Of his immortalised image, fingerless gloves were one of Karl Lagerfeld’s most iconic staples. Though an overlooked accessory across the last few decades, the fashion glove has been embraced for centuries.

Prominent figures such as Queen Elizabeth had highly recognisable jewelled glove sets that exuded opulence and elegance, making them indispensable for royalty and pontifical figures in the 1600s. Similarly, in the Victorian Era, gloves served as fashion statements to accentuate class stratifications, distinguishing those with wealth and social status from the bourgeoise and proletariats.

Women in the upper echelons of society wore them in public at all times to be ladylike, especially to banquets and formal events. In the roaring ’20s, women donned heavily embroidered and embellished gloves. These glamorous pieces elevated their outfits, thus popularising the gauntlet, an evolution of the traditional glove which featured a cuff at the wrist. In the last decade, while statement gloves were occasionally spotted on avant-garde celebrities, namely, Kristen Stewart in fingerless leather gloves, they have been a rarity. Then came the Met Gala in September 2021.

Fashion gloves were undeniably the most unexpected yet elegant accessory of the gilded and glitzy Met Gala guests. A-list celebrities dazzled in their gown and glove ensembles, a suitable choice of accessory for the star-studded affair. This Old Hollywood staple exuded unparalleled grace and elegance for those who were in satin or silk gloves such as Nicola Peltz-Beckham. It also elevated the femme fatale, seductress look for those who opted with patent, leather gloves, notably worn by Gigi Hadid. In addition, Instagram’s Director of Fashion Partnerships, Eva Chen’s pairing of black and white checkered gloves with her colourful Christopher John Rogers gown, took the fashion world by storm. Subsequently, there was a google search increase of 84% of gloves in the second half of 2021, according to a study conducted by Clothes2order, effectively cementing statement gloves’ à la mode status.

Renowned modernist author Virginia Woolf once wrote that, “a lady is known by her shoes and her gloves.” While it is irrefutable that footwear has always been at the forefront of fashion scene, this mini revival of statement gloves will soon be a part of every trendy individual’s wardrobe. It’s time to embrace this astute observation and channel our different stylistic choices – be it, retro, old Hollywood glamour, or moto chic – through our fashion gloves. Whether a madame or a miscreant, these statement pieces can instantly elevate your outfit to something iconic and memorable.