While timeless styles continue to hold their appeal, designers have found fresh ways to reinvent the ballet flat. If your preferences lean more statement-driven, key styles for summer 2026 include ballet flats adorned with embellishment, crystal detailing and metal studs, a style first championed by Pieter Mulier at Alaïa and beloved by the likes of Dua Lipa, Paloma Elsesser and Rihanna. Wales Bonner’s Mary Jane styles, complete with diamanté buckles, are particularly covetable, while Khaite’s silver-studded designs continue to top wish lists. Unsurprisingly, the embellished style has since been reimagined by almost every high-street retailer.
Elsewhere, Miu Miu’s logo satin ballet flats – first introduced in 2016 before being relaunched in 2022 – helped reignite fashion’s passion for pumps, an obsession that has continued well into 2026. This season, the house has expanded the style into mesh and leather iterations, while retaining the delicate elastic strap that gives the shoe its distinctly dance-inspired feel.
Mesh ballet flats, in particular, have become a defining silhouette of recent summers, their sheer finish lending a touch of playfulness to your summer looks. From Alaïa’s (yet again) viral fishnet styles to minimalist interpretations by The Row and Dear Frances, breathable mesh designs are also a warm-weather staple among fashion editors.
