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
- For the outdoor enthusiasts: Ecco Biom C-Trail Ghillie Sneaker ($250)
- For the coquette girls: Simone Rocha Beaded Ballerina Sneakers ($1135)
- For the sneakerheads: Salomon x Sandy Liang ($140)
- For the budget shopper: Zara Mesh Mary Jane Sneakers ($50)
- For the luxury-lover: Louis Vuitton LV Sneakerina ($975)
The extra-long laces on these ballet sneakers are everything.
The pearl embellishments pushed these sneakers to the top of our wish lists.
Everyone in Copenhagen, Paris, and New York is wearing these lace-up ballerina sneakers from the small label Foundry Mews.
These are giving Sporty Spice.
Puma's Speedcat Ballet Sneakers continue to be best-sellers (and we can see why).
You can dance around all day in these, or just do a quick jaunt to the grocery store.
You really can't beat this price point.
Miu Miu never misses the mark.
We love the ballet-inspired twist on the timeless Taekwondo sneaker silhouette from Adidas.
We can attest to these sneakers being incredibly comfortable.
The classic scrunched ballet silhouette paired with the treaded rubber soles makes these shoes stand out.
Not all ballet-inspired sneakers need to be overly frilly. Case in point? Charles & Keith's mesh pair.
Everything about these Nike ballet sneakers is en pointe.
Now, those are stage-ready shoes!
Who doesn't love a little color-blocking moment?
You'll wear these ballet sneakers for years to come.
The pink ribbon laces on these sneakers are such a lovely touch.
You can easily slide these on for all your errands.
Cool girls, apply here.
We were sold on these sneakers at first sight of the floral hardware.
Yes, yes, yes.
Butter-yellow ballet sneakers? We're about it.
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.
It's a need, not a want, for us.
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