Published on September 28, 2026

How to Choose the Best Ballet Flats

Ballet flats were once known as one of Kate Moss’ favourite fashion choices, but they fell off the trend list for years after that. But they’re back. They’ve made a new entrance to the fashion scene, and they’re cuter than ever. These are the kinds of shoes you can wear with the greatest of ease, so let’s celebrate their resurrection and find the perfect options for you. 

How to Wear Ballet Flats

Round toe ballet flats usually have a sleek and stylish silhouette. They straddle the boundary between formal and smart casual environments. It’s this versatility that makes them so abiding. They’re lightweight and comfy, so they’re even a weekend favourite when paired with jeans. They exemplify chic, effortless Parisian style.

How to Choose Your Perfect Pair

Classic ballet flats have a barely-there heel and an ultra-thin insole. They can be made with leather or material uppers. These details make them so light and airy you’ll forget you’re even wearing them, but they don’t suit all occasions or needs. You need to consider:

Matching Your Ballet Flat Design to Your Foot Shape and Needs

Strappy ballet flats & Mary Janes suit foot shapes uniquely. The wide toed Mary Jane is perfect for feet with bunions. In contrast, classic ballet flats suit relatively petite feet, but square toed shoes provide extra room for comfort. Soft material or stretchy leather will mold to your feet.

Matching Your Shoes to Their Purpose

The classic ballet flat design doesn’t always have the grip, cushioning, and structure for long walks in the city. If you love forest strolls, look for double-cushioned insoles and soft uppers with plenty of heel support. If you’re choosing office shoes, pumps are a great choice with the raised heel and extra structure required for formal environments.

Finding the Right Material

Leather ballet pumps tend to last better and provide breathability. Fabrics like satin will usually mold to your foot, but they will never give you the same durability as leather. Still, there’s something to be said for a quirky, beautifully patterned pair of fabric flats.

Understanding the Details of Your Shoes

Ballet flats have unique benefits and drawbacks that most other shoes do not, so you need to know how to assess the details.

The Insole

Ballet flats are notorious for their lack of arch support, so a good insole will make all the difference. Flat, paper-thin insets don’t meld themselves around your foot, so they distribute your body weight unevenly. Even worse, they won’t keep your posture in alignment, so an achy back might be swift to follow. Ideally, your flats will have a raised contour and enough sponginess to absorb shock.

The Uppers

The top part of the shoe needs to be flexible and soft to prevent blisters. You shouldn’t see visible stitching on the upper. An exceptional pair of shoes will have rolled edges that hide the end of the yarn. Structural stitching will be invisible.

The Vamp

The vamp refers to the length of the toe section of your shoes. Ballet flats have a tendency to show toe cleavage, forcing you into stockings. A longer vamp will eliminate this problem while simultaneously giving your toes more room for free movement.

The Topline

The topline is the design feature that helps the upper to stay on your feet. Many ballet flats use soft elastic to allow them to fit any foot size and prevent your feet from slipping out at the heel. If it’s too tight, it will pinch your feet. Pay special attention to the way your heels move with the elastic. A thoughtless design won’t keep your feet inside the shoes.

The Heel and Outsole

Ballet flats tend to have slim, flexible outsoles that expose your feet to every tiny pebble you walk on. Choose flats with a durable rubber or leather sole. If you’re wearing your ballerinas to work, a one-inch heel will instantly carry you into an office environment.

Choosing Your Palette

Ballet flats are whimsical enough to adapt to any colour and pattern, but that doesn’t mean you have free reign. Choose black or brown ballerinas with tights if you’re heading into a formal office environment. You can mix and match your colors more freely in a casual office, so nobody will look at you askance in red patent leather. Reserve that mesh and cow print material you adore for weekends and holidays.

Overall Crafting

Real leather always brings inimitable style to a pair of shoes. All our shoemakers make our ballerinas by hand, from stitching and architecture to patternmaking. This allows them to achieve the perfect fit, even with elasticated ballet flats.

We even paint our raw edges by hand before we build the insoles. There are more than 200 steps involved in making the perfect pair of Bobbies ballerinas because we want to be sure your shoes are a pleasure to wear and look at. As a brand, we take quality seriously, so our sense of detail is unmatched.