Ballet Flats – A Fashion Staple
Posted on June 3, 2009 by Miss Britt in Shoes
I adore ballet flats.
At present, I have seven pairs of ballet flats in various colors and styles and I can think of at least three more pairs I don’t own that I am lusting after. (I’m just trying to figure out where I’ll make room for them in my closet.)
I believe ballet flats are a footwear staple that every woman should have at least one pair of. Nina Garcia included ballet flats in her list of 100 things every woman should have in her closet. (Although, she also included a poncho in that list – but still. She was right about the ballet flats.)
There are two things I adore about ballet flats. One is that they are extremely comfortable. A cute shoe that can handle 6 hours of shopping is a treasure. The other thing I love about ballet flats is that they are one of the few closed toe shoes that don’t require socks – making them perfect for summer days when you’re in bad need of a pedicure. Yes, it happens. But no one has to know if you’ve got the perfect pair of ballet flats.
Or seven.
The first pair of ballet flats I bought was a black Mary Jane style I picked up years ago at Payless. Oddly enough, my newest pair of ballet flats are also black, but not at all a Mary Jane style and therefore not in anyway redundant or unnecessary. Clearly.
These are my most recent purchase. They are Report’s Oakley flat and I bought them at my local Macy’s. I’m having a hell of a time finding them online in black – which might be why they were on sale at Macy’s.
Charlotte Russe has a comparable version of the basic black ballet flat for under $20.
Born Sokal – Women’s – Shoes – Red
I love the Mary Jane look. I love this pair especially because it’s a deep enough red to almost work as a neutral – super easy to punch up an outfit without having to strap on a heel.
Colorful Creations Lily Flats in Silver
I also have a pair of silver ballet flats that I love to wear with sundresses. This pair comes in silver or gold. Women often forget that metallics are technically neutrals – so they can be worn with any color or pattern.
I do love red shoes. My only rule when looking for red ballet flats is to avoid anything that can be considered “ruby red” or “sparkly”. A nod to Dorothy is cute. A dead on imitation is cheesy.
ROS HOMMERSON White Leather Ballet Flats
I want to garden. OK, I don’t want to garden. I want to put these on with a beautiful maxi dress and attend a garden party where I will be served tea after a leisurely stroll past the rose bushes.
These are on my lust list. They’re so dainty and interesting and fun all at the same time. How often do you get a good combination of dainty and fun? My apologies to the dainty ladies, of course.
As with most shoes, you can find ballet flats in every price range. A more expensive pair will usually have better support and cushioning in the sole and be less likely to dig into the back of your heel. That being said, my most comfortable pair of ballet flats is an olive green pair by Airwalk that I bought at Payless for $12.
Have you tried ballet flats yet?
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Posted on June 3, 2009 by Miss Britt in Shoes
Oooohhh. I love them ALL except the Mary Janes. Sorry. But will they make my legs look even chunkier than they already are?
@Britt’s Mom, um, hi – you have the same legs as me!
There are different styles that work better. A Mary Jane actually might be one to avoid if you’re worried about that. The white ones (Ros Hommerson) are a good shape for legs like ours.
I love them! My only complaint is that so many are beyond flat – I find that the really flat ones make both my legs and feet ache. They have to have a tiny heel. Especially because I find the backs at the heel wear away otherwise.
My favorite pair of flats is a pair I got at the Gap on clearance for $20 – leopard print. They are awesome, and I wear them quite a bit, actually, and get compliments every time I do.
You might be seeing them soon at a party, in fact…
I’m wearing a pair very similar to the silver ones you’ve shown. They’re gold, and I got them at Target for $8. I have 3 other pair of Target ballet flats: black, floral and pink. Since sandals are frowned upon in my workplace, they’re a go-to for summer for me.
I have a pair of Dr. Scholls that I got at Walmart….LOVE them!
I am totally going to have to stock up on some more styles and colors for work since our dress code says no open toed shoes without hosiery! I mean come on……..who wears hose with open toed shoes when it’s 90 degrees out!?
We all look like retards!
I have an obsession with flats. I used to be all about heels but now I’m embracing my height (or lack thereof) for the sake of cute and comfortable. I have ‘em in all styles and colors and am always picking up more.
My first pair were the cheapo $10 flats from Target that were nothing more than thin material with a thin sole. But they got me hooked! I REALLY love the Hommerson flats!
I bought a pair of ballet flats – once a super cheap pair that made my feet sweat and stink.
The others were these ones : http://www.payless.com/store/product/detail.jsp?skuId=060536080&productId=59556&subCatId=cat10277&catId=cat10088&lotId=060536&catdisplayName=Womens+
I wound up returning them because I couldn’t get them to stay on my damned feet. Am I the only one with this problem? Maybe these aren’t technically ballet flats? I dunno.
I totally love flats! They’re so comfy and cute!! My fave pair is these brown plaid ones I got from who knows where… Well, anyway, on the toe they have black lace, and then a brown ribbon bow over that (the inside is metallic bronze). They are BEAUTIFUL and I LOVE them! lol Whenever I wear them, people are like, “Ohmygosh, you’re shoes are so cute!” heehee :]