There’s a whole lot of talk this season about the rise of the “ugly shoe.” From leather clogs to sold-out-everywhere Boston Birkenstocks, celebs are waving off the idea of “ugly” footwear in favor of pretty comfortable styles.
But others are proving comfort and style can go hand-in-hand. Bella Hadid, Katie Holmes and Julia Garner have recently been spotted looking en-pointe in ballet flats while out and about. Each star put their own twist on the trend, which, like platforms and clogs, is another throwback to the turn-of-the-Y2K era fashion. Hadid and Holmes both wore slightly more-than-basic black square-toed flats. Hadid opted for Mary Janes, while Holmes’ had a subtle gold square heel. Meanwhile, Garner evoked classic in a cream satin a-line dress, cinched at the waist with a sparkly belt, and accentuated with a pair of cap-toed ballet flats.
Like these stars, you don’t need to be able to pull off a pirouette to pull off ballet flats, a shoe anyone can dress up or down. Here’s where to find the ballet flats the stars are sporting (and stylish look-alikes).
Hadid loved her square-toed Sandy Liang SSENSE Exclusive Black Mary Jane Pointe Flats, she wore them (at least) twice. First, the supermodel slipped them on while wearing a long denim dress, gray trench and leggings during an outing in NYC’s West Village. Hadid also proved the style travels well, wearing the pair with leggings, a gray hoodie and a beanie on a post-Fashion Month private flight. The model, who walked numerous runways, including for Michael Kors, Stella McCartney and Miu Miu, was too tired to write a caption, but the satin Mary Jane-style flats with an adjustable buckle spoke for themselves. They’ve since sold out, but they were $495.
Related: 10 Boston Birkenstock Dupes for Under $100
Nordstrom
You can still give the look a whirl and a twirl, though. Dansko’s Marcella Mary Jane, available in black, taupe and red for $149.95 at Nordstrom, is made with leather. But it boasts the same square toe and buckle as Hadid’s and would work with similar outfits.
Nordstrom
For a satin style that’s similar but stands out, opt for the Badgley Mischka Tevin Crystal Mary Janes. Available in pearl nude and ivory for $198, they do give off bridal vibes, but the sparkling buckle makes them perfect for a crisp, light-toned holiday look, too.
Amazon
And Jessica Simpson’s Women’s Mandalaye Square Toe Ankle-Wrap Ballet Flats, still in stock in most sizes in black for $49.49-$49.99 on Amazon, will get you a similar look for less. The shoes lean further into the ballerina concept with a double-strap wrap that falls at the ankle and comes in numerous colors, including gold, natural and red combo (red and white polka dots)
Holmes looked chic in a pair of black, square-toed ballet flats at last month’s Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program Luncheon. Though you’d miss the subtle gold heel if you blinked, the genius choice perfectly complimented the other metallic accents in Holmes’ head-to-toe Chanel look. Holmes appeared cozy and chic in a white scoop-necked tank, quilted purse with a gold chain link strap, printed oversized cardigan with metallic buttons and wide-legged, high-waisted jeans.
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Neiman Marcus
Christian Louboutin’s Hot Chickita Patent Red Sole Ballerina Flats, priced at a cool $675 at Neiman Marcus, offer a similar Parisian look and luxe feel (but they were made in Italy). Though they don’t have a gold heel, the brand’s signature red sole will put a pop of color in your step, and the small cut-outs near the ankle make it unique.
Bloomingdale’s
Sam Edelman’s Women’s Janina Slip On Flats, in stock in sizes 6 to 10 for $150 at Bloomingdale’s, put its hardware on the vamp for a less-subtle metallic accent. The half-inch heel will give you just a little elevation — though nothing close to some of the platform UGGs celebs are slipping into this season.
Related: Celebs are Living for 90s-Throwback Platform Uggs and You Can Too
Amazon
Aerosoles Women’s Big Bet Ballet Flats, available in black (and wide in some sizes) for $39.99 on Amazon, also boast a gold adornment near the toe. More than 360 previous buyers have given it 4.4 stars out of five, praising it for being comfortable, stylish, and durable.
Though Garner slipped into nude pumps for her actual appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Inventing Anna star arrived in easier-to-walk-in cap-toed ballet flats paired with a satin Prada mini-dress for a look that spans seasons and generations. It’s unclear from the photos, but the style of her flats is distinctly Chanel. You can contact an advisor about the Wool Tweed & Grosgrain Gray, Pink, Orange & Black from the FW 2022-23 collection, priced around $850.
Nordstrom
But Jon Josef’s Belle Quilted Ballerina Flat in black and tan is a dead ringer for Garner’s pair and is available for $190 at Nordstrom. You may want to put on your running shoes, though. It’s selling out quickly in several sizes.
Amazon
Over on Amazon, the Amazon Essentials Women’s Cap Toe Ballet Flat is an unquilted–but still classically pretty—dupe. It’s priced between $19.40 and $20.40. Previous buyers gave it 4.2 stars out of five, saying they don’t feel as high-quality as a designer pair but looked cute nonetheless.
Want more options? Check out 25 Best Ballet Flats for Women
