I'm a Brit Living in Paris—These Are the Classic Flats French Women Are Wearing With All Their Summer 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 H&M 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 £20, 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:

The Best Ballet Flats Under £300:

The Best Ballet Flats Over £300: