I Want to Look Put Together Without Trying—This Fresh Shoe Trend Is the Solution

To buckle or not to buckle? That is the question I ponder almost every time I’m getting dressed and choosing what flat shoe I’ll wear that day. Lately, like almost every fashion person across Europe, I’ve been swapping my winter boots for the best ballet flats with straps.

Like Victoria Beckham in 1997’s Spice World, determining which footwear option to put on from this category is like choosing between a million identical little black Gucci dresses. But what the average person doesn’t know is that there are actually quite a lot of points to consider when choosing the best strappy ballet flats.

Of course, I could avoid this conundrum altogether and slip into a classic ballet pump. That might be the time-saving solution, yet I feel the band accent featured on the best ballet flats with straps adds another element to my silhouette.

Stylists will agree with me—having a bar spread across the top of your foot gives the eye somewhere to anchor, helping make your silhouettes feel more balanced, cohesive and elongated. Without this focal point, I sometimes feel too much of your foot is exposed, taking me back to the early 2000s paparazzi photos of Kate Moss jaunting about London pubs by consequence. (Apologies to any Millennial women I might’ve upset with this comparison.) Even the most prolific supporters of strapless ballet flats, like the patron saint of this design Alexa Chung, have made the switch.

The blame lies in Miu Miu’s satin ballet flats which debuted in the Fall/Winter 2022 collection and Alaïa’s iconic mesh flats. I, for one, are thrilled with the rise of strappy ballet flats. As are chic French girls and the celebrity style set alike, from Hailey Bieber sporting The Row’s leather Mary Jane flats alongside a pastel pink hoop mini dress from Tory Burch while in Paris to the velvet Le Monde Béryl iterations synonymous with the chic women who reside in the city.

Still, with so many different interpretations saturating the market, you can understand why my mornings are plagued with decision fatigue. Do I opt for my favourite powder pink pair with an elastic band? Or a more eccentric leopard-print option with double straps that cross around my ankle.

The styling opportunities are truly endless, which is why I’ve helmed the charge and pulled together a comprehensive guide to the best ballet flats with straps. Step into style, ahead.

The Best Ballet Flats With Straps:

• The Best Overall Ballet Flats With Straps: Bethany Ballet Flat, £268
• The Best Black Ballet Flats With Straps: H&M Mary Jane Ballet Pumps, £22.99
• The Best Red Ballet Flats With Straps: M&S Bow Flat Ballet Pumps, £29.50
• The Best Heeled Ballet Flats With Straps: Jimmy Choo Elisa 45, £675
• The Best Velvet Ballet Flats With Straps: Le Monde Bery Suede Mary Jane ballet Flats, £415
• The Best Suede Ballet Flats With Straps: M&S Suede Flat Mary Jane Ballet Pumps, $45
• The Best Pink Ballet Flats With Straps: Square-Toe Ballet Flats, £115
• The Best Square-Toe Ballet Flats With Straps: Charles & Keith Satin Square-Toe Mary Jane Ballet Flats, £55.00