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The Fashion Memo

The Best New Ballet Flats For Summer And Beyond

Easy, effortless and eminently wearable, ballet flats are a wardrobe staple. From classic silhouettes to more contemporary versions, these are the new-season styles you’ll want to add to your wish list for a super-chic summertime update

Words Colleen RossFashion editor Jasmine Dunne
Fashion
From classic black to mesh or statement red, the new summer styles are as versatile and covetable as ever

Often, the most common dilemma when putting together an outfit is finding the right shoes. Unless you have a pair of ballet flats, in which case consider all your styling woes solved. As the fashion set continually proves, they really do go with everything – and we mean everything.

At some point in the 1940s, the design made the transition from being a dance-studio essential to a polished daywear option – and has never been far from the style radar since. Synonymous with Parisian Left Bank elegance, ballet flats have graced the feet of Hollywood stars such as Audrey Hepburn (who famously had hers made by Salvatore Ferragamo in the ’50s), and more recently, were a footwear favorite of the 2000s, worn on repeat by Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. For the past few seasons, ballet flats’ soaring popularity has been steadily transitioning the style to a firm closet staple.

  • JIMMY CHOO
    Margot embellished suede ballet flats
    $950.00
    Select a Size
    35 - out of stock
    36
    37 - low stock
    37.5
    38 - low stock
    38.5 - low stock
    39
    39.5
    40 - low stock
    40.5 - low stock
    41 - low stock
    41.5 - low stock
    42 - low stock
  • AEYDE
    Ellie suede ballet flats
    $495.00
    Select a Size
    35
    36
    36.5
    37
    37.5
    38
    38.5 - out of stock
    39 - out of stock
    39.5 - low stock
    40
    40.5 - out of stock
    41 - out of stock
    41.5 - low stock
    42 - low stock
  • GUCCI
    Shift webbing-trimmed canvas-jacquard and metallic leather ballet flats
    $980.00
    Select a Size
    EU 34
    EU 35
    EU 36 - low stock
    EU 36.5 - low stock
    EU 37 - low stock
    EU 37.5 - low stock
    EU 38 - low stock
    EU 38.5 - low stock
    EU 39 - low stock
    EU 39.5 - low stock
    EU 40
    EU 40.5
    EU 42
  • LE MONDE BERYL
    Woven leather ballet flats
    $625.00
    Select a Size
    36
    36.5 - low stock
    37
    37.5
    38
    38.5
    39
    39.5
    40
    40.5
    41 - low stock
    41.5 - low stock
    42

Beyond their undeniable elegance, the beauty of ballet flats lies in both their versatility and comfort. Usually crafted in supple leather, mesh or suede, they fit like a glove and work just as well with breezy sundresses and straight-leg jeans as they do sharp tailoring. The spring/summer months are the perfect time to embrace lighter colors and textures, making Gabriela Hearst’s ‘Strength’ style in raffia and yellow suede the ultimate investment. They’ll look super-chic with a crisp white dress for daytime events and Capri pants on off-duty days. Elsewhere, Gucci’s monogrammed canvas-jacquard pair come in a sleek point-toe shape and have a collapsible heel, making them a little more office-ready (and helpful if you haven’t had a chance to get your summer pedi yet).

  • GABRIELA HEARST
    Strength suede and raffia ballet flats
    $700.00
    Select a Size
    36
    36.5 - out of stock
    37 - low stock
    37.5 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    38.5 - out of stock
    39 - low stock
    39.5
    40 - low stock
    40.5 - low stock
    41 - low stock
    41.5
    42 - low stock
  • LOEWE
    + Paula's Ibiza Rio suede Mary Jane espadrilles
    $990.00
    Select a Size
    36 - low stock
    37
    38 - low stock
    39
    40
    41
  • GUCCI
    Vittoria horsebit-detailed leather-trimmed canvas-jacquard ballet flats
    $1,050.00
    Select a Size
    34
    35
    36 - out of stock
    36.5
    37 - out of stock
    37.5
    38 - low stock
    38.5
    39 - low stock
    39.5 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    40.5 - out of stock
    41 - out of stock
  • LE MONDE BERYL
    Mary Jane knotted leather ballet flats
    $560.00
    Select a Size
    36
    36.5 - low stock
    37
    37.5 - low stock
    38
    38.5
    39
    39.5
    40
    40.5
    41 - low stock
    41.5 - out of stock
    42 - low stock

Alaïa’s mesh ballet flats have barely left our wish lists since their debut four years ago – the brand has released a new version each season that’s even more covetable than the last. This latest pair is made from mesh and has rubber outsoles that you can remove for a simpler look, giving you two ways to wear them. Their cult status means they are sure to become the talking point of all your outfits, too. Alternatively, take Christian Louboutin’s ‘Erozeena’ flats in shimmering red satin for a spin at your next evening event, styled with a black slip dress for effortless elegance.

  • ALAÏA
    Patent leather-trimmed mesh and rubber ballet flats
    $1,300.00
    Select a Size
    36 - low stock
    37 - low stock
    38 - low stock
    39 - low stock
    40 - out of stock
    41 - out of stock
  • CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
    Erozeena satin point-toe flats
    $1,095.00
    Select a Size
    35
    36 - low stock
    36.5 - low stock
    37
    37.5 - low stock
    38
    38.5
    39
    39.5
    40 - low stock
    40.5 - low stock
    41 - low stock
    41.5 - low stock
    42
  • ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
    Iro shell-embellished rubber flats
    $195.00
    Select a Size
    35 - out of stock
    36
    37 - out of stock
    38
    39
    40
    41 - low stock
  • BOTTEGA VENETA
    Charlotte intrecciato leather ballet flats
    $1,200.00
    Select a Size
    35
    36
    37 - low stock
    37.5 - out of stock
    38 - low stock
    38.5 - out of stock
    39 - out of stock
    39.5 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    41 - low stock
    42 - out of stock

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