What’s going on in the fashion world? Not content with reviving corsets, fashion is now busy dusting off an accessory that we probably haven’t seen since the 1960s. Opera gloves—which we see everywhere on the catwalks and red carpets — are even popular with younger generations, who show them off on social networks, especially TikTok.

Evening gloves, long gloves, call them what you will, this iconic fashion accessory that was popular from the 1940s to the 1960s brought an ultra-sophisticated touch to evening dresses. Worn by Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, they symbolize Hollywood glamor in all its glory.

After falling into oblivion decades ago, long gloves – which reach to the elbow, or sometimes the shoulder – have made an unexpected comeback in recent weeks.

From the red carpet…

Adele is one of the fashion icons who helped bring long gloves back into the limelight, showing them off in style in the video for her song ‘Oh My God’ released earlier this year. But she is far from alone.

On the cover of Elle Mexico magazine in early February, Christina Aguilera caused a sensation wearing black opera gloves in a highly glamorous look. Meanwhile, Dua Lipa seems to have made them her go-to accessory, matching them with her stage outfits and red carpet looks.

Because contrary to popular belief, long gloves also appeal to younger generations who are bringing them up to date. This is due — again — to the success of certain television series, such as “Bridgerton” or “Inventing Anna”, in which opera gloves have not gone unnoticed.

It sent them onto the red carpet, with celebrities from Sydney Sweeney to Beyoncé stepping out in this latest fashion staple. And it’s the same story on the catwalks, from Elie Saab to Valentino, as well as in the front rows of fashion shows, as influencer Caroline Daur recently demonstrated.

… to TikTok

@jasmineinnyc

#greenscreen I LOVE OPERA GLOVES AND I DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM GO! #trends #operagloves #gants #rihanna #madlyncline #fashion #dojacat #margotrobbie #kim

♬ A work of art by s_johnson_voiceovers – Stefan Johnson

While you’re unlikely to spot opera gloves on the subway or in the office, the reopening of nightclubs and the easing of Covid restrictions could allow younger generations to experiment with this new trend. Global fashion search engine Stylight* has seen a 153% increase in clicks for opera gloves over the past two months, indicating a growing craze for this retro accessory. And leather seems to stand out as a particular trend, with a 90% increase in search interest for long leather gloves on Google.

The craze is even more pronounced on social networks, and in particular on TikTok, where the hashtag #operagloves already has more than 400,000 views – almost as many as the hashtag #longgloves. Many videos offer day or evening outfits with long gloves for an ultra-chic touch. You may have thought Gen Z were crazy about the 90s and 2000s, but it seems they also have a certain nostalgia for the 50s and 60s, two of the most defining decades in fashion history.

*Numbers for Evening Gloves are based on analysis of Stylight data for December 2021-January 2022 vs. October 2021-November 2021. Long Leather Gloves numbers are based on Google Trends data as of January 31 2022 to February 7, 2022.

This article was published via AFP.