Michelle Yeoh takes cues from Kate Middleton at the Cannes Film Festival 2023

Historically, gloves and aristocracy went together like, well, hand and glove. Queen Elizabeth I had a penchant for gauntlet gloves—which were were short in length, wide at the opening, and often crafted from leather with elaborate embroidery—and amassed a vast collection throughout the 16th century. It was during this period that it became a trend for royals to gift (and be gifted) gloves, especially perfumed pairs, turning them into signifiers of status and wealth. But perhaps the earliest incarnation of opera gloves, or evening gloves, can be traced to a 1690 portrait of Queen Mary II. The royal, who ruled over England in the latter part of the 17th century, is depicted wearing a pair of white elbow-length gloves that peek out from under her lace sleeves.

As Jane Austen screen adaptations and Netflix’s Bridgerton show us, the Regency era took gloves to new lengths, introducing styles that stretched well past the elbow. The accessories continued to prove popular among the upper class during the Victorian period, but the necessity to wear them all but faded by the dawn of the 20th century. Today, royals reserve their opera gloves for formal occasions like coronation ceremonies, balls and weddings.

Princess Kate Middleton notably wore a pair to the Bafta Awards this year, and she may well have inspired Yeoh’s second look for the Cannes Film Festival. Following her red carpet appearance, the actress attended Kering’s Women In Motion dinner, where she was honoured with the Women In Motion Award for her contributions to cinema. (Former recipients include esteemed actresses like Jane Fonda, Isabelle Huppert and Gong Li.)