En Pointe: The Best Men’s
& Women’s Ballet Flats
From The Row to TOGA PULLA, these ballet flats from across the style spectrum will have you pirouetting around town.
Functional sportswear has been gradually inducted into the lifestyle wardrobe over decades. Track jackets, basketball sneakers, and polo shirts spring to mind as perfect examples, but there are many inductees that aren’t as obvious. Ballet flats, for example. Ballet flats might not feel like titans of functional design, but their lightweight versatility situates them perfectly at the center of several current trends.
Ballet pumps from names like The Row, Gabriela Hearst, Bode, and more slot naturally into trends like quiet luxury, Y2K style, and normcore. This doesn’t just go for womenswear, either; men’s ballet flats are trending as fashion hits more gender-neutral ideals.
So how do you style ballet flats? That’s the beauty of them: If you’re leaning toward a more formal look, try pairing leather ballet flats with tailored trousers or a dress. Otherwise, don’t be afraid of keeping it nonchalant with a flowy skirt or even shorts. The understated silhouette of the pumps makes for a sturdy, adaptable foundation.
Featured In This Image: Cecilie Bahnsen ballet flats.
The beauty of a growing trend is that creativity peaks. The classic ballerina flat silhouette has been reinvented time and time again lately in order to stand out. One of our favorite evolutions of the design comes from Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen, whose black ballet flat comes in neoprene with bow detailing at the vamp. Mikhail Baryshnikov would never have dreamed of such a thing.
Featured In This Image: The Row ballet flats.
An understated burgeoning footwear trend? Of course, The Row has lodged a claim to the title already. This pair of soft leather ballet pumps is made of supple nappa calfskin and has a refined, two-tone finish.
Featured In This Image: Thom Browne ballet flats.
Real ballet flats typically have squared toes to facilitate elegant tiptoeing, but Thom Browne looks the other way with a pointy finish to add impact. Signature tricolor straps on the heels round out the design.
Featured In This Image: Praying ballet flats.
From viral (blasphemous) bikinis to pink satin ballet flats, Praying’s creativity knows no bounds, and it’s all done with a healthy dose of tongue in cheek.
Featured In This Image: Toga Pulla ballet flats.
Toga Pulla’s characteristic silver-tone hardware gives this pair a bolder finish. Buckled straps cross over at the vamp, with each buckle intricately engraved for the Americana flair we’ve come to expect from this Japanese label.
Featured In This Image: TOM FORD ballet flats.
TOM FORD’s asymmetrical take on the ballet flat comes with a few design twists. A pointed toe aligns this pair with more formal outfits, while a detachable ankle strap offers a chance to wear these as slingback flats, too.
Featured In This Image: Gabriela Hearst ballet flats.
Gabriela Hearst fits this pair of ballet pumps with a half-inch heel for a touch of elevation. Retaining an uncluttered one-piece upper, this pair treads the line between casual, everyday wear and eveningwear.
Featured In This Image: GANNI ballet flats.
The Scrunchie ballet flat by GANNI takes advantage of the lightweight sole and malleable upper of the ballet shoe design. An elasticated build means that this pair expands when you’re wearing them, offering a snug fit to see you through any impromptu pirouettes.
Featured In This Image: Bode loafers.
PSA: Men can wear ballet flats, too. The world of men’s footwear has been blown wide open in recent years, with preconceived notions being rightfully felled. These Bode loafers feature a low-slung vamp finished with a bow appliqué for distinctive balletcore character.
Featured In This Image: Dries Van Noten slippers.
From a distance, this is a classic ballet flat; up close, features like the crossing straps, striking squared toe, and split outsole give that unmissable Dries Van Noten twist.
- Date: July 27, 2023
