Are ballet flats dated? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Are ballet flats dated?

Anonymous

Hello!

I've been on the hunt for a pair of casual everyday summer shoes that I can wear with skinny and cropped jeans. I need something that works with the preppy/nautical summer style. I tried on and liked the two pairs below, and brought home the second (gold) pair.

While these would work, I always have a hard time getting excited about ballet flats. I have boat shoes that I wear ALL the time, but don't want to duplicate.

I'd love to hear if you have any thoughts, suggestions, or if you think I should just stick with one of these ballet flats

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I think the first one skews more preppy/nautical, IMO. What is it about ballet shoes that don't excite you? Maybe you need a flat with a bit more detailing to it to feel like your style.

Kim

Veteran

I too have a hard time getting excited over ballet flats. Simply don't work with the style I have in my head! LOL

I am however, ALL OVER the new "smoking slipper" style. Here's a pair that you might like but there are tons more out there!

I'm including the link I found these at FYI
http://www.chatelaine.com/en/b.....ipper-shoe

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

Laura - I'm not sure, I like them on others, but I feel like they're a bit boring on me. But sometimes they ARE just the right thing to make an outfit work even when I feel like they are boring on their own.

Kim - LOVE the navy stripe flats you posted, those are adorable!! I like the shape of the slipper flat too but haven't seen many around in person. I will check those out.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I love both pair you posted (but I am pretty preppy) I think the 2 tone of the first and the metallic of the 2nd make them less boring than some. Why not try an embellished pair? (jewels or studs or something)

rachylou

Veteran

Slippers like Kim posted are in. Ballets are out. Oxford flats are in too.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

I think ballet flats are classic. Whether its something you should wear would depend your style. I like both pairs that you posted but if I had to choose one, I would choose #2

Kari

Veteran

I haven't seen any indication that ballet flats are on the wane.
Personally I still wear them. I have two pairs in different colors of that Me Too flat pictured in #1 - SO comfortable.

April

Veteran

I think they're "in" until someone comes up with something else that women can walk distances in that isn't menswear-ish and that isn't an athletic shoe.

Deborah

Veteran

I would like to think that ballet flats are here to stay. I have quite a few pairs and I get wear out of them three seasons of the year (I don't wear them in winter). I think they are pretty classic. However if you don't love them I think there are enough variations around in the form of flat loafers, flats with different shaped toe boxes etc.

BTW I really like both pairs you have pictured.

ironkurtin

Veteran

God no. Never.

Anonymous

Ballet flats are VERY DEFINITELY IN on the streets of Paris. I can't think of a woman I know who doesn't own several pairs. The slippers Kim posted would be considered just that, slippers, and far too casual to be seen on a city street, whereas NOBODY would dream of wearing athletic shoes outside a sports centre or gym. They are the ultimate NO, NO!

Most Parisian working girls make their way to work in ballet flats (have you ever tried running on cobbled streets, or standing on the Métro in Louboutins?), although they sometimes put them in their tote and wear stilettos during working hours.

I don't like the elasticated ballerines in the photos at the top of this thread either, but then they have nothing whatsoever to do with a chic pair of Repettos, or an even chicer pair of Roger Vivier ballet flats. Did you know that oh-so-elegant Inès de la Fressange (who is style director for Vivier) was lured back to the Chanel catwalk by Karl Lagerfeld last year?? Or that she closed the show to rapturous applause wearing a fabulous evening gown paired with her trademark ballet flats? Does that suggest to you that they are OUT of style???

Kristine

Veteran

Classic but if you don't like them then keep looking!

qpswan

Ballet flats and skimmers are considered a staple of women's footwear!

I have never tried a gathered flat and am not sure how they look or feel on the foot. Both would work with your style.

Here is a link for a pair of Sperrys I recently purchased. They come in different patterns as well as the classic navy.http://vip.zappos.com/sperry-t.....e-platinum

I have also include a photo of a Sperry ballet flat; they make flats in many different styles.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Jonesy

Veteran

I agree with others that they are pretty classic. If you like the style, it's just a matter of finding a comfy pair that works for your particular feet.

Aida

Veteran

Sammi, I think the gold pair is a great option for when you are wearing something a bit trendier that needs some classic grounding (and yet aren't too classic themselves because of the metallic). I don't think ballet flats are ever "out", they seem quite classic to me.

sarah

Veteran

I can't imagine that they will every be dated. They're a classic shoe. I wear them : ) (although not lately, since the temps won't drop below 90 degrees)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

They are a classic. I have a pair of Repettos that I love dearly -- especially for travel. I would seriously consider getting another pair in another color (currently have black).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh my goodness. Chanel and Lanvin have built a huge portion of their empires on the ballet flat, and continue to do so. Trust me, Sammi - there is nothing dated about the ballet flat. It's a true classic

Ballet flats are my shoe!!!

Kari

Veteran

I guess to me, the concept that ballet flats could be "out" would be like saying that pumps or pencil skirts are "out." There are certain details that can make a ballet flat more or less fashion forward, and certainly slip-on loafers are the newest trend, but IMO ballet flats aren't a trendy item that is likely to be here today, gone tomorrow.
That being said, just because something is "classic" doesn't mean that everybody has to like or wear it! I know there are those who aren't fond of how ballet flats look on their feet, or who find that their heels slip out unless the shoe is narrow or elasticized at the heel.

Isabel

Veteran

How coincidental that you ask that today !!

I went into Boston and to an upscale mall today. I would say that 99 % of the women were wearing ballet flats or some type of closed, flat shoe. It was unbearably hot and I expected to see sandals or peep toe shoes. NOT ONE !!! I did see a couple of young women in flip flops and some people in sneakers. Both in the city proper and at the mall. I felt a bit weird with my flats and a dress while wondering what other women were wearing on their feet in such hot weather. It was very interesting.

I was also wearing a summer dress and flats.

So YES !! They seem to be very timely, at least in Boston.

Ginny

Veteran

I agree ballet flats are not out, I have the pair #1 you posted and I get tons of wear out of them. They go with just about everything, I wear flats more than wedges or heels just because they fit my lifestyle and the two tone chanel-esque ones to me are classic.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I agree with others that ballet flats are classic and will never go out of style. Having said that, I don't get excited about them either. They would fit my lifestyle but they don't do it for me aesthetically. I think it's just me, though -- I feel topheavy when I wear them, for one thing, and they don't fit in with the image I have for myself in my mind, lol. I see other women wearing them and looking cute though. I think either of those pairs you chose are pretty. I hear that metallics go with everything, so the gold should be useful, but I really like ballet flats with toe-caps too, like the first pair.

Anonymous

I loved reading all your thoughts, they were fascinating! It seems like there is absolutely a consensus that ballet flats are stylish

Angie, I LOVE how you wear your ballet flats, you are an inspiration!

Elizabeth, you really expressed how I feel. it's really that I struggle to feel stylish in ballet flats. I feel they can sometimes make me look young. Also reading the responses here made me realize that they add a very classic element.

Aida, what you said really made sense! I think I can make them work for me if I balance this classic element with the rest of my outfit as Aida suggested. I'm keeping the gold pair since I think they will be easier to work with, but may get the toe cap version too if the experiment goes well

Today I am wearing the gold flats with gray skinnies, a yellow patent belt, and a white denim cropped jacket. My feet are very happy, but the outfit feels like "me".

Thanks for your help ladies!