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The 16 best ballet flats that are cute, comfortable, and classic
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The best ballet flats tie comfort and sophistication together with a bow. They're stylish on their own or with a statement sock, and add a feminine flair to wide-leg pants. As people who walk a lot, we ask a lot of our ballet flats. So, we've gathered our favorite pairs that support you in each step (and look good doing it).
We've spent years testing some of the best flats, including many that are distinctly ballerina-inspired. Our top pick among the very best ballet flats is the Margaux Demi Ballet Flat. "With all the walking I do, my feet end up swelling a bit, and the wide pair is more comfortable for long days out," says executive editor Sally Kaplan. Another pair suitable for wide feet is the Vivaia Margaret, which are stretchy and take no time to break in.
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The best ballet flats we've tested:
Margaux's Demi Flat comes in three different shoe widths, so you never have to miss out on a cute flat style because of your foot shape.
Everlane’s The Day Ballet Flat is the first ballet iteration of the company’s cult-favorite Day Glove. The leather is incredibly soft and molds to your feet the more you wear them.
The Demis are essential if you want to get a lot of wear from an archetypal leather ballet flat. Aside from looking polished, they also score major points in the comfort department thanks to five millimeters of foam plush padding and a functional, adjustable cord bow that helps you get the perfect fit.
"As far as sizing and fit both go, I'd recommend going true to size since Margaux offers half sizes. And, possibly the best feature is the ability to choose your width (narrow, medium, or wide). I got the medium width and it was fine for my relatively average-width feet, but I also tried a wide pair later on and realized that's probably the size I'll opt for in the future. With all the walking I do, my feet end up swelling a bit, and the wide pair is more comfortable for long days out. They didn't make my feet look pancake-like, either — I still got that nice elongated silhouette you get from ballet flats." — Sally Kaplan, executive editor
Read more in our full Margaux Demi flats review.
Our team has a running collection of Everlane reviews of everything from their bathing suits to totes. We're especially impressed by these ballet flats, crafted from super-soft Italian leather with pull-tabs on the heels and two holes on the side for ventilation. They've also got a bit of a heel, a functional rubber outsole, a functional tie bow, and a cushioned insole that makes them comparable to another of our favorite flats, the Day Glove.
"There's a tiny bit of padding in the shoe that makes them feel more like a loafer than a flat. I may even like these more than the original!" — Sally Kaplan, executive editor
Read more in our full Everlane Day Ballet Flat review.
If a totally flat shoe tends to irk your high arches, you'll appreciate a nifty feature from M. Gemi's Danzas: a small hidden wedge inside that adds arch support and makes them overall more comfortable than your average flat. Furthermore, they're made with soft Italian Nappa leather that molds to your feet for a glove-like fit. If you tend to slip out of ballet flats, round down a half size for this pair.
Vivaia's biggest selling point are their knit flats made with repurposed plastic water bottles. The Margaret is a stretchy, machine-washable square-toe flat with extra plush cushioning and padding on the heel, so there's zero risk for blisters.
"Not only are Vivaia's flats less expensive than Rothy's, but they also beat them in terms of comfort. The insoles are padded around the heel and forefoot with a yoga-mat like material, while Rothy's are flat on the inside. The arch support and slightly more structured heel feel notably different when walking on pavement. The square toe box is roomier than Rothy's, so they're better suited for people with wide feet in this aspect, too." — Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor
Read more in our full Vivaia shoes review.
Vionic's orthotic shoes come in wearable styles that may not be the pinnacle of fashion, but they're designed according to what a podiatrist considers important in footwear. People with narrow feet know that shoes made from leather and suede may fit at first, but wearing them in causes them to stretch and become loose. The Klara comes in narrow sizes, so even after breaking them in they'll fit snugly (and still feel flexible).
These ballet flats come with two pairs of removable insoles, so you can test out which makes your step feel the most stable. These are likely to take four to five wears to break in because of the stiff leather, but the process will help adjust the shoes to where you need the most support.
In our Quince review, we came away impressed with nearly everything we tried from their cashmere collection to their washable silk line. Their luxury materials are competitively priced, but in our experience the quality is comparable to designer labels.
These pointy Italian leather flats are complete with padded OrthoLite insoles that give your feet extra cushioned arch support, so you can comfortably wear them for commuting or strolling around. In our experience Quince flats run slightly large, so we recommend sizing down if you're between sizes.
Birdies' velvet Hummingbirds flats are cute, festive, and the perfect shoes if you're handling a lot of errands during the holiday season. Inside, they're lined with satin over an extremely plush seven layers of padding, including shock-absorbing cushions and dual-layer high-density memory foam.
"My first word of advice when it comes to Birdies' flats is that they run large, so I recommend sizing down by half," says associate style editor Gabrielle Chase. "But the quilted footbed is undeniably comfortable, especially in its support around the heels."
These coquettish satin ballet flats have the classic sheen we associate with genuine pointe shoes. The Leonies have a padded leather footbed with Loeffler Randall's gold stamped logo, an almond toe, and an elastic bridge strap for added security.
These handwoven ballet flats are crafted from buttery 100% sheepskin leather with genuine goat hide insoles that mold perfectly to your feet and get softer with each wear. These run true to size in whole sizes only, so we recommend those who are in between sizes should order a half size up.
Rothy's makes the best travel-friendly shoes among our favorite ballet flats. They're lightweight, flexible, and easy to stash in a suitcase or handbag so you can keep them close by when your feet are in desperate need of relief. And don't worry if your adventures get a little messy—these shoes are fully machine washable. Their new "In Love" insoles make them significantly more walkable than the original version, which lacked the padded perimeter.
"Because they're so flexible, I folded them into my purse as a backup pair of comfortable shoes to change into for a wedding reception. My feet tend to swell after spending hours in pumps, so I was grateful how they stretched to accommodate the size of my feet from their swollen state until they were back to their usual size by the end of the night." — Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor
Read more in our full Rothy's flats review.
In my own experience with Alohas, I found their footwear to be high-quality, durable, and versatile. And if you like a bit of extra wiggle room for your toes, these stretchy, square-toe kicks might just be the top ballet flats for you. The Rosalind flats are crafted from soft leather with an elasticized back and have flexible soles that are easy on the feet.
Read more in our full Alohas review.
Though these are definitely a splurge, the $395 price tag on Mansur Gavriel's Dream Ballerina flats isn't so unreasonable when you compared to similar ballet flats from Chanel ( starting at $750) or Louboutin (about $500).
What you're paying for: a buttery soft lambskin leather, cushioned insoles that make the shoes wear more like a loafer than a flat, just enough sole traction to keep you stable on slippery surfaces, and a classic look that can be worn with virtually anything in your closet.
"As far as sizing goes, I am usually somewhere in between a 7.5 and 8, and I ordered a size 38 (the European equivalent of an 8). Mansur Gavriel's site says to order a full size up from your usual size, but in my experience, it's better to opt for either your true size or one half size up if you sometimes find your true size to be tight in other brands." — Sally Kaplan, executive editor
The patent exterior of the black version gives these budget-friendly kicks an elegant boost that makes them look much more expensive than they are. Even better: they have a 0.2-inch memory foam cushion insock, with soft canvas lining that adds plenty of comfort. The flexibly structured shoes also boast a non-slip outsole.
Celebrities and fashionistas alike have been spotted wearing mesh flats in favor of sandals. The Cadel ballet flats feel practically weightless on the feet, and they can easily be dressed up or down. This pair from Dolce Vita has the added security of an elastic strap across the foot, and their transparency are perfect for showing off novelty socks.
With a strap across the top of your foot, Mary Jane flats tend to stay in place better than many of the other best ballet flats, which comes in handy when you've got lots of walking on the agenda. Other points we love about the Audreys include their sophisticated leather outsole, a rounded toe with a bow detail on the vamp, and a contrast strap on certain colorways.
Oka-B makes their ballet flats in Georgia and offers them in over a dozen designs. This sweet pair with an exaggerated bow makes a statement in function as much as it does in style. The silhouette is specifically designed to accommodate a wide range of foot shapes, and it includes arch support outfitted with massage beads and a heel cup for stability. The waterproof and slip-resistant shoes are 100% recyclable and made from a blend of used shoes, scrap material, and the brand's own proprietary bio-based material.
"I wore mine right out of the box and there was no break-in period. I was even more pleasantly surprised when they didn't fall apart in the rain, effectively protected my feet from city grime, and still looked cute enough to wear all day at work. I've already converted my sister to these flats — she now owns two pairs." — Elizabeth Yuko, contributing author
Read more in our full Oka-B flats review.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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