Last year, ballet flats were declared officially back, and now its hard to imagine our wardrobes or our Instagram feeds without them.
Elegant and practical, versatile and comfortable - what's not to love? And with the arrival of autumn, the transitional shoe has never been more in demand.
Like the resurgence of many other Y2K trends, ballet pumps instantly transport me back to my teenage years, but 20 years on they've had something of upgrade.
Of course, Chanel’s iconic two-tone pair has been around since the 1950s, but if you too still associate them with the unstylish era of wearing Juicy Couture tracksuits and a waist belt with literally everything, just take a look at Miu Miu’s super cute logo-jacquard strap ballet flats or the beautiful satin styles by The Row.
Most recently, mesh ballet flats and studded styles have dominated with the street style set. Seen on the likes of Alexa Chung and Jennifer Lawrence, I've since spotted lookalikes all over the high street, from Reformation to River Island.
Whether you're yet to rejoin team ballet flats, you want to add to your collection, or you're trying a pair for the first time (looking at you, Gen Z), I've found all of the chicest pairs to shop now.
- The black ballet flats: M&S Suede Ballet Pumps
- The Mary Jane ballet flats: & Other Stories Square-Toe Ballet Flats
- The studded ballet flats: Mango Studded Mesh Ballet Flats
- The leopard print ballet flats: Reformation Bethany Ballet Flats
- The affordable ballet flats: H&M Ballet Pumps
Celebrities and royals wearing ballet flats
From Aquazzura to Chanel and Everlane to Zara, Meghan Markle loves her ballet flats. She's been spotted in every style from two-tone with rounded toes to pointed slingbacks.
Alexandra Lapp is giving me all of the workwear inspiration with this outfit, pairing tailored trousers with Chanel ballet flats, while Marlies Pia Pfeifhofer dresses down her Miu Miu pair to perfection, wearing them with white straight-leg jeans and a black tailored blazer.
A guest outside the Chloé show demonstrates how to style ballet flats with wide-leg jeans, looking effortlessly cool in her Chanel pumps and cropped jacket, and Jennifer Lopez looks so chic in her satin pearl-embellished pair by Dior for elevated office attire.
How I chose the best ballet flats
- Style: There are so many different styles of ballet flats trending right now. From mesh to rhinestone-embellished and metallic silver to classic black, I've included them all in this edit.
- Price: Whether you're looking to spend less than £20 or upwards of £200, there's something to suit every budget.
- Brands: I've only included brands loved and trusted by the HELLO! shopping team. Many of these pairs also come with top reviews, and they're all fashion editor-approved.