Shop the Black Ballet Flats We’d Actually Wear

I spent about a decade convinced black ballet flats were what you wore when you’d given up. Sensible shoes for sensible women, the sort my aunt Pauline kept by the back door for church. I was wrong, and I’m saying that to the flats directly: I’m sorry, I underestimated you, and it took a wedding in Norfolk with a grass car park to sort me out.

Because that’s the thing about a genuinely good pair. It has to survive the actual world, not just the fitting room. You want a sole with a bit of structure, not cardboard pretending to be leather, and a shape that sits close to the foot without pinching across the top, because that’s the bit that ruins an evening.

A round or slightly pointed toe reads more grown up than a square one, and anything too flat and floppy will have you walking like you’re trying not to wake someone. My colleague Ines wore hers through an entire conference day in Manchester, four hours on her feet on a concrete floor, and reported back that her only complaint was the coffee, not the shoes. That’s the bar.

Styling wise, they’re doing the most work when you stop treating them as an afterthought.

Tuck them under a wide leg trouser so a sliver of ankle shows, or wear them with a long skirt and let the hem skim just above them. They cut a slim dress down to something you could actually run for a train in. Socks, if you’re brave, a thin ribbed pair in a colour that argues gently with the rest of the outfit. Bare legs in summer with a slip dress and a blazer thrown over the shoulders like you’ve somewhere better to be after.

They suit the moments that need you to look pulled together without announcing it. Client lunches, a christening, a gallery opening where you’ll be standing for two hours pretending to understand the art, a long day of errands that somehow ends at a bar. Not a wedding dance floor, learnt that one properly. But for almost everything else, the black flat is quietly doing more than the heel ever did, and costing you nothing by evening.

Top Picks

BLACK BALLET FLATFRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Sarto Flexa Dovie Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Leather) 11.0 M Pointed Toe

$120.66 $69.98 FRANCO SARTO

BLACK BALLET FLATSHIEKHWomen UGG Australia Isbella Black Ballet Flat BLACK Flats 6 BLACK

$99.99 $80.99 SHIEKH

BLACK BALLET FLATW CONCEPT (US)GLIN Studded Flat Ballet (JLSO5E105BK)

$130.00 W CONCEPT (US)

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Leather, 10.0M Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole $130.00 NATURALIZER

SHOEMALL.COMFree People Ursa Gemini Ballet Flat Women's Black Slip On 6 $108.00 SHOEMALL.COM

RYKARyka Clever Ballet Flat Shoes Black Knit Fabric 6.0 M Slip On, Lightweight $69.99 RYKA

LARROUDEPavlova Ballet Flat In Black Leather - 6.5 / Black $290.00 LARROUDE

LARROUDEMilan Ballet Flat In Black Leather - 6 / Black $81.00 LARROUDE

LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Black Suede And Black Shearling - 7.5 / Black $225.00 LARROUDE

SAM EDELMANFelicity Woven Ballet Flat Black Leather $150.00 SAM EDELMAN

SAM EDELMANMarcie Ballet Flat Black Weave $140.00 SAM EDELMAN

SAM EDELMANAlie Ballet Flat Black Suede $120.00 SAM EDELMAN

LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat Beige Raffia - 12 / Beige Raffia and Black Trimming $189.00 LARROUDE

LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In Black Suede - 12 / Black $350.00 LARROUDE

W CONCEPT (US)Dahlia Flat Ballet [Black] (BF5APF03BK) $258.00 W CONCEPT (US)

FAMOUS FOOTWEARAerosoles Women's Onyx Medium/Wide Ballet Flat Shoes (Black) - Size 10.0 $114.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

FAMOUS FOOTWEARSam And Libby Women's Carlin Ballet Flat Shoes (Black) - Size 10.0 $64.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

W CONCEPT (US)Big Bow Ribbon Mary Jane Ballet Flat Shoes (UA7071) $124.00 W CONCEPT (US)

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Stud Leather, 10.0W Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole $148.00 NATURALIZER

FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Rosalee Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Suede) 7.0 M Slip On Fit, Almond Toe, Slip $130.00 FRANCO SARTO

W CONCEPT (US)Combination Ballet Flat Fi21234_1 cm $148.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)10mm Puglia Mesh-Sock Ballet Flat $167.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)TwinX Origin Ballerina Strap Ballet Flat [4colors] $121.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Kate Ribbon Ballet Flat (1cm heel) $91.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)V-cut Flat Ballet Shoes $182.00 W CONCEPT (US)

EGO (US & CA)Gioia Buckle Detail Flat Ballet Pump In Black Woven, Women's Size US $28.00 EGO (US & CA)

W CONCEPT (US)GLIN Studded Flat Ballet (JLSO5E105BK) $130.00 W CONCEPT (US)

−30%

MAURICESMaurices Women's Supercush Metallic Ballet Flat$32.83 $22.98 MAURICES

−33%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARBlowfish Malibu Women's Parisan Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Faux Leather) - Size 10.0$59.69 $39.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−59%

FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Abigail Ballet Flat Shoes (Beige/black Tweed Fabric) 6.0 M Slip On Fit, Round Toe, Slip$119.46 $48.98 FRANCO SARTO

−17%

DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Violet Ballet Flat Shoes Black Faux Leather DRSCH 11.0$60.23 $49.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES

−27%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARLifestride Women's Kissed Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Plaid Knit Fabric) - Size 10.0$75.33 $54.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−30%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARJournee Women's Fortune Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Suede) - Size 10.0$85.70 $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

−24%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARJournee Women's Carrie Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Patent) - Size 10.0$85.51 $64.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−24%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARJournee Women's Kaiah Ballet Flat Shoes (Black) - Size 10.0$85.51 $64.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−39%

FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Christina Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Leather) 7.5 M Round Toe$114.72 $69.98 FRANCO SARTO

−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 Dovie Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Leather) 11.0 M Pointed Toe$120.66 $69.98 FRANCO SARTO

−50%

FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Sarto Flexa Amaya Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Leather) 6.0 M Slip On Fit, Square Toe, Slip$139.96 $69.98 FRANCO SARTO

−50%

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Satin, 8.5W Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole$147.98 $73.99 NATURALIZER

−50%

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Jet Black Satin, 7.5W Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole$147.98 $73.99 NATURALIZER

−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

−53%

ANN TAYLORAnn Taylor Mesh Ballet Flat$159.55 $74.99 ANN TAYLOR

−33%

NATURALIZERNaturalizer Ashlyn Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Leather, 9.5M Slip-On Fit, Round Toe$119.39 $79.99 NATURALIZER

−27%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARSoul Naturalizer Women's Idea Ballet Flat Shoes (Black) - Size 10.0$109.58 $79.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−19%

SHIEKHWomen UGG Australia Isbella Black Ballet Flat BLACK Flats 6 BLACK$99.99 $80.99 SHIEKH

−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 (Black Faux Leather) 7.0 M Slip On Fit, Round Toe, Slip$139.31 $84.98 FRANCO SARTO

−30%

SAM EDELMANEsmira Pointed Toe Ballet Flat Black Faux Leather$139.99 $97.99 SAM EDELMAN

−19%

NATURALIZERNaturalizer Kelly Ballet Flat Shoes, Black Leather, 11.0M Slip$135.79 $109.99 NATURALIZER

−20%

KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade Flora Ballet Flat, Black$198.75 $159.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET

−50%

VALICOJIMMY CHOO 'Belinda Sb Flat' Black Leather Ballet Flats$834.00 $417.00 VALICO

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