Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty
Kate Middletonis taking some serious style risks.
The Princess of Wales, 41,attended the BAFTA AwardsalongsidePrince Williamon Sunday wearing perhaps her most daringred carpet lookto date — including a dramatic pair of full-length opera gloves.
But it was her bold choice of accessories for the star-studded event — in particular, the contrasting full-length black velvet opera gloves — which stole the show.
Kate Middleton’s Re-fashioned Alexander McQueen dress in 2019 and 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage
“Opera gloves are transformative; they have enormous leverage,” Genevieve James, creative director at royal glove supplierCornelia James, tells PEOPLE. “They turn any event into an occasion and a dress into a statement.”
James, whose independent family business has been supplying gloves to the royal family for over 70 years, is unable to confirm that Kate is wearing her design (their identical “Melissa” black velvet styleretails for $216). But Kate does have several styles from the brand, which she most recently wore in Boston in December.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at the BAFTAs 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty
Exuding old-school Hollywood glamour, the elegant accessory gave a nostalgic nod to red carpet events of the past when the likes of Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth rarely attended an event without their immaculately fitted gloves, often in silk or sometimes bejeweled.
“Imagine Audrey Hepburn inBreakfast at Tiffany’swithout the gloves — it’s just another little black dress. With the gloves, it becomes iconic and emblematic of our age — always relevant, always contemporary,” says James, who supplied the lateQueen ElizabethII with her signature white gloves for decades.
The Princess Of Wales Attend the BAFTA Film Awards 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty
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Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales at the BAFTA’s 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty
Princess Kate is known for repeating favorite pieces from her closet, and this is not the first time that she has worn an upcycled dress to the prestigious awards show.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at the BAFTAs 2020.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Despite Sunday’s red carpet outing being the sixth timePrince Williamand Kate attended the BAFTAs together, it was the royal couple’s first time at the awards show in three years.
Last year, Prince William, who has been president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 2010, sent a pre-recorded video congratulating the nominees. In 2020, he was forced to cancel his scheduled appearance after thedeath of his grandfather Prince Philip.
source: people.com
