If 2023 were defined by a shoe trend, it would arguably be the ballet flat. In a year filled with feminine aesthetics, the “balletcore” fashion movement’s key show resurfaced with a wave of new styles — and a wave of new fashion moments.
From the streets of New York City to the front rows of Paris Fashion Week, ballet flats took center stage this year. Stars including Katie Holmes, Alexa Chung, Olivia Ponton and more stepped out in variations on the lightweight shoe, ranging from practical to dramatic. Indeed, whether they featured shiny silver uppers, ballerina-worthy satins or any size of Mary Jane straps, ballet flats added a dash of elegant, preppy and whimsical flair to the international fashion set.
Below, discover the moments that marked ballet flats‘ major comeback in 2023.
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Alexa Chung, Loewe’s Fall 2023 Fashion Show
Alexa Chung slipped on a pair of black leather slingback flats — complete with gold chain toe accents — for Loewe’s fall 2023 fashion show in February. During the Paris Fashion Week affair, Chung complemented the chic set with a trench-style dress and silver chainmail Paco Rabanne handbag.
Katie Holmes, Chanel Tribeca Festival Women’s Lunch
In June, Katie Holmes stepped out in black cap-toed Chanel flats for the brand’s annual Tribeca Film Festival luncheon to celebrate the “Through Her Lens” program. Holmes’ chic shoes added a versatile base to the rest of her Chanel outfit: a white top and printed blue jeans, paired with a large black knit cardigan and crystal drop earrings.
Olivia Ponton, Tory Burch’s Spring 2024 Fashion Show
During New York Fashion Week, model Olivia Ponton arrived to Tory Burch‘s spring 2024 runway show in a pair of black Mary Jane-style flats — complete with pointed toes and thin upper straps. The style added a preppy finish to Ponton’s ensemble for the occasion, also by Burch: a sheer-paneled black top and pleated miniskirt, accented with a quilted leather shoulder bag.
Susanna Lau, Supriya Lele’s Spring 2024 Fashion Show
For Supriya Lele’s spring 2024 show at London Fashion Week, influencer Susanna Lau — also known as Susie Bubble — posed in a pair of black satin Miu Miu flats. Her Mary Jane style, complete with printed elastic straps, added a whimsical finish to her outfit for the occasion: a ruffled red dress, collared jacket and white knee socks, paired with a black leather iteration of Gucci’s popular Horsebit Chain shoulder bag.
Ever Anderson, Miu Miu’s Spring 2024 Fashion Show
Ever Anderson arrived to Miu Miu’s spring 2024 runway show at Paris Fashion Week in a pair of the brand’s signature ballet flats, featuring a tonal pink leather base with thick buckled straps. The edgy pair added an eclectic base to the “Peter Pan & Wendy” star’s gray minidress and floral crystal-embellished jacket for the occasion, which were complemented by the brand’s round white leather Matelassé handbag.
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.
