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A woman in a black gown and long black opera gloves beside a marble statue in a panelled room

Glovemakers by Royal Appointment

Handmade gloves,
since 1946

Our story

We're proud to be family-owned for three generations. We've been making our gloves in Sussex, England, since Cornelia started in 1946. We put a lot into a pair of our 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.

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Made yours

Initials, a ring window or a fit made to measure: the details that make a pair theirs alone.

As featured in

  • Vogue
  • Elle
  • Grazia
  • Tatler
  • Harper's Bazaar
  • The New York Times
  • Town & Country
  • W Magazine

Customer reviews

What our customers say

4.8 out of 5from 1,354 reviews

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Received these as a gift because I have always struggled to find gloves that fit properly. After a call to help get the measurements right, the gloves arrived quicker than I expected. I was worried they wouldn't fit because the proportions looked so strange, when you're used to the one size fits all gloves, but they fitted perfectly and I am beyond happy. I will be wearing them with everything!

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H.

10 October 2026

The gloves were lovely, and the ring feature was very special. Overall however, I felt that the service response during the second round of communications especially could have been better, and perhaps a bit less condescending. Does not detract however from the unique nature of the product.

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Anonymous

Boston, US · 10 October 2026

Received my first pair of gloves! Cannot wait to wear them everyday!

They are gorgeous and I am so happy to have a pair of gloves that actually fit me! I have small hands that have been recently getting quite painful in the winter cold. Family and friends had suggested children gloves to me since my hands are in the 6 1/2 size range and 2.5inch index finger length and nothing in stores ever seems to fit them in the adult section, but I wanted something beautiful and appropriate to my style of course! The index finger was the only thing about my gloves I wish were a little nicer. It’s a little longer than 2.5 inches so a tiny bit too big around the tip, I likely measured the size incorrectly! But otherwise beautiful in the most mesmerising quiet way. I have never liked looking at my hands more when I have them on! No ordinary pair of gloves indeed. I will absolutely be purchasing every future pair of gloves from Cornelia James in the future!

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Akila

7 October 2026

Very impressed with the prompt delivery and quality. We found out about Cornelia James' gloves during a lecture given during our visit to the Kings Gallery exhibition of clothes worn by the late Queen Elizabeth. My wife loved them and I ordered straight away.

Mark

London, GB · 30 September 2026

I couldn’t be happier with my experience with Cornelia James. My Anthea gloves are absolutely perfect! 💕 After I accidentally sent the wrong measurements, the team were so patient, kind and caring in helping me get everything corrected. They went above and beyond to help me find the perfect colour and make sure the measurements were exactly right. The exchange process was incredibly easy, and throughout the whole experience they were so helpful, attentive and professional. It’s clear that they genuinely care about their customers and take great pride in their beautiful bespoke designs. I would highly recommend Cornelia James to anyone looking for beautifully made, bespoke gloves and exceptional customer service. Thank you so much for making the whole experience so lovely! ❤️

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Jamie

29 September 2026

wunderschöne Handschuhe, weich, perfekt angepasst

Anonym

Stralsund, DE · 25 September 2026

Cotton opera gloves fit perfectly. Gorgeous material with subtle sheen. Perfect for a more understated look than satin or silk. Shipping was quick and easy. Highly recommend!

MARY

New York City, US · 22 September 2026

It was okay. I measured everything properly and the gloves fit at the bicep yet they were soooo loose throughout the rest of the arm. Looked very saggy not at all fitting or classy. I tried to exchange and they had me send a picture so we can determine what to do next and I never heard back after I sent the photo that was a week ago. This is so frustrating and stressful because my wedding is in two weeks. At least the color matched. I ordered a different material and type of glove. So Good luck to me on the second pair of gloves arriving hopefully they’ll be better..

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Anonymous

Portland, US · 22 September 2026

Beautiful scarf, as described. The lilac color is divine and I'm so grateful it's not itchy as I tend to be on the sensitive side. Perfect length!

Keylan

Bethesda, US · 21 September 2026

Great. Thank you for a wonderful experience as always.

Angela

Brownsville, US · 21 September 2026

Cornelia James, founder and glovemaker by Royal Appointment, with white and navy handmade gloves

Our founder

From refugee to the Queen's glovemaker

Cornelia James arrived in England in 1939 from Vienna. Three generations later the family still makes every glove in Sussex.

From the journal

Guides from the atelier

All guides
Do You Know How To Wear Long Evening Gloves? We’ve Got You Covered-Cornelia James

Do You Know How To Wear Long Evening Gloves? We’ve Got You Covered

There’s one thing that we’ve never needed to search for on Google: ‘how to wear long gloves?’ The reason for that is quite simple – we’re already experts in the art of wearing opera gloves. From the etiquette rules to fabric care, we’re clued-up completely. And you can be too, with just a little help from our handy guide.

How To Choose Your Bridal Gloves-Cornelia James

How To Choose Your Bridal Gloves

The Wedding Glove: where do we even begin? We know how much you have to consider on a day as special as this, which is why we’ve established a guide on how pick the perfect gloves for your perfect day. Whether you’re after a classic satin white opera glove or a simple lace mitten, Cornelia James has a wide-range made to suit your bridal style. Trust us: you’re in good hands.

How to Care for Your Leather Gloves - The Complete Guide-Cornelia James

How to Care for Your Leather Gloves - The Complete Guide

Caring for your leather gloves shouldn't be hard - if the quality is there in the first place you should have little to do at your end. A good leather glove, like ours, should retain its shape and definition for decades and very easily repay the initial cost. Nevertheless, we have seen first hand how 'well-loved' a pair of gloves can end up.

Black Cornelia James gift boxes tied with gold organza ribbon, stacked on a sage velvet armchair

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Letters from the atelier

Notes on craft, colour and occasion from our workshop in Sussex — and first word on new collections.

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