Opera gloves were the unexpected accessory of choice at the 2021 BRIT Awards. Held live from London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday, 11 May, some of the best dressed stars on the red carpet had a few things in common: pastel ruffles, neon gowns, and “COVID friendly” accessories like designer masks, socially distanced headpieces, and opera gloves that completed a co-ordinated look.

Two of the most memorable outfits on the red carpet came from Mabel and Raye. The singers wore body-hugging neon gowns with Mabel in lime green, Raye in fuchsia, and long elegant opera gloves to match. Jessie Ware and Lianne La Havas also chose opera gloves to complete their looks, but instead going for a more minimal palette of black and animal print.

It makes so much sense why opera gloves are so popular on the first physical red carpet we’ve watched live since lockdown. At first glance, they are practical so that we don’t touch as many things. And then there’s the aesthetic part of it where it protects your manicure from smudging, and your hands from drying out from all that hand sanitising at such a public event – think Beyoncé’s <a class="colorbox" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fashion/" class="ga-track" data-ga-category="internal click" data-ga-label="Schiaparelli opera gloves at the 2021 Grammys, or the opera gloves worn to the 2019 British Fashion Awards. The opera gloves fashion trend is just getting started and we expect that it will be a very popular accessory for autumn and winter 2021.

Keep reading ahead for the best BRIT Awards outfits that accossirzed with opera gloves.