I have always been a ‘flat’ shoe person really out of necessity, having been told off for towering over my friends (I’m not really that tall – 5"7/8, but I just happen to have a lot of petite friends!). Ballet flats have really come into their own in the past couple of years. Some people might see them as a bit of a ‘trend’ led item but to me, they should be a staunch staple in any person’s wardrobe. The fact that they come in so many styles, patterns, finishes and even shapes (yes, there are in fact varying degrees of the roundness of the toe), that really, it would be impossible for any girl NOT to find a pair they like.
Here are a selection of ones that I am coveting at the moment:
These lovely cream and black satin ones from Mango (£40) are so elegant, you could easily wear them as evening shoes – with a long white lace gown! They’re rather Lanvin-esque as well which is excellent if like me, the real thing is a zillion pounds away!
From left to right – Dark Green and Yellow flat bow pump (Dorothy Perkins £25), Patent ballet flats (KG Kurt Geiger £59 (not available anymore!), Navy felt with a red bow ballet flats (Office £24.99), Red patent ballet pumps (Topshop £28 – these are flying off the racks!)
The British high street has really come up trumps this season with all the primary colours and patent finishes! If you’re like me, and you buy your ballet shoes by season, then get yourself a pair in primary shades with some kind of bow detail – you’ll feel like you’re 6 again (ah…that was a good age for me….good times!).
I’ve only recently seen Maloles shoes around in Liberty and Matches in London but I think Satine Boutique sell some too. I love ooh-ing and ahh-ing over their shoes – here are a few of their flats:
The embroidery on these ones is just so cool! They remind me of Mary Poppins carpet bags which is a good connotation to have when you’re skipping along the street humming ‘Just a spoonful of sugar’!
I used to hate square toes because they reminded me too much of that bad Miu Miu period when all they ever made were ugly square toed shoes. But these ones look lovely and have a cool grosgrain ribbon detail (I’m big into grosgrain!).
If you’re a risk taker, then try bidding on these Alaia straw ones with cute red grosgrain ribbon on Ebay.
There’s about a day left and it’s currently at $60!! Sadly, they’re half a size too small for me but I have them on watch just in case in the last minute, I kid myself into thinking that I can squeeze my feet into them because they’re so lush!
Whilst I ponder what cute ballet flats I’ll be buying for spring/summer, I’ll just have to make do with the ones I have. Currently, I’m wearing these ones quite a bit:
Silver ballet flats with a pearl ankle strap from Singapore.
Comme des Garcons x Repetto gold ballet shoes with back ruching.
Blue shiny leather ballet flats with leather toe cap from Hong Kong.
Dorothy Perkins bronze crackled leather ballet flats.