Make no mistake: whilst they’ve been a total trend of late, the best ballet flats are as much a capsule wardrobe essential as your favourite fashion trainers or loafers.
It’s hard to know which trends are worth investing in for the long haul; maybe you jumped on the jelly shoes trend too soon, or the fuzzy footwear movement made you forget about how much it rains in the UK. But ballet shoes have proven to be versatile and the easy way to add polish to any outfit. Trust: if you buy a pair of ballet flats now, you’re sure to reach for them next season, too.
Ballet flats FAQs, answered:
Of course, the trend isn’t really anything new. Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel made a statement back in the fifties with her two-tone sling backs. Over twenty years later when Karl Lagerfeld was at the helm of Chanel, he updated the sling back into the Chanel ballet pump we know today. Designers have since been putting their own spin on the shoe, but it’s Alaïa who most recently made them a moment.
Ever since the fashion house debuted their crystal flats a couple of years ago they’ve been a cult favourite amongst the fashion set. We’ve seen them at Fashion Week and in street style looks aplenty, and they even made it onto The Lyst Index report’s top products of the season last year. We can’t say we’re surprised.
It isn’t just the sparkly studs we love, either. Mesh ballet flats and crochet iterations have entered the chat, as have satin ballet pumps thanks to the Gucci Cruise 2025 collection and Miu Miu’s logo strap styles. If you’re looking for the shoes to take you through to autumn, those are the textures to look to.
Elsewhere, Iris Law’s making the case for sneakerinas – a sneaker-meets-ballerina hybrid – and Emma Chamberlin is all for the square-toe hype. If you’re more of a classic lover, though, and want something that’ll go with everything, take note from Dakota Johnson and Kelly Rutherford who’d argue black is the new black.
For more from Hattie Cotmore, follow her on Instagram @hattiecotmore. For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.
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