The Best Ballet Flats To Take You Through Spring And Beyond

The answer to most of this season’s sartorial footwear dilemmas? Ballet flats. At some point in the 1940s, the design made the transition from being a dance-studio essential to a polished daywear option – and has never been far from the style radar since. Synonymous with Parisian Left Bank elegance, ballet flats have graced the stylish feet of Hollywood stars from Audrey Hepburn (who famously had hers made by Salvatore Ferragamo in the ’50s) to Brigitte Bardot – and, more recently, were a footwear favorite of the 2000s, worn on repeat by Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. For the past few seasons, ballet flats’ soaring popularity has been steadily transitioning the style to a firm closet staple.

Beyond their undeniable elegance, the beauty of ballet flats lies in both their versatility and comfort – usually crafted in supple leather, mesh or suede, they fit like a glove and will go with everything from knitted dresses to straight-leg jeans and sharp tailoring. Winter is the perfect time to embrace darker colors, making Bally’s burgundy flats the ultimate investment. They’re crafted from glossy patent leather and have dainty crossover straps. Embrace their ’60s feel by styling them with a mini skirt and ankle socks. Elsewhere, Gucci’s ballet flats are made from canvas jacquard and topped with the label’s iconic horsebit hardware. For something with a punkish edge, try Alaïa’s ‘Carla’ pair in crystal-embellished suede – the round-toe shape is timeless and looks chic with midi skirts and wide-leg jeans alike.

Alternatively, embrace pure elegance with sleek point- and square-toe silhouettes. Gabriela Hearst’s berry-red suede ‘Liv’ flats are detailed with glossy patent-leather panels, while The Row’s cream leather ‘Awar’ pair comes in a softer almond shape. Elsewhere, Christian Louboutin’s smooth leather-trimmed satin ‘Mamastrapitina’ style resembles traditional barre shoes and have buckled Mary Jane straps.

For the ultimate ladylike option, choose Gianvito Rossi’s ‘Carla’ Mary Janes. Crafted from leopard-print suede and chic in their simplicity, they look just as polished styled with double denim as they do midi dresses. Or make more of a statement in Jil Sander’s black leather flats, which are topped with sculptural gold hardware and have an exaggerated round-toe silhouette that will make them the talking point of all your outfits.

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