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Best Ballet Shoes: From Mesh Flats To Suede Mary Janes, These Are The Ballet Shoes To Buy Now
From Mango to Maison Margiela, these are the ballet flats to wear this spring and summer.
Ballet was not my dance discipline of choice growing up (I'm more of a commercial dance girl, thanks for asking), but as all fashion-lovers know, having no idea about a sport does not preclude you from loving, and owning, all of its associated gear.
Be it riding jackets, football shirts or tennis skirts, street style's adoption of sportswear (cycling glasses, bowling bag handbags, cowboy boots... I could go on) has always been a 'thing' - and ballet shoes are an enduring example. Last embraced in the 'Indie Sleaze' era circa 2007, when the late Amy Winehouse wore hers battered with polo shirts and puffball skirts, ballet shoes have been proudly back for a good couple of years now.
Since Miu Miu's AW22 show, their simple satin, logo strap ballet flats have birthed a thousand iterations, morphing to adopt the mesh, studded and Mary Jane micro trends as they cropped up.
Gucci has offered up its take in the latest instalment in the ballet shoe back catalogue. The Italian Houses Cruise 2025 collection, a debut in the resort world for Sabato De Sarno’s Creative Directorship, featured countless pairs as models weaved their way around a verdant installation at London’s Tate Modern. Styles varied from classical gathered-at-the-toe satin finishes—complete with horse-bit detailing—to red leather multi-strap variations. There were also particularly great rounded-toe styles that featured ribbon ties around the ankle.
I prefer the look of a real ballet shoe's silhouette, so last summer I bought from real dance brands like Bloch and the Paris Opera for my initial investments. As winter came about and a solid sole was useful, Arket, Wolf & Gypsy Vintage and Jeffrey Campbell all came through with excellent offerings. I've been pairing mine with vintage cottons in the warmer months, and a pair of Wales Bonner tracksuit bottoms or vintage Levi's in the cold, even making them work appropriate with an A-line midi skirt and denim shirt.
Whether you like your foot covered or are up for some toe cleavage, want to try some mesh or want to embrace colour (a pop of red, perhaps?) these are the best ballet flats about from The Row, Margiela and Alaïa, to Mango, Arket and Cos...
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