It is no surprise that classic ballet flats have been around for nearly 70 years. The style was inadvertently created by iconic actress and pioneer of French-girl style Brigitte Bardot, who requested a pair of shoes as “lightweight and flexible as true ballet slippers” from designer Rose Repetto back in 1956, according to Repetto’s CEO, Jean-Marc Gaucher. Today, the style remains as enduring as ever. They offer a sense of ease and comfort that other trending shoes may not be able to provide. (I’m looking at you, sculptural heels!)
Despite being considered a classic to many, the shoe style goes through its own trend iterations just like every clothing item. Brands like Miu Miu and Alaïa have released their own takes on the style, the former sticking with the satin roots of ballet and the latter going in a more statement-making direction by using cutouts and embellishments. Whether you’re interested in trend-forward pairs or would rather stick to the classics, there’s a pair of ballet flats for everyone. Even our most heel-obsessed editor finally gave in and purchased the Miu Miu version.
I took it upon myself to source the best ballet flats on the market right now. These 27 styles hail from legacy brands like Miu Miu and Chanel as well as affordable retailers like Zara and J.Crew. No matter your preferred price point, these picks are stylish enough to wear for years to come.
J.Crew gets a lot of attention for its polished tops and prep-adjacent trends, but I think its shoe selection is highly underrated. Although a small selection, it is mighty. I own the Zoe ballet flats in two colorways (red and silver) and have raved about them to everyone I know. They fit snugly at first, but with enough wear, they stretch and really mold to your feet. Many J.Crew customers clearly agree, with five-star ratings filling up the pages of reviews. I walked (and biked!) all around Copenhagen with them and would gladly do it again. I usually opt for sneakers on vacation but am happy knowing I can trust these flats when I want to switch things up.
The Zoe flats come in a few different leather options, but new offerings include satin and mesh versions as well.
No, ballet flats aren’t new, but we have to give credit to Miu Miu for reigniting the spark on the satin-clad ballet slippers last fall. The brand has also released it in leather, comparable to it’s 2016 collection.
Founded in 2015, the Demi Flats shot online shoe brand Margaux up to fame. It’s an archetypal ballet-flats style, and two of our editors were quick to share their rave reviews on the shoes. “I’ve been a strict heel person for years, even wearing kitten-heel styles during the pandemic, so when the ballet-flats trend surfaced (thanks, Miu Miu), I admittedly wasn’t all that interested for myself,” said editor Eliza Huber of the style. These, however, quickly changed her mind. “It wasn’t until I needed a pair of shoes that worked with some slightly-too-short (and therefore calling for a pair of flats) trousers that my mind began to shift about them. Specifically, I brought out a pair of brown suede Margaux flats that I’d gotten about a year before that and never really given a chance to. I wore them that one time and genuinely have barely taken them off since. They’re definitely my most-worn shoes of the summer, with something like 500,000 steps of use, and by far the most comfortable dressed-up footwear option in my collection,” she explained.
Senior market editor Judith Jones also became a big fan of the shoes after she bought them at a suggestion from Harling Ross. “I’m still shocked at just how beautiful the quality is. Not to mention, they’re super comfortable and ultra-versatile. I own a tan pair but can’t wait to get more in different colors,” she said.
Zara is probably the quickest to make an affordable version of the most-wanted items on the market, and things were no different when ballet flats became more prominent on the scene. Offered in pristine white, dusty pink, and classic black, Zara has got you covered if you’re interested in testing the style out with your wardrobe on a budget. I’ve never had an issue of discomfort with Zara’s flats, as the brand always exceeds my comfort expectations with its simpler silhouettes.
While Khaite and Alaïa’s studded flats are currently out of stock everywhere (you may find some luck on secondhand sites), these Mango flats are your current shot at joining in on the embellished-flats fun. While they’re definitely a statement, they still can easily be paired with casual items like jeans to spruce things up.
We’ve all seen the iconic Tory Burch logo flats. When they were first released, it seemed like everyone and their mother wanted their hands on them. With the latest impeccable runway collections, it’s no surprise Burch brought a newer approach to the brand’s classic ballet flats as well. Customers were happy about the new style direction as well, with one reviewer posting on the Tory Burch website, “Not only are these ballet slippers fabulously comfortable, there are the first new look in the popular flat in many years. Putting the shoe-toe on slippers you and I can wear was sheer genius. It is a totally new look that is so welcome in the boring world of ballet flats that look the same every year. I wish they were not sold out. I would buy every color.”
When I first spotted these flats while visiting Nordstrom’s NYC flagship, I was shocked at how luxe they looked in person. They mimic popular designer styles but also come in fun colorways like blue denim, hot pink, and fiery red. If you already own a staple pair of ballet flats, these would be an excellent way to purchase buzzier trends without spending a fortune.
Although they come at a hefty price point, I have never heard a bad review of The Row’s ballet flats. They feature a barely-there sole and buttery-soft leather and come in a few different muted shades. According to The Row expert Neelam Ahooja, they fit true to size. They are more delicate than the others in this roundup, so they shouldn’t be the ones you reach for when you’ll be walking miles.
If your social media algorithm is in tune with mine, you might have been seeing these mesh ballet flats all over your feed recently. (The toes are out this summer!) Based on reviews, many customers did have some issues with sizing, with many suggesting that the sizing runs big, and those with wider feet have a better fit when going a size up. However, after finding the perfect size, they had nothing but glowing reviews. One reviewer posted on the brand’s site, “I was afraid the edging of these would dig into my heels. Nope. I was afraid the soles would be too thin and hurt my legs walking around on concrete. Nope. These are comfortable and sexy. I generally would never buy shoes blind off the internet, and I did need to exchange them for a half-size smaller, but these shoes are amazing. So happy I bought them, and I have no remorse at all.”
When I first spotted these flats on my TikTok feed, I was intrigued by the cotton and canvas material. Our associate director of fashion news, Erin Fitzpatrick, was quick to share her love for the shoes when she found out I was writing this story. “I absolutely love these comfortable flats. The fabric is super-soft terry cloth, and the shoes feel like walking on a cloud. I was able to wear these for an entire day right out of the box—no breaking in necessary and definitely no blisters,” she raved.
It’s not possible to talk about ballet flats without bringing up Chanel. The cap-toed flats and slingbacks have almost become synonymous with the aesthetic surrounding the luxury brand. You can find dozens of reviews online, many complimenting the supple lambskin leather that has slightly more stretch than other leather shoes. Considering the flats are a derivative of the pumps that launched in 1957, you can be comfortable knowing these shoes will never go out of style.
In my past H&M shopping experience, it’s always been the pieces from the Premium collection that have impressed me the most. One H&M reviewer went so far as to say they were “literally and truthfully the most comfortable pair of flats [they’ve] ever tried on.”
