Our Favourite White Ballet Flats Right Now

A white ballet flat only earns its keep if the white behaves itself. That means a leather or a good coated canvas that takes a scuff without looking finished, rather than a chalky fabric that shows every drop of rain within the hour. The best versions have a slightly structured toe, not a completely flat, floppy one, because that structure is what stops the shoe from folding under the arch after a few wears and starting to look tired. A thin, flexible sole is fine for a lunch or an afternoon, but anyone planning to wear these for a full working day should look for at least a small amount of cushioning underfoot, otherwise the shoe stops being a pleasure and starts being an endurance test by mid afternoon.

Fit matters more with white than with any other colour, because a flat that is slightly too big will crease and grey at the point where the foot bends, and that shows up far more obviously on white than on black or tan. A close, snug fit through the heel and a touch of room across the toes is the combination to look for.

Elastic at the back seam is a good sign, it keeps the shoe anchored without needing a strap.

Styling wise, this is a shoe that works best when it is doing the quiet job in an outfit rather than the loud one. It grounds a floral or printed dress without competing with it, it takes the formality out of tailored trousers, and it sits well under a wide, cropped jean where an ankle boot would feel heavy for the season. Pale or bare ankles keep the look clean, while a contrasting sock, worn slightly slouched, gives the whole thing a more directional, French-girl edge without much effort.

Occasion wise, this is a daytime shoe first, built for gallery visits, long lunches, city walking and any warm weather event where trainers feel too casual and heels feel like overkill. It has a place at slightly dressier daytime occasions too, a garden wedding or a summer christening, provided the rest of the outfit is doing a little of the dressing up. Where it struggles is anything genuinely formal after dark or any ground that is wet, uneven or likely to test the sole. Keep it for pavement, not for grass.

Top Picks

WHITE BALLET FLATFRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Tatum Strappy Ballet Flat Shoes (White Fabric) 7.5 M Round Toe, Buckle Closure

$140.00 FRANCO SARTO

WHITE BALLET FLATW CONCEPT (US)Flat Ballet (HJ20003) [Ivory]

$176.00 W CONCEPT (US)

WHITE BALLET FLATW CONCEPT (US)Mesh Twist Flat Ballet (T252MSE133W)

$286.00 W CONCEPT (US)

FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Franco Tatum Strappy Ballet Flat Shoes (White Fabric) 7.5 M Round Toe, Buckle Closure $140.00 FRANCO SARTO

THEORYRuched Ballet Flat $325.00 THEORY

COTTON ON (US)Cotton On Kids - Kids Ballet Flat - Vanilla/woven $29.99 COTTON ON (US)

LARROUDEVerona Ballet Flat In White Striped Fabric and Lobster Embroidery - 5.5 / White $330.00 LARROUDE

CERQULARCONVERSE Womens Ballet Pumps Leather Pink UK 5 Casual Comfortable Flat Shoes $41.59 CERQULAR

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, Warm White Stud Leather, 8.5M Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole $148.00 NATURALIZER

LARROUDEBlair Ballet Flat Ivory Patent - 7.5 / Ivory $94.50 LARROUDE

EGO (US & CA)Charlez Woven Detail Flat Ballet Pump In Beige Rubber, Women's Size US $17.00 EGO (US & CA)

COTTON ON (US)Cotton On Kids - Kids Ballet Flat - Zephyr/embellished mesh $29.99 COTTON ON (US)

COTTON ON (US)Cotton On Kids - Kids Ballet Flat - Vanilla/embellished mesh $29.99 COTTON ON (US)

NINA SHOESGirls Rose White Ballet Flat $45.00 NINA SHOES

SAM EDELMANAlie Ballet Flat Bright White Leather $120.00 SAM EDELMAN

W CONCEPT (US)LIAS T-STRAP FLAT BALLET [ECRU] $321.00 W CONCEPT (US)

FAMOUS FOOTWEARCliffs by White Mountain Women's Carwen Diagonal Strap Ballet Flat Shoes (Off-White Smooth) - Size 10.0 $68.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

FAMOUS FOOTWEARCliffs by White Mountain Women's Charmed Wide Ballet Flat Shoes (Cream Smooth) - Size 10.0 W $69.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

W CONCEPT (US)Dazzl.Queen 1cm Flat Ballet [White, Black] $149.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Belle Strap Flat Ballet [4colors] $250.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Rena Flat Ballet (AHNP002) $137.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Flat Ballet (HJ20011) [] $187.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Lila Ribbon Flat Ballet [White] $295.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Flat Ballet (HJ20003) [Ivory] $176.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Mesh Twist Flat Ballet (T252MSE133W) $286.00 W CONCEPT (US)

−65%

LIFESTRIDELifeStride Kallie Ballet Flat Shoes (Bright White Knit Fabric) 9.5 W$85.69 $29.99 LIFESTRIDE

−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

−28%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARCliffs by White Mountain Women's Charmed Wide Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Patent) - Size 10.0 W$69.43 $49.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−34%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARAerosoles Women's Bell Ballet Flat Shoes (Natural/White Raffia) - Size 10.0$78.77 $51.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−17%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARCliffs by White Mountain Women's Carwen Diagonal Strap Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Smooth) - Size 10.0$68.66 $56.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−3%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARWhite Mountain Women's Bocci Wide Ballet Flat Shoes (Bronze Shimmer Fabric) - Size 6.0 W$58.75 $56.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−10%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARWhite Mountain Women's Florian Ballet Flat Shoes (Black Fabric) - Size 10.0$68.88 $61.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−10%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARWhite Mountain Women's Florian Ballet Flat Shoes (Cream Fabric) - Size 10.0$68.88 $61.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−29%

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, White Croco Print Leather, 7.0W Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole$140.83 $99.99 NATURALIZER

−40%

ANN TAYLORAnn Taylor Weekend Leather Mary Jane Ballet Flat$168.00 $100.80 ANN TAYLOR

−26%

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Carla Ballet Flat Shoes, White Mesh Leather, 7.5M Slip-On Fit, Rubber Outsole$148.64 $109.99 NATURALIZER

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