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
- 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)

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. What began as a pastime (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a lifelong passion for unveiling the connection between fashion and culture on the internet and in real life. Over the last decade, she's melded her extensive edit and social background to various on-staff positions at Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. More recently, she’s become a freelance contributor to other publications including Vogue, Editorialist, and The Cut. Off the clock, you can find her clutching her cell phone as she's constantly scrolling through TikTok and The RealReal, in search of the next cool thing.
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