I'm a Brit Living in Paris—These Are the Classic Flats French Women Are Wearing With All Their Autumn Outfits
I have this recurring dream where I'm twirling around the streets of Paris at twilight, wearing a tulle Dior dress and sporting a beret in the deepest shade of noir, all the while carrying a baguette (bag or bread, either would suffice) in the crook of my arm. Of course, you can't twirl effectively in spindly stilettos, so my footwear of choice is another French-girl staple: ballet flats. Naturally, I wake to discover I'm not in Paris, that the Dior dress was merely on subconscious loan and, to my dismay, there's not a baguette ready to be devoured. However, much like Cinderella, I do have a pair of ballet flats that help me live out my Parisian fantasy in real life.
Back when I first moved to London, I wore ballet flats on repeat. My job as a fashion intern required me to hotfoot it to designer shops at a moment's notice to pick up clothing for shoots, which would inevitably need to be swiftly returned. Ballet flats allowed me to dash around the city at high speed while ensuring I looked as presentable as a sweaty 21-year-old could. However, just last week, I was shopping in Mango when I came across the perfect pair of ballet flats. It felt as if it was 2011 all over again. I slipped them on and instantly felt the comfort and Gallic charm. At a mere £50, they had to be mine.
As the week went on, I realised they went with everything I paired them with: statement skirts, tapered trousers, distressed denim, bright dresses, checks and velvet, to name a few. And I'm not the only one who's clocked on to their versatility. When we start to consider cooling temperatures everyone in the fashion world will pick up a pair, including Parisians who will no doubt wear them with chunky socks. If you haven't yet invested, I've done the hard work for you and found the very best ballet flats for every budget. Turns out that dreams really do come true.
Shop My Edit of the Best Ballet Flats:
The Best Ballet Flats Under £150:
Cream flats will add a fun touch to any simple jeans look.
Add a playful edge to a jeans and pretty top ensemble.
I'm seeing these with jeans, a relaxed grey sweatshirt and a trench at the weekend.
The Best Ballet Flats Under £300:
These are classics, but I love the extra detail of the cross-foot strap.
I personally love an elasticated strap over the foot.
Aeyde's Uma flats come in six chic colours including this metallic hue.
The Best Ballet Flats Over £300:
A patent style is a great choice for the evening.
Manolos are always a great investment, and these are sure to be a favourite in your wardrobe for years to come.
Cool tones are becoming increasingly popular this season.
Well, I couldn't not include these viral shoes, could I?!
Maxine Eggenberger isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her ownBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Prior toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.
Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.
- Avalon AfriyieFreelance Fashion Editor
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