I spent years convinced ballet flats were for people with better balanced lives than mine, the sort who cycle to work without incident and own an umbrella that actually opens. Then I wore a pair to a wedding in Dorset, walked across a gravel car park, a field, and a marquee floor without once thinking about my feet, and had to admit I’d been wrong for the better part of a decade. That’s the whole case for them, really. Nothing dramatic happens. That’s the point.
A proper pair earns its place through shape, not decoration.
Look for a rounded, slightly squared toe rather than anything too pointed, a sole with a bit of actual structure so you’re not feeling every pebble through it, and enough room across the front of the foot that you’re not doing that pinched shuffle by four in the afternoon. Leather softens and moves with you in a way most synthetics never quite manage, and it ages properly too, scuffed rather than tired. The elastic or the seaming at the topline matters more than people think.
Too tight and it cuts, too loose and you’ll be adjusting them at every crossing.
Styling wise, they’re the flat shoe that does the most convincing of any other. With a slightly cropped, slightly wide trouser they read tidy without trying. Under a slip skirt with bare ankles they go quiet and elegant. With jeans, turned up once, they stop the whole outfit looking like you’re on your way to walk a dog. I’ve even had one worn under a proper structured coat for a lunch that needed to look like more effort than it was, and nobody clocked that the shoes cost a fraction of everything else.
They’re the shoe for the day that has three different demands in it, an early meeting, a walk somewhere, a dinner you can’t be late for, and no time to change in between. Not a going out shoe, not really a countryside shoe either, whatever anyone tells you about “practical flats for a wedding in a field.” They’re the in between shoe, the one that gets you through the actual shape of a day without announcing itself once.
Top Picks
BALLET FLATFRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Sarto Flexa Winley Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Faux Raffia) 6.0 M Pointed Toe
$129.28
$74.98 FRANCO SARTO
BALLET FLATDR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Violet Ballet Flat Shoes Metallic Taupe Faux Leather DRSCH 11.0
$59.69
$39.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
BALLET FLATLARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Marigold and Natural Striped Fabric and Tulip Trimming - 10 / Yellow
$189.00 LARROUDE
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Delira Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Leather) 7.0 M Slip On Fit, Round Toe, Slip
$130.00 FRANCO SARTO
LARROUDEBlair Ballet Flat In Caramel Leather - 5 / Caramel
$94.50 LARROUDE
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Rosalee Ballet Flat Shoes (Truffle Beige Suede) 5.5 M Slip On Fit, Almond Toe, Slip
$130.00 FRANCO SARTO
SAM EDELMANFelicity Woven Ballet Flat Modern Ivory
$150.00 SAM EDELMAN
NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Dark Chestnut Stud Suede Leather, 10.0W Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole
$148.00 NATURALIZER
LARROUDEPavlova Ballet Flat In Burnt Umber Leather - 5.5 / Burnt Umber Leather
$174.00 LARROUDE
LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Navy and Natural Striped Fabric and Lemonade Trimming - 5 / Navy
$189.00 LARROUDE
NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Stud Leather, 10.0W Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole
$148.00 NATURALIZER
LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Eggplant Suede - 9.5 / Purple
$94.50 LARROUDE
NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Patina Pewter Leather, 10.0M Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole
$130.00 NATURALIZER
LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Black Suede And Black Shearling - 7.5 / Black
$225.00 LARROUDE
NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Warm White Stud Leather, 8.5M Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole
$148.00 NATURALIZER
RYKARyka Clever Ballet Flat Shoes Black Knit Fabric 6.0 M Slip On, Lightweight
$69.99 RYKA
NATURALIZERNaturalizer Carla-Jelly Ballet Flat Shoes, Dark Brown Jelly, 11.0M Slip
$65.00 NATURALIZER
LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Seaweed Suede - 7.5 / Seaweed
$210.00 LARROUDE
SHOEMALL.COMUGG Zora Ballet Flat Women's Brown Slip On 12
$129.95 SHOEMALL.COM
CERQULARCHRISTIAN DIOR Womens Black Mesh Ballet Shoes UK 6 J'Adior Strap Flat Synthetic
$259.99 CERQULAR
LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Marigold and Natural Striped Fabric and Tulip Trimming - 10 / Yellow
$189.00 LARROUDE
LARROUDEPavlova Ballet Flat In Indigo Suede - 11 / Navy
$174.00 LARROUDE
SHOEMALL.COMFree People Ursa Gemini Ballet Flat Women's Gold Slip On 6
$108.00 SHOEMALL.COM
SAM EDELMANAlie Ballet Flat Green Limon Suede
$120.00 SAM EDELMAN
SHOEMALL.COMFree People Ursa Gemini Ballet Flat Women's Black Slip On 6
$108.00 SHOEMALL.COM
ANINE BINGVionic Women's Gracia Ballet Flat with Arch Support in Desert Sand Suede, Size
$150.00 ANINE BING
RYKARyka Clever Ballet Flat Shoes Flintstone Blue Knit Fabric 8.0 M Slip On, Lightweight
$69.99 RYKA
−40%
GAP FACTORYJelly Ballet Flat$49.98
$29.99 GAP FACTORY
−65%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Kallie Ballet Flat Shoes (Elemental Blue Knit Fabric) 11.0$85.69
$29.99 LIFESTRIDE
−65%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Kallie Ballet Flat Shoes (Bright White Knit Fabric) 9.5 W$85.69
$29.99 LIFESTRIDE
−61%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARLifestride Women's Kallie Ballet Flat Shoes (Elemental Blue Knit Fabric) - Size 10.0$84.59
$32.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−33%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Violet Ballet Flat Shoes Metallic Taupe Faux Leather DRSCH 11.0$59.69
$39.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−55%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARNaturalizer Women's Cody Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Leather) - Size 9.5 W$111.07
$49.98 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−17%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Violet Ballet Flat Shoes Off White Faux Leather DRSCH 7.5$60.23
$49.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−20%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARCliffs by White Mountain Women's Charmed Ballet Flat Shoes (Denim Blue Fabric) - Size 11.0$68.74
$54.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−20%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARCliffs by White Mountain Women's Charmed Wide Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Smooth) - Size 10.0 W$68.74
$54.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−60%
FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Sarto Flexa Amaya 7 Ballet Flat Shoes (Chartreuse Green Fabric) 9.0 M Slip On Fit, Square Toe, Slip$139.95
$55.98 FRANCO SARTO
−17%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARWhite Mountain Women's Bocah Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Glitter Fabric) - Size 10.0$68.66
$56.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−30%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARJournee Women's Ishani Medium/Wide Ballet Flat Shoes (Oxblood) - Size 10.0$85.70
$59.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−29%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARBzees For Lifestride Women's Fairleigh Ballet Flat Shoes (Brown Leopard Knit Fabric) - Size 10.0$84.49
$59.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−50%
NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Velvet Leather, 5.0M Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole$129.98
$64.99 NATURALIZER
−50%
NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Cabernet Sauvignon Red Velvet Leather, 8.0M Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole$129.98
$64.99 NATURALIZER
−24%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARJournee Women's Kaiah Ballet Flat Shoes (Black) - Size 7.5 W$85.51
$64.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−42%
DRAPER JAMESEloise Ballet Flat$118.97
$69.00 DRAPER JAMES
−39%
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Christina Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Mesh) 9.0 W Round Toe$114.72
$69.98 FRANCO SARTO
−42%
FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Sarto Flexa Winley Ballet Flat Shoes (Buffalo Sequin) 9.5 M Pointed Toe$129.28
$74.98 FRANCO SARTO
−42%
FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Sarto Flexa Winley Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Faux Raffia) 6.0 M Pointed Toe$129.28
$74.98 FRANCO SARTO
−16%
NATURALIZERNaturalizer Maxwell Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Leather, 8.5W Slip-On, Round Toe$98.80
$82.99 NATURALIZER
−39%
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Amalia Ballet Flat Shoes (Ocra Gold Faux Leather) 8.5 M Slip On Fit, Round Toe, Slip$139.31
$84.98 FRANCO SARTO
−28%
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Tinsley Mary Jane Flat Shoes (Ballet Pink Mesh) 7.0 M Square Toe, Buckle Closure$124.97
$89.98 FRANCO SARTO
−30%
SAM EDELMANEsmira Pointed Toe Ballet Flat Cyprus Tan Suede$139.99
$97.99 SAM EDELMAN
−40%
ANN TAYLORAnn Taylor Weekend Leather Mary Jane Ballet Flat$168.00
$100.80 ANN TAYLOR
−40%
IFCHICSalvatore Ferragamo Vara Bow Ballet Flat - US$950.00
$570.00 IFCHIC
