The 10 best ballet flats to shop right now—Sam Edelman, Kate Spade and more (2023)

FAQs

What flats are in style 2023? ›

In case you haven't heard, ballet flats are officially back en vogue for 2023.

It's ballet flats—yes, ballet flats. Like it or not, just like our ever-beloved maxi skirt, they're making a comeback, and there's no better time for them to be making a reappearance with spring on the horizon.

American designer Claire McCardell commissioned Salvatore Capezio to make ballet flats with rubber soles, in fabrics matching her designs, which was an instant hit, creating the modern ballet flats.

The best ballet flats are as timeless as a crisp white T-shirt or a breezy button-down. The style has leaped from dance to fashion, landing in the wardrobe of Hollywood royalty and actual royalty alike—from Audrey Hepburn and Kate Middleton to Mindy Kaling, J.Lo, and Bella Hadid.

Trends such as knee-high splits, geometric cut-outs and sheer fabrics all lends themselves perfectly to a sultry skin moment, whereas for the inevitable open-air soirée, amping up the drama is easy with a 1970s It-girl-inspired hooded gown.

For rounded styles, like ballet flats, go a half size down.

Typically, flats are meant to be worn without socks because they often feature open-top designs.

The Nutcracker. Perhaps one of the most famous ballets of all time is the Nutcracker, which doubles as a classic Christmas tale. Initially written by E.T.A Hoffman, Alexandre Dumas Père adapted it, then set it to music by Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petipa, as well as George Balanchine.

Designed in 1947, immortalized by Brigitte Bardot in the cinema, Repetto ballet flats have escaped from the opera house to become a fashion accessory. Lusted after by city-dwellers, 500 000 pairs a year are sold at an average price of 150 euros.

What is the 1 ballet company in the world? ›

Paris Opera Ballet

(Much of that history can be read about in our post on the history of ballet.) The Paris Opera Ballet was the absolute center of the ballet world for centuries, and it remains today perhaps the most prestigious company in the world.

Ballet Shoe Material

What you want to look out for is that the shoe fits your foot snugly, not too loose, and not too tight but rather like a sock. People with long big toes often struggle to find the right shape of the shoe.

(ICYMI: Ballet flats are one of the biggest shoe trends for Spring/Summer 2023.) While leather versions have trended in the past, balletcore-inspired flats are everywhere for the seasons ahead.

The brand of flats that Audrey Hepburn famously wore is Salvatore Ferragamo. Reportedly, the Italian fashion designer custom designed each pair of ballet flats for the actress himself.

Digital Lavender, Luscious Red, Sundial, Tranquil Blue and Verdigris are the color names for 2023. Who chooses the names of the new colors?

The Pantone Color Institute named Viva Magenta as its official color of the year for 2023 for its joyous yet powerful nature. A red with subtle notes of purple, magenta flawlessly complements many different color palettes from those on the richer, jewel-tone side of the spectrum to even a lighter, earthy palette.

Fortunately for millennials the world over, the answer to the question "Are skinny jeans still in style?" is a resounding "yes!" — even if TikTok tells you otherwise. Granted, the best skinny jeans of 2023 have evolved since the late aughts.

Insider spoke with stylists and designers to find out what the next big fashion trends will be. They said this year will bring shades of pink and green, metallics, and faux leather. The experts also highlighted ballet flats, blazers, and cargo pockets as up-and-coming trends.

Arcs and curvy shapes have been making their way into interiors for a while now. First, crescent sofas, tulip and egg chairs, and round rugs took centerstage bit by bit. Now, 2023 home décor trends are moving further than curved furniture. Say hello to oblong mirrors, architectural details, and mushroom lighting.

How do you know if ballet flats are too big? ›

You can tell if a shoe is too wide for someone's foot if there's a gap between the arch of the foot and the side of the shoe. If you can slide a finger in there, it's too wide. You can tell if a shoe is too narrow if the toes are bunched together at the front.

Ballet slippers tend to run slightly smaller than regular shoe sizes. Your size for a ballet slipper may be one to two sizes smaller than your regular shoe size. For example, if you're normally a size 6, your ballet size may be size 3 1/2 to 4.

Any longer and the bacteria builds up, or you get too many holes where the shoes can no longer do their job. Your feet are your best friend, and regardless of how frequently you're dancing, you'll want to replace canvas shoes roughly every 30 days.

The ideal ballet foot has a high arch and a high instep. Having a high arch is beneficial for a dancer because it makes it possible to get to a high demi-pointe in soft ballet shoes, and over the box if she is dancing en pointe.

Wide feet may be actually a blessing for a ballet dancer. These feet are usually strong and very stable, providing great balance and helping in turns… On the other hand, only the people with wide feet can understand the pain when the metatarsals are being pressured in a wrong shoe.

How to tell if shoes are too big or too small. The easiest way to tell if a shoe is too big or too small is to take a look at how much room there is in the toe of the shoe. Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

Will you wear a bra with your leotard? For older dancers, the question of whether or not you can wear a bra with a leotard is common. The answer is: it depends on the leotard. If you prefer to wear a bra with your ballet leotard, you ideally don't want bra straps showing alongside your leotard straps.

Ballet slippers are generally unisex. Men typically wear white, black, tan or brown. Some studios and dress codes will suggest wearing athletic socks under your slippers. If not, you can go barefoot if you wear cutoff tights or sweat pants, or you can wear footed tights within the shoes.

Ballet flats aren't known for being the most comfortable. In fact, they don't generally have that much support, and may pose as a challenge to wear for our feet in the future, according to Dr. Suzanne Levine, D.P.M., RPT, PC.

Pirouettes are one of the most commonly known ballet moves, yet, they are extremely hard to execute perfectly. They require balance, technique and like all ballet moves, a large amount of practice.

What is the most advanced ballet move? ›

En Pointe. The “en Pointe” technique in classical ballet is one of the most challenging to execute. In this move, a dancer has to support their entire bodyweight on their feet, which are fully extended.

Pro tip: color-coordinate your ballet flats with the base color of your outfit and keep them plain (especially if your maxi-dress sports a vibrant tropical motif) for maximum impact.

Bloch. Bloch is renowned as the most popular dancewear brand in the world. In 1932, Bloch was founded by ballet shoe maker Jacob Bloch and quickly became a leading dance brand, starting with their top-quality ballet shoes. Bloch continues to be successful and works with top dancers in the world on design.

They are luxurious, comfortable, unique, and you can wear them everywhere and with anything – created by the Portuguese luxury brand, Josefinas, Blue Persian Salt are the most expensive ballet flats in the world… and the €3369 price tag has the most precious story behind it.

Vaganova Ballet Academy

As in all world-renowned schools, it is very difficult to get a place. Their training is so complicated too and among thousands of people who access, less than 30 complete the eight years of training. Teachers such as Marius Petipa, Jules Perrot, Enrico Cecchetti have taught at this school.

Boston Ballet, since 1963, has been one of the leading dance companies in the world. The Company, led by Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Meredith Max Hodges, maintains a varied repertoire that includes both classic ballets and contemporary works by some of the best choreographers.

MEZZANINE. If you don't mind a little elevation and enjoy watching the many patterns dancers make on stage, the Mezzanine provides the best of both worlds.

Ballet Flats are available in four widths, A, B, C and D – A being the narrowest fit and D being the widest. It is recommended to visit your nearest Bloch store for a professionally fitted shoe as the width and length may vary according to the shoe chosen.

Hardwood flooring also tends to withstand significant wear and tear with ease, making it ideal for all forms of dance from ballet to tap.

Ballerina flats can not only work with everything from suits to dresses to a casual T-shirt and blazer (like above), but since they come in so many fun iterations, they're also the most versatile shoes you can invest in.

Are ballet flats still in fashion? ›

It's ballet flats—yes, ballet flats. Like it or not, just like our ever-beloved maxi skirt, they're making a comeback, and there's no better time for them to be making a reappearance with spring on the horizon.

Though ballet flats are back in style because of early aughts nostalgia, we have discovered modern and innovative ways to style them. With their resurgence, we have seen them on the hottest runways and our favorite modern stars, giving us all the inspo we need to create new looks with our favorite flats.

Her love of Hubert de Givenchy. As Hepburn once said, “Givenchy's clothes are the only ones I feel myself in. He is more than a designer, he is a creator of personality.” On what would have been the revered couturier's birthday, revisit the greatest moments from Hepburn's on-screen love affair with Givenchy, below.

Audrey Hepburn wore a "little black dress" in the 1961 romantic comedy film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The garment was designed by Hubert de Givenchy, and is worn during the opening scene of the film.

Other micro trends for summer 2023 that I want to mention are woven totes and crochet bags, raffia, graphic tees and tanks, lace-up sandals and wedges, gingham, statement earrings, and cropped button-up tops (for pairing with high rise, wide leg pants & jeans).

2023 is the Year of the Birkenstock. We've already seen the classic clogs all over social media, but now the brand's sandals are becoming a street style staple for spring. These trendy shoes are effortlessly cool, beloved by celebs and customers alike.

Bold, bright florals: Forget ditsy prints, the spring/summer trend for 2023 is about oversized and statement blooms. Go for large-scale, repeat patterns on pretty much anything.

Are pointed shoes out of style? Pointed shoes are fashionable in 2023. Are square toe shoes out of style? The square toe shoe trend is back in fashion for 2023.

Digital Lavender, Luscious Red, Sundial, Tranquil Blue and Verdigris are the color names for 2023. Who chooses the names of the new colors?

In 2023 we will likely see even more graphic designs that take inspiration in part from the school of design — clean shapes, geometric compositions, and bright primary color palettes. Another reason that geometric shapes are trending: They are the first we learn as children and are associated with approachability.

When should I stop wearing Birkenstocks? ›

Some people keep their Birkenstocks for 10 years, while others may only get one summer out of them. How long your Birkenstock footwear lasts is determined by how well you treat them, and how hard you are on your shoes in general.

"Birkenstocks are out of style."

They've gone from a recognizably casual and low-key use case to the everyday chic and even luxury market with their Manolo Blahnik and Dior collabs."

L.L. Bean Go Anywhere Clogs

These clogs by L.L. Bean are similar to the popular Birkenstock's own design; while they don't have an adjustable buckle, they're easy to slide on and off, and can similarly be worn, well, like the name suggests, anywhere you like.

Tunic and leggings are not coming back in style for 2023. 2023 is the year of long slinky tops and not tunics. What are some of the biggest style trends out of fashion for 2023?

There's no denying it: Regardless of the season, fashion's obsession with denim is unwavering. It's never a question of “if” one should swathe themselves in the fabric, but rather “how” it should be worn, and for spring/summer 2023, denim styles run the gamut, leaving no sartorial cravings unsatisfied.

Proof: Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2023, where UGG dominated the runways in a major way. Not that this is coming out of nowhere, to be fair. UGG is very much a power player in the biz these days. UGG's boots and slippers are seemingly recession-proof.