Engaged in the clothing industry for 20 years.

Item of the week: the ballet flat

What it is:

‘Balletcore’ is a social media-derived trend that has been floating around
for the past year, largely centred around – as you may have guessed –
ballet-inspired pieces for daily wear. One item that has really prevailed
among the flounces of tutus and bodysuits, however, is the ballet flat.
Here, the staple ballerina slipper gets a subtle update, keeping its
minimalist qualities – such as its tiny bow and pump shape – yet becoming
suitable for the “regular” world. Now in a comfortable form, ballet flats
have also been elevated through varying materials and slight adjustments to
their details, such as a buckle up strap or a pointed toe, making them even
more appealing to the trend-led individual.

Aerosoles. Credits: FashionUnited Marketplace.

Why you’ll want it:

While many trends that are conjured up via social media these days are
often considered to be microtrends, and therefore come with a short
lifecycle, the ballet shoe is a one that has lingered and will continue to,
as evidenced by the prominence of the shoe style on SS24 runways. The
subtle updates integrated by the various designers that adopted the shoe
has also allowed it to stick around longer, with practical elements like
straps and material upgrades bringing more options to the table for those
looking to dip their toes into a new style of footwear.

Kenneth Cole. Credits: FashionUnited Marketplace.

Where we’ve seen it:

Ballet flats and minimalist pumps were all over the runways of SS24,
appearing as the footwear of choice in a huge number of collections,
reaffirming their place as a “must-have” shoe. Sparkly and metallic
iterations were among the most popular, spotted in varying materials at the
likes of Simone Rocha, Paloma Wool, Loewe and Sandy Liang. Meanwhile,
statement detailing and embellishments could also be seen. Both Vivienne
Westwood and Erdem opted for oversized bows, for example, the latter
offering a more dishevelled take on the silhouette to mirror its mismatched
design style. Pared down styles more reminiscent of the traditional shoe
were also favoured, present on the runways of Fendi, Tove and Chanel, among
others.

Madewell. Credits: FashionUnited Marketplace.

How to style it:

The options for this shoe style are seemingly endless, as they fall into
the categories of both casual and formalwear. For daily wear, pair the
shoes with simple tailored trousers and a sleeveless knit sweater or add
them to a skirt and cardigan combo to tie in with spring aesthetics. The
shoes can also be dressed up with midi or maxi dresses, particularly those
heavy in embellishments or structured silhouettes to offset the flat sole
and minimalist look. Add accessories in mismatched colourways to bring an
added pop to the overall look.

Repetto. Credits: FashionUnited Marketplace.

Extending its reach outside of the professional dancing world, the ballet
flat is a shoe that has garnered a continued popularity over the last two
seasons and has continued to dominate on the runways for those incoming.
Jumping seamlessly between clothing categories, the comfortable footwear
style is a smart addition to any consumer wardrobe.

Aerosoles. Credits: FashionUnited Marketplace.

Similar items available for (pre)order can be found in the FashionUnited
Marketplace. You can find
them by clicking on this link.

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