Ballet flats are back: Here’s how to wear them

February 13, 2023

Comfort lovers rejoice; ballet flats are back.

After wearing ballet flats exclusively from 2007-2011, I had to hang them up in favour of chunky boots, and then chunky trainers and more recently, my beloved Birkenstock clogs.

While the landscape of footwear is ever changing, at least it’s cyclical. A mere 12 years later, we’re reunited with our beloved ballet flats.

And, I’m hearing rumours that skinny jeans are making a come back, too. Suck it, Gen Z.

How to wear them

Fashion has changed since 2007 and wearing a mini dress, tights and a pair of black ballet flats is not the one in 2023 (at least, it isn’t right now…)

Ballet flats have had a glow up.

The flat shoe trifecta of ballet flats, loafers and trainers have been resurrected by laid-back look celebrities from Ashley Olsen to Olivia Wilde. Without fail, these fashionable celebrities have always worn them with trousers or jeans.

I decided to go for these velvet ballet flats from Zara as a starting point for what will inevitably line my growing ballet flat wardrobe. They’re available in burgundy or black.

Keep them casual

This is the biggest change we’ve seen. While ballet flats have never been cocktail party shoes, they were a workwear, or in my case, sixth form wear, staple.

Now, it’s not uncommon to see them worn with leggings by celebrities wandering through airports.

The first step, then, is to pick the right bottom half for them. The first option is to wear them with culottes like Katie Holmes did at the Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program luncheon.

Katie’s entire look here is from Chanel, but this can be recreated for a fraction of the price. The Way-Wide Crop Jean from Everlane, £116 is a great place to start for mid-priced cropped jeans that’ll endure many years of wear.

Cos also has a pair of wide-legs high-rise cropped jeans, £69 at a slightly lower price point. Boden’s High Rise Wide Leg Crop Jeans are in the sale at £36 (RRP £90) in select sizes. What I particularly like about these is that they’re available in petite, too, so 5″2 and under don’t have to miss out on the cropped jean trend.

With socks

This is controversial, but if you follow me on TikTok you’ll know that I don’t shy away from a controversial shoe option.

Last year Miu Miu kicked off the ballet flats with socks trend during a runway show. It hasn’t picked up a lot of high-street copying so far, but it’s early days.

It’s all well and good following in celebrity footsteps with ballet flats, but it’s freezing in the UK and if you want to wear them all year round, you’re going to have to wear socks with them at some point.

Never fear, I created a TikTok showing you exactly how to make it work:

@carolineallen__ Will you be trying out the socks and ballet flats trend made popular by @Miu Miu? These flats are from @ZARA. #styletips #fashiontips #maternityfashion #capsulewardrobe ♬ original sound – Caroline Allen

Some simple ballet flat rules

I wanted to keep this post as simple as possible for you. The idea of everything I write and what I put out on TikTok is that it’s for people who have lost their way style-wise, so I know how important simplicity is.

So, here are a few rules on how to make your new ballet flats look wonderful in 2023:

If you’re wearing them with skinny jeans or any trousers that taper in at the bottom, try wearing a shirt or jumper on top. The Marks & Spencer Pure Linen Oversized Shirt, £35 (worn on me below) has been my go to for a really long time. The quality is brilliant and it’s available in five colours.

If you’re going for skinny jeans or tapered trousers and would like a bit of warmth, try a longline coat for a bit of texture. This Luxe Button Through Cotton A Line Trench from Warehouse is in the sale for £77.40 (Was £129) and it’s perfect for this look. I’ve actually just bought one myself.
If you’re looking for a jumper to wear with your culotte jeans and wide leg trousers, go for something mid-line and knitted. Culottes and longline coats or cardigans don’t work. Try this Collared Wool Cotton Cardigan, £175 from TOAST or for something cheaper, I love this knitted vest from the Warehouse sale for just £15.