Reporter | Chen Qirui
Edit | Lou Shuqin
The most popular accessory this spring and summer is not an exaggerated handbag, but a flashy and stuffy Opera Glove.
From tulle, silk and velvet to leather and sequins, opera gloves are never constrained by materials, with a circle of glossy pleats up to the armpit length being the most prominent feature, and different brands have different ways of presenting opera gloves.
Balenciaga's opera gloves seem to be part of lingerie, with deep blue rose embroidery injecting gentle power into the powerful and cool style; Saint Laurent returning to the classics with long gloves in bright bright red leather with classic smoking clothes; and Moschino's creativity is rather funny, creating a childlike color by stitching anime prints.
When trends emerge on fashion weeks, stars on the red carpet are often the first to be sensed.
At the Vanity Fair Oscars in April, Julia Fox, who became popular for her relationship with Kanye West, used black patent leather opera gloves to set off the ghostly long dress. Hip-hop artist Cardi B's opera gloves are shiny and covered in red sequins that make her feel as if she has stepped out of the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
The most classic star opera gloves paired with Marilyn. Monroe and Audrey. Hepburn.
Monroe successfully interpreted the flashy image of a materialistic girl with a pink glove and diamond in "Gentleman Loves Beauty"; Hepburn's long black gloves worn in "Breakfast at Tiffany'" are low-key and elegant, and when she stops in front of the window in the morning, it is even more cold and lonely.
The opera glove has always had a place in the ever-changing trend, but its popularity is also intermittent.
The glove became a symbol of social class from the 18th century onwards. As a binding accessory, women wearing gloves made of luxury materials means that they don't have to do heavy work and their hands will be well protected. In the Korean movie "Miss", there is a scene in which the maid played by Kim Tae-ri laments the number of gloves that Miss Noble has, which she will secretly admire and wear in private.
Women's dependence on gloves continued in the 19th century, and conservative practices required them to wear gloves to cover their exposed skin. At the same time, due to the acceleration of industrialization, gloves have also begun to become a must for the working class, who need to protect their hands during heavy labor.
In the 20th century, two world wars temporarily lost their former glory to the flashy opera gloves. But into the '50s, the love of opera gloves was back. However, after a series of social changes, the opera glove is no longer a daily wear accessory that everyone must wear, but a finishing touch for Hollywood stars and royal families on the screen.
By the 1980s, as more and more women entered the workforce, even shortened versions of the opera gloves became less frequent in everyday life. Gradually, even stars began to wear opera gloves less, which became a retro accessory linked to the style of Hollywood's Golden Age, most often in halloween cross-dressing parties.
But from 2020 onwards, the strong retro trend is beginning to return to the fashion industry. The first thing people saw was the Y2K trend in early 2000, and then the popularity of costume dramas such as "Bridgeton" and "The Gilded Age" pushed the fashion pointer back to the century, and even the 2022 Met Gala theme.
It is not difficult to see that after a long epidemic, depressed people are increasingly in need of dramatic accessories such as opera gloves to re-express their inner heat.
In real life, it is not difficult to wear opera gloves, the most common of which is leather gloves.
Black has a dual attribute, and if you choose to pair it with a neatly cut and simple skirt, a pair of black leather opera gloves adds to the elegance of the celebrity; if you use a leather jacket and sunglasses, the long black gloves will bring the shape out of the cool colors of the virtual world of The Matrix.
Of course, leather is a strong material, and if you are worried about not being able to control it, you can choose opera gloves of tulle, lace or knitted fabric.
This powder-blue knitted glove from the Tokyo Fashion Week street auction has a gentle and cute texture, but the open finger design of the hand has a hint of coolness, and the floral embroidered tulle glove has a classical style, which is more suitable for this hot season.