Ballet flats come back every spring and always look more modern than we remembered. They are the shoe for anyone who walks a lot without giving up a polished look — provided you choose well, because a bad ballet flat is as uncomfortable as a high heel.
The styles
- Pointed: visually lengthens the leg, the most elegant and the most office-appropriate.
- Round toe: more classic and usually more comfortable across the forefoot.
- With ankle strap: holds the foot in place, useful with a low instep or for long walks.
- Perforated: lighter and more breathable, perfect from April onwards.
- Slingback: open heel with a strap behind. Halfway between a flat and an occasion shoe.
Materials
The material decides comfort and season, and on a ballet flat you notice it more than on other shoes: the upper is thin and sits directly on the foot.
- Leather: moulds to the foot after two or three outings and is the most breathable. The right choice if you wear them all day.
- Patent: good-looking and easy to clean, but it does not breathe and does not give. Better for an occasion than for eight hours on your feet.
- Suede: soft from the first wear, but vulnerable to rain and stains. A protective spray before the first outing makes a real difference.
- Mesh and perforated: the summer answer. They let air through and are the right pick if your feet swell in the heat.
The comfort problem — and how to solve it
Ballet flats have little structure: thin sole, no support at the heel. That is why some are extremely comfortable and others unbearable after an hour.
- The insole: if it is completely flat and hard, you will feel it on long walks. Choose a style with some padding.
- The edge: if it presses on your instep when walking, it will not improve with wear.
- Heel grip: if the shoe slips off, you need a strap or half a size down.
When they slip off at the heel
This is the number one complaint, and it is almost never the wrong size: usually it comes down to a narrow heel or a low instep. In most cases it is fixable.
- Adhesive heel grips: a few euros, they take a couple of millimetres out of the back and solve most cases.
- Thin insoles: they lift the foot just enough for the upper to hold it. Choose slim ones, otherwise they tighten across the forefoot.
- Styles with a strap: ankle strap or slingback. If the problem repeats with every shoe, this is the permanent answer.
- Elasticated topline: it holds the heel without pinching, and it rescues a lot of flats.
If they already slip when new and they are leather, it will not improve: leather softens with wear and the play grows.
How to wear them
With jeans: ankle-length cuts are the most natural pairing. With long jeans, a pointed toe avoids a stubby look.
With a midi skirt: here the pointed flat makes the difference, continuing the line of the leg instead of interrupting it.
With wide trousers: choose a simple dark style that does not compete with the volume.
With a dress: ballet flats make an elegant dress instantly more wearable during the day.
Which colour first
Black is the safest, but nude and beige have a practical advantage: they create continuity with the leg and make it look longer. If you buy one pair only, one of these two works harder.
Sizing
Ballet flats usually fit true to size. If you are between two, here it is better to go down: the upper softens slightly with wear, and a loose flat slips at the heel.
For size conversion, see our Italian shoe size guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are ballet flats office-appropriate?
Yes: a pointed style in smooth leather, black or nude, counts as a formal shoe.
Can you wear them without socks?
Yes, and that is the usual way. To stop the foot sweating, use invisible no-show socks or a perforated style.
How long does a pair last?
With daily wear, a leather flat lasts a season and a half to two. The part that gives out first is almost always the insole.
Ballet flats or sneakers for long walks?
Beyond two or three hours sneakers are the honest answer; below that, flats have no downside.
Where to see them
Our selection is in the women's ballet flats collection. You can try them in Bardolino, Lazise and Peschiera del Garda: addresses on our Our Stores page.