ballet flats return
@miumiu Fall Winter 2022 Fashion Show; @pinterest
TRENDING: Who starts trends? Nowadays, it seems like all of a sudden someone has named it Barbie Core Summer, a walk is now a Hot Girl Walk, and everyone seems to be obsessing over ballet flats. Ballet Core as Gen Z calls it has taken over as the “It Girl” Style trend this year. But, when and who decided it was time to dust off our Tory Burch ballet flats that have been sitting in our closet since 2010 or stalk The Real Real trying to find a somewhat affordable Chanel Ballet Flat?
It’s really hard to pinpoint the moment that a trend lights on fire because all of a sudden it just seems like everyone on digital platforms are on the same page. What TikTok and Instagram trends forget to mention are the forces behind these fashion trends laying the groundwork for what’s “in” each season: designers, runway shows, style editors, celebrities, influencers & consumers.
BALLET FLAT RESURGENCE: Let’s use the ballet flat as a case study. At their Fall/Winter 2022 Runway Shoe, Miu Miu sent most every model down wearing a ballet flat, a shocking contrast to the heels models are normally seen gracing the runway.
What is unique about Miu Miu ballet flat is that it is a blend of real ballet flat shoes and pointe shoes. As a former ballerina I found Miu Miu’s take on blending the two shoes worn by ballet dancers quite iconi. In ballet, flat shoes are soft leather slippers. Women ballerinas normally warm up and take their first ballet classes of the day wearing flat shoes and then transfer over to pointe shoes for rehearsal. The pointe shoe that helps ballerinas stand on the tips of their toes. Though beautiful on the outside and serving as the medium for dancers to move with grace, pointe shoes are very painful compared to flat shoes leaving feet blistered and bloody…a stark dichotomy between the look and their reality. Miu Miu’s design still gives the feel of a flat shoe, yet with the beauty and pointed toe that the pointe shoe provides. The design is practical for consumers yet still breathtakingly beautiful sans blisters.
SEARCH TREND ANALYSIS: From the end of 2021, just before Miu Miu’s Winter 2022 Runway Collection, to Fall of 2023 Google searches for “ballet flats” were up 244% showing the mass resurgence and demand for ballet flats following the show. Soon editors from fashion magazine were rounding up the best ballet flats to get your hands on and TikTok influencers were “getting ready with me” finishing their look with a ballet flat.
Sofia Richie Grainge is a celebrity, designer, & influencer who also helped propel the ballet flat trend to its fame. After the world’s obsession with her style at her wedding to Elliot Grainge in the South of France, there was a resurgence of classic elegance style. Sofia reached a new It Girl status after sharing photos and TikTok videos of her her wedding and the Chanel outfits she wore. This quickly became America’s new Royal Wedding and everyone was talking about it. The wedding catapulted a social obsession with Richie Grainge’s style - a very classy, quiet luxury vibe. Thousands started to try and recreate Sofia’s everyday look with simple yet elegant pieces whether it was wearing her exact Chanel ballet flats or a Zara dupe.
The shift back to ballet flats, a trend popular in the 2010s, proves the cyclical nature of style obsessions. Who knows how long ballet flats will be here to stay, but I would guess that even if they do go out of style in the next few years, we’ll see them back on runways and in our shopping carts in years to come.
Must reads on Ballet Flats and Where to Shop:
Are We Ready for a Ballet Flat Comeback? (Vogue)
Plié your way into 2023’s ballet flat trend like these Scandi tastemakers (Vogue)
This Flat Shoe Trend That Has Swiftly Become A Street Style Favorite (Vogue)
The 19 Best Ballet Flats of 2023 to Wear Every Day (Marie Claire)
