Not Satin, Not Leather—The Expensive-Looking Flat Shoe Everyone in Fashion Is Swapping Loafers For

Here’s a revolutionary idea—as we near a new season, instead of purchasing an entirely new capsule shoe wardrobe, why not apply one of the year’s biggest trends to your summer footwear game? This is something I’ve fully gotten behind for 2025, with my wardrobe now a stockpile of the best suede ballet flats the market has to offer.

Despite the impending season being a siren call for hot weather, short hemlines and lightweight fabrics, I constantly find myself wearing strappy ballet flats instead of balmy sandals or laid-back flip-flops. Not only does this French-girl-approved style bring a polish and structure to breezy looks that makes them perfect for the office, but for evening drinks on the weekends, I feel they make me look more elevated and put together than any slip-on would.

So, why the penchant for suede ballet flats all of a sudden? You need only look to the plethora of napped styles stomping down the runway and across the high street to understand why this unsung textile has piqued my interest.

Style Notes: Who What Wear UK SEO Writer Ava Gilchrist wears a pair of suede ballet flats.

Are Suede Ballet Flats Still in Style in 2025?

What began as a niche trend late last year has blossomed into one of the most defining fashion hallmarks of 2025. Suede in all its forms—from the top-handles offered by Prada and DeMellier to the jackets from Miu Miu and Massimo Dutti—has been resurrected from the graveyard of 1970s fashion and rendered into a desirable material denoting sophistication and elegance.

Indeed, where suede was once ubiquitous and therefore mainstream, it’s now a rich-looking motif that carries an air of luxury and opulence, even if you didn’t spend a fortune on whatever piece you’re wearing. But how did suede ballet flats come to be in fashion?

After the popularity of suede handbags—fashion analyst and e-commerce platform placed two suede styles in their list of the hottest 10 products of quarter three last year—suede shoes emerged as the subcategory du jour, cropping up as trainers, like the Puma Speedcats, or even sandals, like A.Emery’s Jalen silhouette.

As a result, suede ballet flats have become the next stage of the trend cycle. This natural evolution is fitting with fashion’s current mode, given that there’s been an increase in appetite for well-crafted and versatile wardrobe staples.

Suede ballet flats are not only timeless, but offer a rigid structure and textured dimension that offsets a whole host of looks. When layered back with floaty white cotton dresses, they evoke this feminine nostalgia synonymous with Parisian muses like Jane Birkin or Brigitte Bardot. On the contrary, tougher looks like leather jackets and capri pants are softened slightly thanks to the velvety finish.

What Are the Best Suede Ballet Flats?

What I love most about the best suede ballet flats is that they inherently juxtapose whatever you put on your body, giving any look an element of tension just by simply being a part of your outfit.

Devon Lee Carlson and Reformation proved this best in their recent collaboration, offering a sweet baby blue pair of suede ballet flats alongside a range of chocolate coloured milkmade tops and polka dot dresses. These designs may feel antithetical to the shaggy-esque shoe, but when paired together, the balance between the gentle shade, luxe texture and woven accent is perfectly harmonious and complementary.

This isn’t immune to just this pair, however. Le Monde Béryl, a fashion insider’s go-to brand for contemporary twists on classic styles, has begun offering suede styles of their beloved pointed-toe shapes. These smooth iterations are made from taupe, beige, black and brown suede handcrafted in Italy, making them the definition of effortlessly elevated.

How to Wear Suede Ballet Flats

There are endless ways to wear suede ballet flats, making them the perfect choice for your next footwear investment. Pair them back with more elegant-looking pieces like satin trousers if opting for a black shoe or, if wearing one of the cappuccino coloured varieties, style with demure neutrals like grey, white and buttery creams.

Come summer, I’ll be swapping all my leather styles for suede ballet flats. Not only do I adore the contrast this traditionally wintery fabric brings to wafty looks, but they make a great alternative to leather styles, which can oftentimes feel a bit tarnished when showing visible signs of wear. Of course, suede can often fall victim to a bit of smudging, considering they are notoriously hard to keep clean. But, if you avoid water at all costs (another reason why they're an excellent summer shoe), and use a soft bristle suede brush to gently mop up stains, you'll have a pair that looks like it just stepped off of Gucci's Resort 2025 runway.

Don’t just take it from me—there are so many suede ballet flats to choose from over a variety of styles and price points, including a sumptuous mocha variation from M&S and countless options from expensive-looking high street stores like Zara, Mango and H&M. Ahead, I bring you the best suede ballet flats to invest in now and wear forever.

Shop the Best Suede Ballet Flats

• Best Overall Suede Ballet Flats: Reformation Suzanne Ballet Flat, £248
• Best Black Suede Ballet Flats: Toteme T-Strap Suede Point-Toe Flats, £450
• Best High-Street Suede Ballet Flats: & Other Stories Square-Toe Ballet Flats, £115
• Best Affordable Suede Ballet Flats: M&S Suede Flat Mary Jane Ballet Pumps, £45
• Best Luxury Suede Ballet Flats: Le Monde Beryl Suede Mary Jane Ballet Flats, £415