Ballet flats, yes or no?

[Shooop]

I think of ballet flats as timeless. However, on wearing a new simple black pair, my husband said I looked like a Tory councillor.

For more context, I am 50. I think I was wearing a simple black dress. My style is quite minimalist tbh. Sadly, my shoe choices are a bit limited these days because of foot pain, happy days.

I KNOW it’s up to me/ all of us what we wear but Im intrigued. …stylish women of S&B, what’s your view on ballet pumps atm? Are they in or out atm? Do you like them? Only with trousers? Or not at all?

Oh and bonus question: if anyone can suggest any cool shoes that work for someone with foot problems (Morton’s neuroma!) then I’d be v grateful.

I wear them pretty much every day but I think they've been out of style for a while. They must also be terrible for your foot pain!

It all depends on the cut - stylish if it’s French Sole/Pretty Ballerina and the like, but dire if it’s a Clark’s jobbie!

@letshaveachangeshallwe Thurs is true, I don’t wear them, and I e never worn them out, but I needed shoes for an event. It was then that I learnt they made me look like a Tory councillor ☹️

i used to have a Morton’s neuroma and ballet flats are about the worst possible thing you can do for them!

you need a shoe with support and probably a small heel - like a brogue. Even better if you can put an orthotic in.

@IncenseAndPeppermint erm… care to elaborate on the Clarke’s issue (I hate Clarke’s) but haha these WERE Clarke’s. I honestly thought they looked ok. Leather. Black. No embellishment.

The Miu Miu satin ballet flats are still popular and look good. Zara do a decent copy. It's probably not great if you have foot problems, though.

I don't think they do anything for legs.

@stealthbanana thanks for the tips. Brogues. Interesting. I then brought out a pair of black brogues and husband said I looked like a police woman. Tbf these were also Clarke’s. I don’t usually buy from Clarke’s. Traumatic memories from childhood shoe shopping. Maybe this is where I went wrong.

does anyone have any good/better brogue links? I’m a size 5 with thin calves and narrow feet.

flats are very back in OP

i lived in my Chanel ones until a couple of years ago when i was commuting for work (now mainly wear trainers) but i have seen a good dupes from the John website that im tempted to buy myself

https://www.johnlewis.com/mint-velvet-gigi-leather-pumps/neutral/p110091410

Also @stealthbanana you put your foot issues in the past, which is great. Especially since some say this is/can be a life long issue.

Qu: how did you get rid of your MNeuroma? My feet are def improving but still not right. I’ve spent 3 years basically wearing comfortable trainers (however I do need shoe ideas for certain events hence this thread!)

They're coming back into fashion, but I think it depends - you don't want anything too sturdy looking.

I have some from Allbirds which are so comfortable, I live in them.

@Covetthee thanks for this link. which colourway are you tempted by?

Sorry OP! It’s just that the proportions of the Clarke’s versions are usually all wrong visually - e.g. toe too wide, sides too high, faux tie at front, etc.

@IncenseAndPeppermint in my shoes’ case they were just simple flats with zero embellishment and made of leather.

husband then downgraded the councillor comment to “inoffensive”. But that original comment has killed those shoes for me now.

That said, I just had a nosey of the black ballet flats on the websites of the two brands I mentioned and they’re both looking wrong, too, so what do I know? 🤣

Maybe ballet flats just look better in other colours to my eye than in black?! I have several pairs from French Sole, but one pair is red patent, one is silver leather and one is lime green leather.

Looking at the John Lewis website, my shoes are kind of like this, but they were double the price (albeit now the below price since I got in the sale).

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-harriet-leather-ballerina-pumps/black/p5290020

@Shooop you will win no prizes from your husband whatever you pick - mine was equally unimpressed by my brogues.

I also have narrow feet but in a size 8 so even worse in terms of finding good options. You just have to try on lots of pairs - almost every shoe brand does brogues now.

in terms of going out options, I actually d found a low heeled sandal (with a block heel) to be better than a totally flat shoes. Although you can get some really nice pointed / bejewelled flats - with a narrow foot they look great. I would just trade off the perfect shoe for a bit of aesthetic when I’m out - something like this

https://www.prettyballerinas.co.uk/120584-ella.html

or this

https://www.johnlewis.com/sjp-by-sarah-jessica-parker-sonnet-crystal-embellished-pumps-rainbow-honeycomb/p109645666?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios&size=5.5&_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

but in terms of getting rid of it, it was wearing a properly fitted orthotic for 80% of the time. So needed shoes with laces. It took about 2 years for it to go away.

I also have a morton's neuroma that flares up from time to time, mostly when I wear the wrong shoes. You need something soft with lots of cushioning that lets your foot spread as you walk.
As a pp mentioned, Allbirds are good for that. Most of their styles are trainers but you could probably get away with the Tree Breezers in black as they'd be subtle. Depends how much you're looking to spend though.

https://www.allbirds.co.uk/products/womens-tree-breezers-jet-black

I can't help on the shoes because I always thought ballet flatsv were a bit boring as well as uncomfortable, but my mum just got a steroid injection for MN. The pain was gone within 48h. Have you seen Doc Martens Mary-Janes? They might come under police woman or librarian, but certainly not Tory councellor

Most men can’t even begin to imagine what women go through with shoes. That’s why they make stupid comments.

I love ballet flats, but I probably wouldn’t match them to the colour of my dress. I’d wear black ballerinas with a red, orange or pink dress. I’d wear pink or ‘nude’ ballerinas with a black dress. And I’d wear red ballerinas with a navy dress. This is still a fairly conservative approach but better on me than black with black. Would that work for you?

I also like loafers and take the same approach as above. Brogues are really comfortable but I can’t pull them off with dresses so only wear them with trousers.

Unfortunately I think age is a factor. Since I turned 50 I feel I have to be a bit more careful how I combine things. Flat shoes with a midi dress can look great on younger women but they seem to be considered frumpy (hate that word!) on older women.

I like the shoe you linked. However I agree with the poster who said they do nothing for the leg. IMO unless you are gazelle like, and I am not, they can look a bit staid with a dress. Great with cigarette pants though. I have awful cankles, and prefer Chelsea boots with skirts and dresses.

I have a whole collection of soft suede ballet flats in every colour of the rainbow. They are my go to summer shoe unless weather is dry enough for sandals.

I wear them with everything. I always get compliments on them, so I don't care whether they are in or out!

They make me happy (love coloured shoes!) and they are incredibly comfortable. Plus they are super easy to pack, and weigh nothing.

The poor ballet flat

From Kate Moss to Tory councillor ;

I wear flats every day but not ballet flats anymore, I’m sure it can be done in a way though

When I was younger, I went through a French Sole ballet flats phase until I saw my podiatrist and he was horrified at what I had on my feet. As previous posters have mentioned, ballet flats are horrendous for your feet. The majority of them have zero support, and the few ones that do tend to look orthopedic and certainly lack style. My podiatrist made me realise how important our feet are (given we're so dependent on them!) and how we need to look after them. He basically brainwashed me. 😂I had MN 10 years ago and that was a miserable experience.

I get a lot of my shoes from Tracey Neuls as they're very well made (often handmade), supportive and comfy and are stylish rather than fashionable. I live near her Shoreditch shop (which sadly she later closed) and that's how I discovered her. I'm not keen on much of her current collection but it's always worth keeping an eye on her sales. I have a fabulous pair of heeled suede ankle boots that have gold tassels all down the back that she made. Actually amazingly comfy (although they're a bitch to drive in) but everyone drools over them when I wear them. Definitely not Tory councillor.😜

https://traceyneuls.com/

If you are going ballet flat defo go pointed toe, not round toe. Maybe go for a Mary Jane with a strap (my personal choice). Loafers are in just now. I also like brogues - they can work with skirts and dresses (I rarely wear anything else), if you feel the look is too masculine with trousers.