25 Upgraded Ballet Flats Shoes That Don't Try Too Hard

Some say the mule is 2017’s It shoe, but allow us to make a case for the ballet flat. Ballerinas are the Stan Smith of the non-sneaker world. They complete your look without detracting attention from whatever’s going on above your ankle. They are, by nature, more polished and professional than their tennis-ready counterparts. In ballet flats, you’re never out of step with the fashion set — the shoe is a perennial staple on the Chanel (and lately, Miu Miu) runways. Plus, as the athleisure movement has picked up speed and embraced a broader definition of sportswear (think of Christian Dior’s fencing jackets), styles that originated in dance — wrap tops, tutus, lace-up shoes, bodysuits — have taken the stage. Aside from all that, ballet flats shoes just exude a certain uncalculated, classic cool. They’re the shoe of Alexa Chung. Sofia Coppola. Audrey Hepburn. Brigitte Bardot. Coco Chanel. (Oh, and unlike mules, you can actually run for a train — and, you know, walk comfortably — in them.)

A photo posted by Man Repeller (@manrepeller) on Jan 10, 2017 at 10:59am PST

Ballet flat naysayers argue that the classic French-girl accessory is a bit too, well, classic. They associate it with stiff, predictable outfits (tweed two-pieces, cropped black skinnies topped with sailor stripes, etc.). Of course, it being 2017, ballet flats are in the midst of a maximalist makeover. For Spring 2015, Phoebe Philo, champion of playful utilitarianism, showed stretchy, hardware-accented versions of the shoe at Celine. During the Fall 2016 season, the fashion set lost its collective mind when grommet-strapped, gingham-ribboned ballet flats walked the runway at Miu Miu. Since then, designers’ taste for experimentation has only grown. Ballet flats come in more materials (frayed denim, rabbit fur, tinsel) and with greater embellishment (pearls, wings, snakes, arrows) than ever before. And even your more classic styles can’t be labeled cop-outs when paired with a good statement sock.

Ankle strap ballet flats play well with cropped or rolled up jeans. Degas Ballet Flat, $68 at Free People Shop 25 of our current faves in the slideshow below, then wear ‘em with kick flares, decorative socks and cutoff shorts, silky pajama sets, gauzy skirts, maxi dresses, shirtdresses or those quintessential cropped black trousers.

Ballet Flats

Free People

Degas Ballet Flat, $68 at Free People
ASOS

Lorelle Pointed Ballet Flats, $34 at ASOS
A.P.C.

Porselli Ballet Flats, $220 at A.P.C.
& Other Stories

Cut Out Lace Up Suede Ballerina, $95 at & Other Stories
J.Crew

Gemma Cap-Toe Flats, $89.99 at J.Crew
Miu Miu

Embellished Velvet Ballet Flat, $459.97 at Gilt
Malone Souliers

Robyn Flats, $595 at Shopbop
Stella Sofia

Ballet Flats, $192 at Yoox
Prada

Ballet Flats, $508 at Yoox
Paloma Barcelò

10mm Embroidered Satin Lace Up Flats, $297 at Luisa Via Roma
Repetto

Camille Ballerina, $261.95 at Repetto
J.Crew

Metallic-Heel Patent Ballet Flats, $49 at J.Crew Factory
Kimchi Blue

Elastic Cross-Strap Flat, $39 at Urban Outfitters
Stuart Weitzman

The Gilligan Flat, $199 at Stuart Weitzman
by FAR

Whiskers Flat, $286.65 at by FAR
ASOS

Liana Pointed Ballet Flats, $28 at ASOS
Jacquemus

Les Ballerinas, $555 at La Garçonne
MR by Man Repeller

The Morning After Embossed Velvet Flats, $350 at Net-a-Porter
Toga

Point-Toe Raffia Flats, $291 at Matches Fashion
Nine West

Zaina D'Orsay Ballet Flats, $79 at Nine West
Miu Miu

Double Strap Denim Cap Toe Ballet Flats, $690 at Saks
Hender Scheme

Fabric Fabre Shoes, $164 at Creatures of Comfort
H&M

Soft Ballet Flats, $49.99 at H&M
Opera National de Paris

Preston Pointe Metallic-Leather Ballet Flats, $184 at Selfridges
Zara

Velvet Ballerinas With Beaded Detail, $69.90 at Zara