The Specific Ballet-Flats Style So Many People Wear Without Even Realizing It's a Trend
Now that you know, shop the best pairs.
As we move further away from the start of the ballet-flats trend several years ago, I see fewer and fewer examples of people wearing basic ballet flats with the little bows. In 2026, there are more ballet-flats variations than ever, but some are so subtle you may not even realize you're wearing a trend. One of those subtle yet incredibly chic variations was just spotted on flat-shoe connoisseur Lily Collins.
Collins, who is currently filming season six of Emily in Paris in Mykonos, was just spotted heading to lunch via boat with her castmates. Instead of wearing basic ballet flats with her black capri pants, Collins chose two-tone ballet flats, where the contrasting element is often in the form of a strap or trim. Specifically, she wore a pair by Marguax (a Who What Wear editor favorite) in cream with a thin black elastic strap. The two-tone flats added a modern, elegant touch to her capri-pant outfit that one-tone flats can't match.
Now that you know two-tone ballet flats are a trend, you're probably going to start noticing them everywhere—maybe even on your feet. Keep scrolling to find your ideal pair.
As Seen on Lily Collins
On Lily Collins: Margaux The Phoebe Flats ($375); Givenchy bag
Shop Her Shoes
Shop More Two-Tone Ballet Flats

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater arts. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.