—especially Queen Elizabeth, who was rarely seen without gloves. As Cornelia James writes on their website, "The Queen has a style which is beyond fashion. An abiding memory of a Royal visit is the gloved hand waving at the window of the great black car and we are proud to have provided the glove on so many occasions."
Emily Burack (she/her) is the news writer for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
