Shania Twain goes shoulder-high at the Grammys!

True elegance never goes out of style...

Such was the case at the 1999 Grammy Awards, when Canadian Shania Twain belted her hits out on the stage while wearing a pair of my sensual shoulder high gloves. This may have been 16 years ago, but Ines has made it so that her styles are simply timeless...

Ines on the glossy pages of Elle Canada!!!

The Netherlands-born Ines Gloves' concept goes international with an appearance in Elle Canada!

Use my sensual shoulder high gloves to inspire the perfectly polished styles of the 40s. This article carried an Alfred Hitchcock-inspired theme and used leather gloves reminiscent of Ines' designs to bring a vintage look into the contemporary era.

Browse the Ines Gloves' gloveshop to create your own personal style!

Happy Victoria Day from Friends of Elegance Canada!!!

Happy Victoria Day to all of our Friends of Elegance Canada!

Victoria Day is a special day set aside to commemorate the birth of Queen Victoria, reigning queen of England from 1837 until 1901. During the period of her reign, women traditionally wore tight corsets, puffed sleeves, and elaborate crinolines beneath their gowns.

Gloves were a staple accessory for both men and women. Whether it was time for tea, church, or just a social call, gloves were a necessity. To accommodate the feeling of the time, long gloves like my sensual shoulder high gloves were actually worn so tightly that it would often take upwards of 20 minutes to don a single glove!

Tonight will be a night of fireworks, barbecues, and fun... but we shall never forget the ideals and fashion trends set forth by Queen Victoria.

And saving the best for last...

Personally, I cannot be more excited about my favourite fashion trend this spring in Canada... leather!!! Perhaps the most versatile material ever discovered, leather is practical, yet fashionable and oh-so-much fun.

This spring, Canadian designers are using leather in more subtle ways. Though jackets and pants will ensure forever, we are seeing more leather gloves a la Ines...

Two spring trends come together in a single ensemble, with florals and my sensual shoulder high gloves combining forces to create a beautiful spring outfit. So very feminine and elegant...

Though black is timeless, don't be timid when it comes to using colour this spring. My short every day glace gloves are available in so many happy colours, that it should be easy to enhance your elegance and chose a colour to match your personality.

Explore all of the styles trending in Canada this spring, and visit the Ines Gloves' gloveshop to make leather gloves part of it all!

Spring in Canada... it's "sheer" bliss!

The allure of "barely there" hits home this spring on the fashion runways in Canada, with sheer chiffon stealing the spotlight. This spring, Canadians will be using sheer fabrics as an accent, and not as a replacement for clothing.

Singer Kylie Minogue steps out with a missing my sensual indulging up-shoulder glove and a barely-there hint of sheer with garter-style stockings. Alluring, and very elegant!

The beauty of sheer is that it can be worn with practically anything, without the heaviness of typical fabrics. It adds a layer of femininity and a hint of mystery...

... but the combination of leather AND sheer simply steals the show! Here, my sensual shoulder high gloves cover the arms, while sheer fabric lightly drapes the upper body and legs. Showing something, yet revealing nothing all in the same breath...

Spring in Canada... bride-to-be white!

If you and the man of your dreams are planning on betting married in Canada this year, you are in luck! Both the fashion runways in Toronto and in Paris were filled with beautiful white dresses, perfect for your special day.

The best part of this latest trend in Canada, however, is that these dresses can be worn both when walking down the aisle or to a dinner party! Pairing a beautiful, white dress with a pair of my sensual shoulder high gloves takes your ensemble from bridal white to pure elegance in an instant!

Canadian streets will be filled with white dresses of all kinds... from trendy mini dresses to Victorian-style gowns with modern updates. All you really need this spring is to choose the leather gloves, and match them to the dress of your choice.

Whether it's walking down the aisle, or doing a day of shopping with the girls, white is this season's go-to colour in Canada. And what better way to celebrate than with a matching pair of my sensual almost elbow-high gloves?

Ines Gloves bring new life to an old trend...

The Netherlands-born Ines Gloves' concept goes international with an appearance in Elle Canada!

Use my sensual shoulder high gloves to inspire the perfectly polished styles of the 40s. This article carried an Alfred Hitchcock-inspired theme and used leather gloves reminiscent of Ines' designs to bring a vintage look into the contemporary era.

Browse the Ines Gloves' gloveshop to create your own personal style!

Vanessa Hudgens captures the glovey spirit of Audrey Hepburn

From the pages of Elle Canada comes the elegant spirit of Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany's...

Actress/ singer Vanessa Hudgens was recently featured in this Canadian magazine wearing the sensual shoulder high gloves that made Audrey Hepburn so famous.

Just like Ines Gloves, the elegance of Audrey Hepburn is timeless...

Celebrating stylish Canadians in leather: James Cameron

Director James Cameron was born in 1954 in Ontario, Canada, and made his mark in popularity with Titanic (1997), a new adaptation of the fateful disaster in 1912.

In addition to being the director of one of the highest grossing movies of all time, James has also merited 3 Oscar awards! And he's just getting started...

James becomes involved in his movies like no other director before him: he is a deep sea diver, producer, screenwriter, and editor, often using footage from his own exploration in his films. James may not wear much leather, but Titanic featured a series of my sensual shoulder high gloves in white and black for us to get our leather glove fix.

Ines Gloves in Canada

Leather gloves all the way from Amsterdam have crossed the Canadian border and will soon grace the pages of FAVE magazine...

You guessed it! My sensual shoulder high gloves in a variety of pretty colours have been lovingly wrapped in Ines-embossed paper and are currently on the way to Canada for a fashion shoot for FAVE magazine.

Stay tuned to see the elegance of Ines in Canada!

Small-town girl, big city, for the dress of her dreams...

I am so excited!! Tomorrow is the day that my fiance and I will set our wedding date! We are heading down to our possible venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to meet with my fiance's aunt and the owner of the beautiful art gallery that may very well become the location of our dream wedding...

But first... a trip to Northbound Leather in the heart of Canada's fashion capital to begin the creation of my leather wedding dress!!

The beauty of the designers at Northbound is that they can take any leather outfit and create it in any colour. My wedding dress will be an ivory white, with lace accents at the bodice, but I need their creative genius to help me make the design in my head a true reality. The dress will say Northbound, but the sensual shoulder high gloves will be only Ines...

Check back for new glimpses into my leather wedding journey, as I document my adventures on Friends of Elegance Canada.

Canadian leather fashionista signs autographs in long leather!

Quebec-born francophone songstress Celine Dion is well-known for her keen fashion sense. All you have to do is to check out her amazing theatrical show in Las Vegas to see beautiful stage costumes galore. Even when sharing a private moment with her fans, Celine loves to wear her favourite Ines Gloves... my sensual shoulder high gloves complete her classic cocktail dress look, making her camera-ready all the time!

The perfect dress for the perfect day...

Sometimes, the perfect wedding dress goes beyond convention... when the right dress presents itself, the feeling of perfection is overwhelming. Such was the case when I stumbled upon a leather halter dress in Northbound Leather, the most amazing leather store located in the heart of downtown Toronto.

Tears sprang to my eyes when I tried it on... the dress was perfect! Now, my next step is to meet with a designer to customize this luxurious dress to me. White leather is a necessity, and to that end, I will be looking to Ines Gloves for a pair of my sensual shoulder high gloves to match!

Stay tuned to later blog posts for the process... very exciting!

Ines' lovely leather appears in Elle Canada!

The Netherlands-born Ines Gloves' concept goes international with an appearance in Elle Canada!

Use my sensual shoulder high gloves to inspire the perfectly polished styles of the 40s. This article carried an Alfred Hitchcock-inspired theme and used leather gloves reminiscent of Ines' designs to bring a vintage look into the contemporary era.

Browse the Ines Gloves' gloveshop to create your own personal style!

Happy Victoria Day!

Happy Victoria Day to all of our Friends of Elegance Canada!

Victoria Day is a special day set aside to commemorate the birth of Queen Victoria, reigning queen of England from 1837 until 1901. During the period of her reign, women traditionally wore tight corsets, puffed sleeves, and elaborate crinolines beneath their gowns.

Gloves were a staple accessory for both men and women. Whether it was time for tea, church, or just a social call, gloves were a necessity. To accommodate the feeling of the time, long gloves like my sensual shoulder high gloves were actually worn so tightly that it would often take upwards of 20 minutes to don a single glove!

Tonight will be a night of fireworks, barbecues, and fun... but we shall never forget the ideals and fashion trends set forth by Queen Victoria.

Canadian Rachel Blais loves long leather gloves!

Montreal-based fashion model Rachel Blais shows her love for the long leather glove on the cover of Fashion Canada magazine. My sensual shoulder high gloves give a touch of elegance to any sleeveless dress, for any occasion...

Indulge in a pair of Ines Gloves to add a little leather feeling to your spring/ summer wardrobe!

Ines' spotlight on Canadian designers: Sarah Stevenson

Sarah Stevenson is a the young, talented fashion designer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who recently competed and won the Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels competition.

Sarah's unique designs are reminiscent of Dutch still life paintings of the Baroque era, and will be seen within the year in Target stores across Canada. Now that this popular chain has ventured above the border, Target is hoping to celebrate Canada. What better way to do this than to celebrate a young, motivated, talented new Canadian designer?

Sarah's fashions are truly beautiful, complementing the feminine form and pairing flowery florals with bold, exciting colors.

Personally, I fully intend to keep a close watch on Sarah's collections, and will be eagerly waiting to bring them home to add to my personal collection!

The delightful colors and patterns used in Sarah's creations can be perfectly matched with the unique colors of Ines Gloves. Try a short-sleeved dress with a pair of my sensual shoulder high gloves (on special at Ines' glove shop!) or pair longer sleeves with my silk-lined every day glace gloves for the ultimate in sensuality and elegance!

Glove love in the movies...

To all my Friends of Elegance and fellow leather glove lovers, I invite you all to curl up on the sofa with some popcorn and indulge in one of my favorite movies Down with love (2003), starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. This is no ordinary chick flick!

Down with Love gives a stylish portrayal of a young woman who comes to New York with stars in her eyes and big dreams in her heart, only to find a male-dominated workplace. Not to worry though... the very resourceful Barbara Novak (Zellweger) soon writes her way to the very top of the bestseller list, catching the eye of the most famous journalist and eligible bachelor along the way!

Apart from a very cute storyline, this movie features a wide variety of gloves, including my sensual shoulder-high gloves and short every day glace gloves. Very reminiscent of the early 1950s, when leather gloves were still very much a part of a woman's daily wardrobe.

Enjoy the show! For a small taste, check out the trailer for Down with Love:

Origins of my sensual shoulder-high gloves

Believe it or not, gloves have been worn for upwards of three thousand years! Our very favorite (and very elegant) shoulder-high gloves appear to have appeared during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Queen Elizabeth I is known to have worn a pair of 18-inch long white leather gauntlet gloves with 2-inches of solid gold fringe at a ceremony in 1566. Coincidentally, my elbow high leather gauntlet gloves are available in present time for those of you who wish to try to simulate the royal gloves of the Queen.

A little over 100 years later, Queen Mary was painted wearing her own version of shoulder-high gloves...

My sensual shoulder high gloves first gained popularity as essential items of fashion around the era of Napolean I (late 1700s), but such gloves had already started to appear throughout Europe...

Speaking of Napolean, did you know that he himself was a glove wearer? As of 1806, Napolean was rumored to own about 240 pairs of gloves! He was a huge advocate of feminine fashion, and encouraged the Empress Josephine to always dress in the style of the times. As it turns out, however, the Empress was actually quite dissatisfied with her hands, and wore gloves to mask their "ugliness".

In the times of Napolean, gloves were surprisingly available in a wide variety of colors and were made from many different materials. Kidskin leather and cloth were quite popular - the particular glove style involved leaving the glove loose around the arm of the wearer so that they could be fashionably "scrunched" towards the wrist.

Sadly, in 1825, the popularity of my sensual shoulder high gloves would diminish, to make room for the long, fashionable sleeves of the early- and mid-Victorian periods. Even when women wore short sleeves, a short pair of every day glace gloves would be worn.

Canadian superstar Celine Dion loves Ines style!!!

Quebec, Canada, native Celine Dion has one of the most powerful, emotional, and evocative voices in modern music today. And she loves Ines' style...



... singing in Dubai, UAE, in my sensual indulging gloves bolero...

... celebrating a Grammy nomination in a pair of stunning black leather pants...

... greeting her extensive fan base in a pair of my sensual shoulder high gloves...

... preparing to make a grand entrance on the Caesar's Palace stage in Las Vegas wearing a pair of my sensual oh-la-la leg gloves...

... and posing for her Taking Chances album in a delightful pair of leather pants...

As you can see, the Ines style is unique, diverse, and absolutely beautiful!