There's no escaping the ballet flat. Ever since Miu Miu sent silky pairs teamed with scrunched socks down the catwalk for autumn/winter 2022, our passion for these pumps has grown exponentially. Not since the early noughties have we been so excited about this shoe and, now, there's another two pairs dominating our social feeds. Black and either netted or littered with crystals, Alaïa's ballet flats are hot commodities.
What is it about these shoes? Well, they're an easy way to make any outfit feel elevated; they look best with jeans and a T-shirt, which they make look more interesting than ever before. The only drawback is that Alaïa's flats will set you back at least £600 – and, they sell out everywhere almost as soon as they drop.
Worry not, however, for embellished ballet flats are their own trend. Miu Miu, of course, has its own pair of crystal shoes, complete with the signature logo strap. And as for the netted pair, Reformation has got your back. Dune, meanwhile, has cleverly merged two trends in one with its Happeningg flats, which are both mesh and covered in sparkling gems, saving you the trouble of buying two of the Alaïa's. Better yet, the shoes are under £100 and set to drop soon.
As with any hyped piece of fashion, the high street has cottoned on and produced its own affordable versions of these shoes. Mango's rhinestone ballerinas have almost sold out in black but are available in a light beige colour and Stradivarius has a very snazzy pair with an ankle strap for less than £40. But the real hero style comes courtesy of Free People, who has produced a pair of buckled ballet pumps that are incredibly similar to their designer counterparts.
Whether you are more of a net or an embellished girl, these are flats that are sure to jazz up your everyday outfits or to add even more oomph to your favourite going-out looks. There are plenty to choose from and we have split them into sections for ease, you'll have to be quick – they're selling like hot cakes.
SHOP: The Best Embellished Ballet Flats
www.freepeople.com
Free People's embellished ballet flats are about to land online but be quick - they won't be in stock for long.
www.zalando.co.uk
It's become almost impossible to track down a pair of Loeffler Randall's embellished ballet flats but here they are, in all their glory. Wear for every event, from weddings to weekend outings.
www.stradivarius.com
If your budget doesn't quite stretch to Alaïa, this pair from Stradivarius is a very good compromise.
www.mytheresa.com
Still going strong, Miu Miu's ballet flats are difficult to resist. These will quickly become your most scene-stealing party shoes.
www.mytheresa.com
This pair has a very chic square toe – wear with wide-leg trousers and shirts for a fresh (and glitzy) take on workwear.
SHOP: Net Ballet Flats
Welcome to the net side - a nice way to dip your toes into fun pump fashion.
www.dunelondon.com
The best of both worlds; Dune's pumps mix mesh and diamonds, with a cute two-figure price tag. Be sure to put your post notifications on for when these drops.
www.asos.com
These have such a cool criss-cross buckle feature. And although the holes are a lot smaller than the originals, overall, the shoe gives off similar vibes.
www.anthropologie.com
A nice way to show off your new pedicure.
www.thereformation.com
This Reformation pair is just as good as the Alaïa pair.
Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The FT, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.