Hailey Bieber declared this August “Strawberry Girl Summer“, whilst influencers who took to Europe announced it was “European Summer“. Whilst I’m not here to contest either statement, for all the fashion editors out there, there was only one way we could describe the past few months: ballet-flat summer.
After years in hibernation, the ballet flat triumphantly retrieved its cult status this year. Chic Mary Janes, were, and are, on every corner; mesh ballet flats emerged as the coolest iteration; a pair of Tabis were the subject of a highly publicised theft in New York; and crystal embossed ballet pumps were on every corner during Fashion Month.
Every iteration of ballet flat has had its moment in 2023, and whilst some brands gained notoriety for their classic black flats, others made their way to the top of wish lists for their bolder take on the trending shoe.
After a fashion redemption story like no other, below I’ve chronicled the ballet flats that ruled the summer months. Read on to discover the flats we’ll be shopping now and for years to come.
