Ivy and Izzy Getty in Cornelia James
Ivy and Izzy Getty step out at the Cannes Film Festival in matching sunlit yellow, each wearing Desdemona opera-length silk jersey gloves. The clean, fluid line of the gloves echoes…
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory
"In her eyes I see something more beautiful than the stars". Desdemona is the classic, full length opera glove in pure silk jersey. Silk jersey is a perfect fabric for gloves. It is 100% silk but has a natural elasticity which means that it clings like a glove should cling, feels marvellous on the arm and has a quiet lustre that speaks volumes.
Opera Length. This is a 16 inch glove. This is measured from where the thumb seam meets the wrist, to the opening of the glove.
For centuries, silk has remained an important material for glovemaking. It’s beautiful feel and appearance has afforded it a high reputation since the days of kings and queens. Our soft, pure silk jersey knit carries on the tradition and continues to be worn by royalty today.
If you'd like to see a swatch of this material in this colour before you decide, you can order one here.
Silk doesn't shout — it whispers. There’s a calm, understated confidence in silk gloves: cool to the touch, subtly luminous, endlessly refined. But refinement doesn’t mean fragility. What silk needs is softness — in water, in movement, and in time.
Handled properly, silk rewards you with longevity and elegance in equal measure.
Let It Rest
When it comes to silk, less is more. Wash cold, gently, and never in a rush. A delicates bag adds an extra layer of care. Afterward, leave the gloves flat to dry and reshape them quietly with your hands. Steam can help — but only at a distance.
Care Method
Turn gloves inside out and wash in a mesh bag on a cold, delicate cycle. Lay flat to dry. Avoid wringing or ironing directly. Never tumble dry.
If Softness or Sheen Is Lost
For creased, dulled or faded silk, we recommend a textile professional experienced in delicate natural fibres. They’ll restore the glove’s finish without weakening its weave.
Handmade in Sussex, England
Desdemona in the wild
Sotheby's
Featured in Sotheby’s (June 2019), Desdemona silk jersey opera-length gloves are shown in a quietly dramatic composition: long, fluid lines in black silk framing a modern, sculptural silhouette, set against…
Natural beauty
Featured in Condé Nast Brides, “Natural Beauty” highlights Desdemona opera-length silk jersey gloves styled with a pared-back bridal gown and simple bouquet, showing how clean lines and refined detail can…
Special days and Desdemonas
Featured in Love My Dress, “Special Days and Desdemonas” highlights our Desdemona opera-length silk jersey gloves — a refined, modern take on classic bridal gloves, framing each movement from aisle…
Holding hands
Desdemona opera-length silk jersey gloves appear in The Love Magazine’s “Holding Hands”, bringing a precise, modern line to bridal styling. Cut close to the arm in fluid silk jersey, they…
Tilda Swinton | W Magazine
Tilda Swinton | W Magazine Desdemona silk jersey opera-length gloves feature throughout Tim Walker’s surreal Tilda Swinton portfolio for W Magazine, shot on location at Las Pozas in Mexico. Styled…
Claire Foy | The Crown season 1
Claire Foy wears Desdemona Silk Gloves in the first-season artwork for The Crown. Cut in opera length from silk jersey, they frame the beaded gown and reinforce the formal mood…
Claire Foy | The Crown
Claire Foy wears Desdemona silk opera gloves in The Crown, where precise costuming helps define the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Cut from smooth silk jersey in a…
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama’s appearance at the Buckingham Palace state banquet became one of the defining images of the Obamas’ 2011 state visit to the United Kingdom. In the official photo with…
Lady Mary | Downton Abbey
Desdemona silk jersey opera gloves step into the world of Downton Abbey on Lady Mary, completing her evening look with quiet, period-authentic polish. In inky black silk jersey and full…
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The Finishing Touch
Our Presentation Box
Every pair of gloves is delivered with care. Wrapped within our premium gift box, accompanied by a complimentary dust bag and handwritten note. It doesn’t get more personal than that.
Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory
reviews
Verified Customer
Laura
New York City, US26 May 2026
Awesome Product
The product is as describe, very top quality and awesome fit.
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Kathleen
Bothell, US1 May 2026
The gloves feel perfect to wear, so comfortable. They keep my arms warm when it's cool and cool when it's warm, and add a perfect flair to my look while doing it. The most functional accessory I've bought in a long time. Unfortunately I apparently had a hard time measuring my arm diameter, so the gloves fall down constantly. I intend to see if they can be altered to fit slightly better. But this is not Cornelia James' fault; they have excellent directions on how to measure your dimensions. I just fell between two sizes and guessed wrong on which to order.
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Elodie
Mielec, PL23 February 2026
Very neat gloves
These gloves are very simple, yet very elegant. They gave my hands the value that I wanted at my wedding. They made my look really intemporal!
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Mercedes
Toronto, CA2 July 2025
Very good quality, elegant and beautiful
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Katie
Church Stretton, United Kingdom22 April 2025
Beautiful and wonderful gloves with amazing customer service!
The customer service on the phone was wonderful and the product is outstanding! The unboxing was as much fun as wearing them! I loved every little detail. I'm so grateful ad we had a lovely time at the White-tie event and everyone loved my gloves as they were particlarly sepcial ones I felt too. Beautiful!
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Anonymous
""31 March 2025
Beautiful!
These are perfect for our gala. They fit well, and the mousquetaire is really thoughtfully places, making removing my hands easy.
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Yekaterina
Englishtown, United States10 January 2025
Amazing, matte custom fit glove
Beauty & Grace, made to fit perfectly
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Hillary
""26 August 2024
Perfect elegant gloves
Thrilled. Had a video call to receive styling advice and help selecting a glove for my wedding. The woman was so helpful. I received my gloves very quickly and they're perfect! I am so happy to have purchased these for this special occasion. They fit perfectly and the silk looks elegant and timeless. I considered satin but a glad I got silk. The ring window will also be such during the ceremony. I'm also glad I ordered swatches ahead of time.
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Mackenzie
United States20 June 2024
These gloves were perfect. I wore them for my wedding so I really wanted gloves that were high quality and looked elegant. I tried multiple gloves from other vendors and none of them even came close to the fit and quality of the Cornelia James gloves. They are comfortable and fit really well. I will definitely be wearing them again. I got the ring window which was PERFECT--such a great idea. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting top quality, investment gloves.
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Rita
Lansdowne, United States31 December 2023
The most beautiful gloves!
They were stunning and perfect! These gloves were the perfect accessory for our formal wedding. I was so excited to have them as part of my bridal outfit for the whole day.
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Maggie
Philadelphia, United States28 October 2023
Great!
Cornelia James' customer service is exceptional. They reached out as soon as I placed my order to make sure if there was anything I needed specifically and were so quick to ship my order. The quality of their gloves is unparalleled and truly elevates the fashion game!!
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Anonymous
Sheffield, United Kingdom7 October 2023
Elegant and decadent
After a misstep ordering a different pair of gloves that did not match my outfit, I scheduled a video call with the Cornelia James team to discuss options. They advised me beautifully and exchanged the gloves for a pair that looked truly beautiful. The new gloves were with me in 24 hours. I wore ivory silk (Phoebe) opera gloves, and when I saw photos of the wedding later, they looked even more beautiful than I had realized while wearing them. I wore them while dancing -- the ivory color glove stood out when I had my hand against my dance partner's dark jacket! I recommend Cornelia James without hesitation and am looking for excuses to buy more gloves! Thank you to the Cornelia James team!
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Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Michelle
Weston, United States18 August 2023
Just gorgeous and feminine.
Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Verified Customer
Anonymous
Riga, Latvia24 May 2023
Beautiful gloves.
Fit
Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
Jasmine
Mayfield Heights, United States23 January 2023
Fits like a glove, perfect for my wedding look. It's amazing seeing the construction differences between these gloves and one-size-fits-most gloves
Desdemona | Silk Opera Glove – Ivory 8½
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