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The 16 best ballet flats that are cute, comfortable, and classic

Written by Talia Ergas edited by Gabrielle Chase
Left: Brown leather ballet flats. Right: The co-author wearing butter yellow ballet flats.
Margaux, Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
Updated

The season's best ballet flats tie comfort and sophistication together with a bow. As people who walk a lot, we require a lot from our ballet flats. So, we've gathered our favorite pairs that support you in each step. Fo years, our team has tested some of the best flats, including many that are distinctly ballerina-inspired.

Our top pick 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 brand we recommend is M.Gemi, an Italian brand that specializes in quality leather shoes. Its Danzas and Unas are among our favorites from its flats collection.

The best ballet flats we've tested:

Margaux Demi
Margaux The Demi

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. 

Check price at Margaux
Everlane day ballet flat
Everlane The Day Ballet Flat

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.

Check price at Everlane

Best overall: Margaux The Demi

Butter yellow ballet flats on model.
Margaux
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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.

Best ballet flats for walking: Everlane The Day Ballet Flat

Everlane The Day Ballet Flat
The leather wrinkles ever so slightly when you walk, but because the material is sturdier than Everlane's classic Day Glove flats, it'll take longer for signs of wear to show. Sally Kaplan/Business Insider
Check price at Everlane

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.

 

Best ballet flats for flat feet: Frankie4 Trinity

Two pairs of ballet flats.
Frankie4
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"Frankie4 is an Australian footwear brand founded by two podiatrists who've created some of the most comfortable heels we've tested. Within the Trinity flats are its proprietary 'Sole Hero Footbeds,' which have three layers of padding — each with different levels of cushioning in the forefoot, arches, and heels. This design helps engage the parts of your feet that need extra support.

Even though they look flat, the subtle heel raise makes them feel anything but. It's a tiny detail that angles your feet out of the dead flat position, so your ankles are better aligned. You can also adjust the padding in the forefoot if the toe box feels too loose, since they come with extra gel cushions.

The outer leather feels super luxe, and the lining inside is buttery smooth and chafe-proof. My only regret is that this pair comes in just two colors. If you're between sizes, the brand recommends going up a half size for its ballet flats. They're definitely a splurge, but since Frankie4 operates out of a U.S. facility, they'll be impervious to tariff price hikes." — Gabrielle chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews

Best ballet flats for wide feet: FitFlop Delicato

Left: The author in beige ballet flats. Right: Beige ballet flats.
The FitFlop Delicato flats in Classic Beige. Gabrielle Chase, Business Insider/FitFlop
Check price at Zappos
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Check price at FitFlop

"These FitFlop flats were among the lightest pairs I tested. The nappa leather is really smooth and unstructured, so much that they almost feel like rubber. They even squeaked a bit like rubber when I was breaking them in. Despite being so lightweight, these shoes are packed with lots of comfort features: a 'Dynamicush' footbed made from squishy foam, a roomy squared-off toe box, and a flexible collar that prevents any uncomfortable friction. I also like that the tread is really non-slip. I couldn't slide-step in these even if I tried.

I have to disagree completely with FitFlop's disclaimer that these run slim. They were actually quite loose across the toes and felt a whole size too big on me. This is great if you're wide across the forefoot, but if your heel is narrow, make sure you size down by at least half a size. Otherwise, they'll feel floppy in the rear." — Gabrielle chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews

Best arch support: M. Gemi The Danza

Left: Red ballet flats. Right: Black ballet flats on model.
M.Gemi
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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.

Best square-toe: Alohas Rosalind Ballet Flats

Two pairs of ballet flats on model.
Alohas
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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.

Best foldable ballet flats: M.Gemi La Una

The co-author wearing butter yellow flats.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
Check price at M.Gemi

"M.Gemi has some of the best Italian leather footwear out there. All winter I've been wearing my cozy shearling-lined Felize loafers. But as soon as I put on these buttery-soft leather flats, I knew my new favorites for spring had arrived.

The Una is made with a thin, unstructured nappa leather that's extremely flexible and smooth. Inside around the heel is a layer of suede, so there's no chance of developing blisters. I don't recommend these for long walks, since they don't come with any padding or cushions. I wore mine on a stroll in the park and could feel the pavement underfoot.

Nevertheless, the main appeal of the Una is how soft and delicate they feel. They're designed with a stretchy criss-cross strap to keep them in place and a soft square toe, similar to a real ballet slipper. I got mine in the shade 'Butter,' and they come in 13 more colorways." — Gabrielle chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews

Best pointed-toe: Quince Italian Leather Pointed Bow Flat

Black Quince pointed toe ballet flats on model.
Quince
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 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.

Best woven: Milaner The Woven Nicole Ballerina Flat

Tan woven leather Milaner Nicole ballet flats worn by the author.
Talia Ergas
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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.

Best ballet sneaker: Vivaia Yanka Satin Sneaker

Two pairs of ballet sneakers.
Vivaia
Check price at Amazon
Check price at Vivaia

Ballet sneakers are one of the most popular shoe trends of the season, so if you're looking to participate, here's a pair you can casually style to make your own. They come in two variations: a round-toe "sneakerina" with a low vamp, or a derby ballet sneaker with a squared-off toe. Their minimal padding means you'll stepping lightly with a more barefoot feel.

Check out our Vivaia shoes review to learn about its sizing scheme.

Best ballet flats for narrow feet: Vionic Klara

An array of three ballet flats from Vionic.
Zappos
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Check price at Vionic

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.

Best velvet ballet flat: Birdies The Hummingbird

Three velvet ballet flats.
Birdies/Instagram
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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."

Best Mary Jane ballet flat: Loeffler Randall Leonie

Brown satin Loeffler Randall Leonie ballet flats on model.
Loeffler Randall
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These coquettish ballet flats come in a classic satin sheen we associate with genuine pointe shoes, as well as woven leather, mesh, and crochet knit versions. 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.

Best for travel: Rothy's The Ballet Flat

Silver Rothy's ballet flats on model against a brick wall background.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
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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, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews 

Read more in our full Rothy's flats review.

Best luxury ballet flats: Mansur Gavriel Dream Ballerina

Tan Mansur Gavriel Dream Ballerina ballet flats worn with tan socks on model.
Mansur Gavriel/Instagram
Check price at Mansur Gavriel

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

Best Amazon: Feversole Memory Foam Patent Ballet Flat

Shiny black ballet flats on model.
Feversole/Amazon
Check price at Amazon

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.

 

A headshot of Talia Ergas with the city skyline in the background.
Talia Ergas
Freelance
Talia Ergas is a writer and editor covering fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment. Her work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, HuffPost, Us Weekly, BestReviews, Bravo, Elite Daily, and more. She graduated from New York University with degrees in Journalism, Sociology, and Creative Writing. You can follow her on Instagram.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.

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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