Cornelia James luxury ladies’ gloves, pure elegance. Ladies of elegance create an aura whether they intend to or not. If you were a diplomat, it would be referred to as soft power, and a beautifully elegant ladies’ outfit is just that, with wearing a pair of sublime chic gloves the cherry on top.
Ultimately you will have to ask the lady if she dresses for herself, to feel good or to attract admiration. In reality it might be a mixture of all three.
So, whether you are a Summer Princess or a Winter Kitten, we hope you will enjoy our journey from Night to Day.
We wanted to introduce, or probably re-introduce the very elegant Cornelia James who are not only glovemakers to royalty, celebrities and those with class but are an embodiment of English style and a very active atelier supporting the skills that must be kept alive.
Cornelia James
Personal stylist: Book personal video stylist
Ladies Gloves is the Height of Elegance
When you think of a lady of beauty, your mind might think of Audrey Hepburn, or Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly or indeed to the beauty of the late Queen Elizabeth 2nd.
As a gentleman who had a mother that came out of that post war period, I absolutely understand this style. You can see a photograph of my mother wearing a pair of long gloves which oozes elegance.
As an image its beautiful and as a child I was not only proud but felt very loved and I suppose in hindsight the fact she took her appearance seriously, without being vain was a great comfort to me.
Think of those wonderful 40’s and 50’s movies with stunning ladies in department stores in New York and London. It was an era of so much fantastic style for both ladies and gentlemen.
I think the mix of post war gloom, but joy of being free, mixed with the jazz music made for an era of iconic beauty.
The four ladies I mentioned above are examples off the top of my head and they could be added to by a host of others but they happen to be four excellent examples of ladies wearing gloves with a mixture of emotions from the formal elegance of royalty to the kittenish cuteness of Audrey to Marilyn’s long opera gloves to Grace Kelly who was both the lady to introduce to your mother, but equally the feeling this lady is one in a million; and in the 50’s the late Queen, was a beautiful young lady who adorned the pages of style magazines.
Now obviously I am writing this with a gent’s viewpoint but maybe just maybe you gals had a little bit of that intention when you were wearing… maybe !!
The Story of Cornelia James
When Cornelia James arrived in England in 1939 as a refugee from Nazi occupied Vienna, she brought with her nothing but a suitcase and a steely determination to succeed. In 1947 the couturier Norman Hartnell asked her to make gloves to accessorise the Princess’s going away outfit and in 1979 she became glovemaker ‘by appointment’ to Her Majesty the Queen.
Three generations later, the family business is still making gloves by hand in Sussex, England.
In the way James Bond should know what perfume a lady is wearing or flowers to give we are going to introduce you to four classic styles of glove and to Cornelia James, with their Royal Crest, a bastion of English finery and something that would make a beautiful gift for your loved one or for you ladies as yes, we all need pampering.
The Making of a pair of luxury gloves
Opportune that I visited their HQ, a farm in the idyllic Sussex countryside, during lambing season, with the spring daffodils just starting to come through.
A lot go into a pair of gloves, not least, 96 inches of stitching, each one executed with care and precision to make a glove fit to stand the test of time. One glovemaker fashions the glove from start to finish and when it’s done they put their name to it. It’s personal.
Cornelia James is run by the original owner’s daughter with ex- royal navy husband, just to add another James Bond link, together with 14 ateliers from all over the world, French, English, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Syrian and beyond. They work as a closeknit team to produce these beautiful garments, which feels slightly spiritual being based on the farm, and are shipped all over the world at great speed due to the lightweight packages, to Japan, USA, to dignitaries, royalty and yes celebrities from Rihanna to Her Majesty the late Queen they will all see who made each garment.
Cornelia James Photoshoot at The Gore & Franklin
Like in our movie, two iconic English hotels were chosen. The very quintessentially English Gore Hotel in Kensington, where you can read about our afternoon tea and the very private Franklin Hotel, nestled in a Knightsbridge side street and perfect for a little shopping trip.
Lunch in Knightsbridge or Monte Carlo?
Leonora – Lunch with your girlfriend, tennis at the club or meeting someone special.
Named for Cornelia’s granddaughter – Leonora. This glove is sweet and stylish. Made in sueded cotton and finished with a button cuff link, for those occasions when only gold buttons will fit the bill. It’s a glove that you can wear every day, but which will measure up when something a little bit special is required. The buttons are embossed to celebrate the founding of the business by Cornelia in 1946.
To buy or find out more (click here) – Leonora
What would have Grace Kelly do?
I love this clip as a supreme example of 50’s styling mixing uptown chic wrapped up in the south of France all under the watchful eyes of Mr Hitchcock.
Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 “To Catch a Thief”.
Clementine – Merino Wool Glove with Faux Fur Trim
Winter Kitten – looks glamorous on all occasions
A merino wool glove with a rich faux fur cuff to match. Designed to segue perfectly with the sleeve of your coat to keep the winter chill at bay. No more awkward draughts.
Clementine believes in Princess Perfection at all times, whether that’s 5th avenue shopping in January, meeting the parents, or a glamorous weekend in the countryside.
To buy or find out more (click here) – Clementine
Clio Silk Glove with 3 Buttons
Cocktail Diva
Short and simple with just 3 side buttons. Pure silk. Sometimes less is more. The buttons can be crystal or covered. You choose.
Clio believes in cutting to the chase. Her requirements are high end, expensive and very stylish. Whether that’s a wedding in white or cocktails in black. So, for your next Mayfair Cocktail Party, think 3buttons black.
To buy or find out more (click here) – Clio
Sofia – Tulle Opera glove
Princess at the summer ball
Ostrich feathers are never less than a show of pure joy and here, matched with tulle, they make a simple, classic glove simply spectacular. Sofia is nothing if not versatile. It speaks of pure joie de vivre and simple classic styling done spectacularly right.
Sofia maybe going to the opera, or maybe she is going to the ball or maybe she is going to dance around the lawn on midsummers day.
To buy or find out more (click here) – Sofia
Or the
Ariadne Satin Opera Glove
For The Duchess in you
A long evening glove in satin, finishing above the elbow and trimmed with ostrich feathers. An exercise in pure glamour for the big event. There is really nothing quite like Ostrich feathers when you need to conjure up a sense of occasion.
To buy or find out more (click here) – Ariadne
So, to conclude, Did you know.
The bolt and thumb is not a Cornish folk dance but look here….
They can make gloves where the wedding ring can be seen. As they say on The Las Vegas Shopping Channel (not real) – How cool is that folks!!!
A pair of gloves takes 1 to 2 hours to make.
Points on pingers – You Tell Me!
USA and Japan are the two biggest global markets for Cornelia Jame…
Whether you dress just so every day or whether this is a way of expressing yourself, fashion is a form of theatre as we are creating a story and that story not only can be beautiful but empowering as we are not all bestowed with catwalk credibility but your style can give you confidence and give you that extra lift, whether in the board room or your confident friends, with someone you love or because it just brings a big smile to your face.
Cornelia James gloves it is safe to say is absolutely at the top of its tree, where it has sat for many a year and we wish them many years of continued perching.
Bon Chance Cornelia James.
Cornelia James
Phone: +44 1273 920761
We would like to thank our esteemed friends at The Gore Hotel London
in Kensington and The Franklin in Knightsbridge