Wondering why every shop window suddenly has ballet flats? The ballet flats trend is a comeback driven by comfort, social media and a few runway shows. Here is how it happened and how you can wear it.
Ballet flats are one chapter in the wider story of footwear trends, and this guide follows the revival step by step.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Film that took ballet flats off the stage (And God Created Woman) | 1956 |
| Miu Miu Autumn/Winter 2022 show that spotlighted the flats | March 2022 |
| TikTok views of the balletcore aesthetic, as of January 2023 | More than 300 million views |
| Jump in search interest for ballerinas after a Bella Hadid post (Boohoo data) | +742% |
The figures come from The Star’s January 2023 report and USC Scribe’s November 2024 article. Figures can change, so check the sources before you rely on them.
Where did ballet flats come from?
According to USC Scribe, ballet flats were first worn by ballerinas in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were designed to give dancers the flexibility and comfort their performances needed.
Before the modern ballet slipper, dancers performed in shoes fitted with heels. A Yahoo Lifestyle history says French dancer Marie Camargo went without heels in the 1730s, which set the modern flat in motion.
The path from stage to street is easier to follow as a short timeline:
- 1730s: Marie Camargo dances in flat-soled shoes instead of heels, as Yahoo Lifestyle tells it.
- 1947: Rose Repetto changes her son Roland Petit’s ballet shoes to make them more comfortable, per the same Yahoo Lifestyle piece.
- 1956: Brigitte Bardot wears flats in And God Created Woman, which USC Scribe says made them fashionable and popular among women offstage.
Accounts of the 2010s differ. USC Scribe says flats began to fade from the mainstream by the 2010s, overtaken by edgier footwear, while Yahoo Lifestyle describes a resurgence in the 2010s as people embraced workwear and skinny jeans.
What counts as a ballet flat today?
In their classic form, ballet pumps have a flat sole or a small heel, a round toe and sometimes a strap, as described by The Star. That simple base leaves plenty of room for variation.
Recent designs show how far the shape can stretch:
- The satin version with ankle ribbons and crystal details that USC Scribe calls a cult favorite from Miu Miu.
- A strapped, printed and mismatched take that Miu Miu showed in 2016, according to Yahoo Lifestyle.
- A square-toe style with a quilted footbed that Birdies’ co-founder described as the brand’s take on the classic ballet flat, quoted by Yahoo Lifestyle.
So a ballet flat is less a single shoe than a family of shapes. What ties them together is the slipper-like profile and the lack of a real heel.
How runways and social media drove the ballet flats trend
Harper’s Bazaar traces the return to the spring/summer 2021 collections, with the shoe appearing everywhere from Dior and Chanel to Miu Miu. The same piece repeats a common idea that fashion trends cycle back about every 20 years.
The loudest moment came in March 2022, when Miu Miu’s Autumn/Winter 2022 show put satin flats under pleated mini-skirts, according to The Star. As The Star reported in January 2023, the Miu Miu flat then became the most popular fashion accessory in the world in the Lyst quarterly report published in October.
Fashion is a cycle, but the pairing mattered too. The flats were worn with leg warmers and a skirt that already had the public’s attention, so the shoes read as part of a complete look rather than an accessory added later.
A second engine was balletcore. The Star says the ballerina style had been a favorite of younger generations since the beginning of 2022, and that the aesthetic had generated more than 300 million views on TikTok as of its January 2023 report.
Celebrity posts added fuel. Boohoo data cited by The Star shows search interest for ballerinas jumped by +742% worldwide just a few hours after model Bella Hadid posted satin flats on Instagram.
Why comfort keeps ballet flats in rotation
Harper’s Bazaar links the revival to other comfort-led footwear trends, which it says have grown since the pandemic began. It adds that the most popular shoes of 2022 on the Lyst search engine were all flat, with no heels in the top 10 hottest products.
Comfort is only half the story. USC Scribe says the shoes move from work to weekend and from casual to formal, adding refinement without the discomfort of high heels.
Sneakers once pushed flats aside. The Star notes that sneakers had largely overshadowed the dance shoes, which were once seen as equally practical, comfortable and elegant.
One buyer quoted by Harper’s Bazaar says you may wear them one year and not the next, but you will always go back to them. That is a useful way to think about a classic rather than a fad.
The same Lyst list included a loafer, so the loafer trend belongs to the same comfort-led story. If you want even more flexibility underfoot, the barefoot shoes trend is worth reading about too.
How to shop for and wear ballet flats
A July 2026 report in PAPER describes creators posting long videos on ballet flat shopping tips. They often begin with their foot shape and how walkable their city is, so you can judge whether their advice fits your own days.
Price is part of the conversation too. One creator quoted by PAPER said the flats other people recommended were all $150 or more, and she suggested a plain black pair from a budget retailer as an affordable way to test the style.
A simple approach for your first pair:
- Start with a plain black pair, which is the easiest way to see if the shape suits you.
- Think about your foot shape and how much walking your week involves.
- Read reviews with care, because PAPER notes that the same shoe can draw both rave and disappointed comments.
- Pair them with tailored trousers, a flowy skirt or classic denim, the combinations USC Scribe highlights.
Tastes move on, and no trend lasts forever. Still, the shape has been through stage, film, runway and feed, and it keeps finding its way back to people’s wardrobes.
Frequently asked questions
Are ballet flats really back?
Show answer
Yes, according to the sources. The Star called them a big return in January 2023, and PAPER described a craze in July 2026.
Who made ballet flats popular off the stage?
Show answer
Rose Repetto and Brigitte Bardot are the names most often cited. USC Scribe credits Bardot’s 1956 film And God Created Woman with making the flats fashionable among women offstage.
Why did ballet flats fade for a while?
Show answer
USC Scribe says edgier footwear overtook them by the 2010s. The Star adds that the rise of the sneaker did not help them.
Are ballet flats comfortable?
Show answer
Opinions differ. Harper’s Bazaar ties the revival to comfort, but a creator quoted by PAPER says reviews of a single shoe can be split, so try a pair on and wear them for a short time first.
