Spotted in Paris and Copenhagen: The Next Viral Sneaker Trend to Take Over
No matter what city you call home, you can always count on a few current shoe trends to hit mass circulation in the streets of Paris, New York, Copenhagen, and even the digital town square. What's the most recent style to attain that viral status? Ballet sneakers. Yes, you read that right. If you're wondering what led to the creation of a hybrid between the two silhouettes into the "sneakerina," you'd have to look at the bigger picture. Over the past few seasons, the collective craze over the balletcore movement and subsequently ballet flats laid the groundwork for many brands to leap into new territory.
There's no shortage of brands that have dipped their toes into this sneaker trend. Several come to mind: Salomon and Sandy Liang's collaboration drop, Adidas' partnership with Bad Bunny to create a unisex style, and Simone Rocha's ubiquitous embellished chunky sneakers. That said, the sheer number of variations available for this style isn't the only reason it's taken center stage in the fashion world. The style set quickly cemented the hybrid shape to cult status through their shopping habits. Rachel Makar, senior director of merchandising at StockX, explains, "Between February and March, we saw sales of sneakers with 'ballerina' or 'ballet' in the title increase by more than 1000%."
With so many people buying into this trend, we'd be lying if we didn't admit that it can be a little hard to figure out which exact pair might be worth adding to your own wardrobe. That's where we come in handy. Ahead, we've curated examples of the shoe trend in the wild to show you how to stick the landing when it comes to styling this hybrid silhouette. You'll also find a curation of the 24 best ballet sneakers you can buy at every price point, based on quality, reviews, brand recognition, versatility, and trendiness. Whether you're an avid sneakerhead or want to channel your inner ballerina, there's something for you.
A Quick Skim of the Best Ballet Sneakers
Jeffrey Campbell
Regimen Ankle Wrap Sneaker
The extra-long laces on these ballet sneakers are everything.
Simone Rocha
Black Beaded Tracker Ballerina Sneakers
The pearl embellishments pushed these sneakers to the top of our wish lists.
Foundry Mews
Posie Lace Up Shoes
Everyone in Copenhagen, Paris, and New York is wearing these lace-up ballerina sneakers from the small label Foundry Mews.
MIISTA
Averie Cream Lace Ballerinas
These are giving Sporty Spice.
Puma's Speedcat Ballet Sneakers continue to be best-sellers (and we can see why).
Vagabond Shoemakers
Hillary Ballerina Flat
You can dance around all day in these, or just do a quick jaunt to the grocery store.
ZARA
Mesh Mary Jane Sneakers
You really can't beat this price point.
Miu Miu
Gymnasium Technical Fabric and Suede Ballerinas
Miu Miu never misses the mark.
Adidas
Taekwondo Mei Ballet
We love the ballet-inspired twist on the timeless Taekwondo sneaker silhouette from Adidas.
ECCO
Biom C-Trail Ghillie Sneaker
We can attest to these sneakers being incredibly comfortable.
Rombaut
Black Rei Beyond Leather Ballerina Flats
The classic scrunched ballet silhouette paired with the treaded rubber soles makes these shoes stand out.
Charles & Keith
Mesh Contrast-Panel Mary Jane Sneakers
Not all ballet-inspired sneakers need to be overly frilly. Case in point? Charles & Keith's mesh pair.
Nike
Air Rift Premium Sneakers
Everything about these Nike ballet sneakers is en pointe.
Acne Studios
Metallic Leather Flats
Now, those are stage-ready shoes!
Nicole Saldaña
Brown Sophie Ballerina Flats
Who doesn't love a little color-blocking moment?
Louis Vuitton
LV Sneakerina
You'll wear these ballet sneakers for years to come.
SALOMON x Sandy Liang
Speedcross 3 Ribbon
The pink ribbon laces on these sneakers are such a lovely touch.
STAUD
Gino Ballet Glide in Espresso Black
You can easily slide these on for all your errands.
Chopova Lowena
Croc Marta Mary Jane Ballet Sneaker
ASICS x Cecilie Bahnsen
Gel-Quantum 360 VIII
We were sold on these sneakers at first sight of the floral hardware.
JW PEI
Flavia Ballerina Sneakers
Vivaia
Square-Toe Lace-Up Satin Sneakerina
Butter-yellow ballet sneakers? We're about it.
Steve Madden
Scooter Black Cow Print Sneaker
If you want something a little less ballet coded, go for sneakers with other trendy details, like a cow print or a Mary Jane–esque top strap.
Wales Bonner
Leopard Mary Jane Ballerina Sneakers
It's a need, not a want, for us.
Originally published by whowhatwear.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Vanity Fair Fashion.
