Trend Spotlight: Ballet Flats
Trend Spotlight: Ballet Flats
By: Claire Watkiss
Ballet flats have returned to our social media feeds and closets this past year. Miu Miu debuted their version of the flats in 2016 to mixed opinions, but the trend has risen to a general acceptance recently.
As the name suggests, ballet flats originated on the stage, not the streets. It was not until Claire McCardell, an American fashion designer, created an off-stage version in one of her collections that the shoes gained popularity. Rose Repetto, founder of the French ballet shoe company Repettos, took the idea even further, creating entire lines of ready-to-wear ballet flats. Repettos, known for being comfortable and chic, remained a staple in many it-girls’ closets in the following years.
With celebrities picking up the trend over the past few years, the flats have regained their street style status. Miu Miu displayed another version of the shoes on their Fall/Winter 2022 collection, showing viewers a way to style them with leg warmers. This soon led to the “ballet-core” aesthetic found on social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest.
This trend has taken on many variations; from the split toe Tabi flat made by Maison Margiela to the platform and square-toed versions, this look has proven to be versatile.
The ballet flat can be dressed up with a black slip dress or down with jeans and a sweater, making it a fitting shoe to take you from daily life to upscale occasions. Modern day it-girl Matilda Djerf reps the shoes on a regular basis, showing her audience how she styles them and encouraging their resurgence.
The endless colors, fabrics, and details give this trend unlimited opportunities to be worn. With fall just upon us, burgundy ballet flats have been seen all over, showing that this look can be worn in every season.
If you are looking to try out a pair of ballet flats for yourself, a black pair is the perfect way to start your collection and experiment with ways to style them.
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