23 best ballet flats and how editors are wearing them this spring/summer
Make no mistake: whilst they've been a total trend of late, the best ballet flats are as much a capsule wardrobe essential as your favourite fashion trainers or loafers.
It's hard to know which trends are worth investing in for the long haul; maybe you jumped on the jelly shoes trend too soon, or the fuzzy footwear movement made you forget about how much it rains in the UK. But ballet shoes have proven to be versatile and the easy way to add polish to any outfit. Trust me: if you buy a pair of ballet flats now, you're sure to reach for them next season, too. (Read our guide to how to style ballet flats for proof – there's a plethora of choice).
How editors are wearing ballet flats, 2026
Of course, the trend isn't really anything new. Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel made a statement back in the fifties with her two-tone sling backs. Over twenty years later when Karl Lagerfeld was at the helm of Chanel, he updated the sling back into the Chanel ballet pump we know today with other designers since putting their own spin on the shoe; case in point with Alaïa who made crystal flats a moment and Maison Margiela who championed the cleft toe.
Mesh ballet flats and crochet iterations don't seem to be going anywhere, while satin ballet pumps and heeled ballerinas have entered the chat more recently, with sneakerinas (that is, a sneaker-meets-ballerina hybrid) and square-toed ballet flats finding their proverbial feet as we speak. Find the best of all the above, below.
For more from Hattie Cotmore, follow her on Instagram @hattiecotmore. For more from Glamour UK's Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.
Ready to add to your capsule wardrobe? These are the very best ballet flats to wear right now…
Heat Woven Leather Bow Detail Ballet Pumps
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Save when you shop for the best ballet pumps with these Dune discount codes at checkout.
Jayna Nappa Leather Mary Jane Flat
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Burgundy Leather Bicolor Flat Shoes
Sizes: EU - 36-41.
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Save when you shop for the best ballet pumps with these Mango discount codes at checkout.
Sizes: UK 2-9.
ALAÏA Crystal-Embellished Leather Ballet Flats
Sizes: IT 35-42.
Save when you shop for the best ballet pumps with these Net-A-Porter discount codes at checkout.
Sizes: UK 3-8.
ASOS DESIGN Lioness Weave Ballets
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Save when you shop for the best ballet pumps with these ASOS discount codes at checkout.
Rosalind Brown Leather Ballet Flats
Sizes: EU 35-42.
Sizes: EU 36-42.
Save when you shop for the best ballet pumps with these Boden discount codes at checkout.
Davina Raffia-Effect Stripe Ballet Flats
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Multi Forever Comfort® Raffia Ballet Flats
Sizes: UK 3-9.
Truffle Grey Jelly Ballet Pumps
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Manolo Blahnik Maylura Buckled Suede Slingback Flats
Sizes: IT 35-43.
Emiko Satin Bow Mary Jane Flats
Sizes: UK 2-9.
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Save when you shop for the best ballet pumps with these Office discount codes at checkout.
Maison Margiela Tabi Split-Toe Leather Ballet Flats
Sizes: IT 35-41.
Black Faux Leather Classic Ballet Pumps
Sizes: UK 2-9.
Save when you shop for blister free comfy ballet pumps you don't need to break in with these New Look discount codes at checkout.
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Ancient Greek Sandals Iro PVC Ballet Flats
Sizes: IT 35-42.
Sizes: UK 3-8.
Save when you shop for the best ballet pumps with these Marks & Spencer discount codes at checkout.
Aeyde Onda Bow-Detailed Crinkled Metallic Leather Pumps
Sizes: EU 35-42.
How I tested the best ballet flats
Team Glamour are pros at picking the best new season buys, and not just for aesthetic reasons. When it comes to the best ballet flats, rather than testing out more pairs than I could wear in a week, I roped in my fellow colleagues to help me with the challenge.
To do this, we wore them at least three times, to check how comfortable they were, how they looked and how they compared to other key footwear styles. We managed to narrow our testing down to three pairs we truly rated, plus 20 other styles we'd absolutely recommend to friends.
Why you can trust me
For the past five years (and a bit), it has literally been my job to be clued up on the latest in the world of fashion. I've not only attended all the press days, fashion shows and showrooms to see the latest drops, but I've been covering them all, too. I advise readers where to shop for capsule wardrobe essentials which is exactly the category ballet flats fall into. It also helps that, as a 6ft tall woman, comfortable-yet-chic footwear is exactly my forte. So not only have I heard about the best ballerinas, I've actually probably been wearing them – case in point with the above.
